Town
Things to do in Ballycastle
County Antrim
Four of the twenty places on our County Antrim list are in or near Ballycastle: Rathlin Island, Fair Head, Kinbane Castle and Bonamargy Friary. That is an island, a stretch of cliff, a castle and a ruin between them. Below you will find one more place from Northern Ireland's heritage records.
On our Antrim list
4 places in and around Ballycastle.
Rathlin IslandIsland · BallycastleThe ferry runs out from Ballycastle, and the RSPB seabird centre at the West Light looks down on cliffs where puffins rear their chicks from late April to early August. The centre opens from spring to late summer.
Fair HeadCliffs · BallycastleDolerite cliffs east of Ballycastle, the upper half made of giant columns, looking out towards Rathlin. The walks start from a farm car park and cross working farmland.
Kinbane CastleCastle · BallycastleColla MacDonnell built it shortly before 1551 on a white chalk headland west of Ballycastle. A two-storey tower is what stands, and the drops around it are steep.
Bonamargy FriaryRuin · BallycastleRory MacQuillan built the friary near the mouth of the Carey and Shesk rivers in 1500. Sorley Boy MacDonnell's coffin lies in its sealed burial vault.
More to see in Ballycastle
From Northern Ireland’s heritage records and other public sources.
- Murlough BayBeach · Ballycastle
More from the Antrim list
Giant's CausewayCliffs · BushmillsHexagonal basalt columns step down into the sea below the cliffs north of Bushmills, formed as lava cooled just under 60 million years ago. It became a World Heritage Site in 1986.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope BridgeBridge · BallintoySalmon fishermen first strung a rope bridge across to this rocky island near Ballintoy in 1755, and the crossing still hangs high above the sea.
Dunluce CastleCastle · PortrushThe MacQuillans built it on the cliff edge around 1500 and the MacDonnells took it in the 1550s. The remains of the town laid out beside it in 1608 have been dug out of the grass.
The Dark HedgesWalk · ArmoyJames Stuart planted this avenue of beech trees on Bregagh Road in 1775 as the approach to Gracehill House, and the branches have grown together over the road. The road is closed to cars, so park at the Hedges Hotel and walk the few minutes up.
Belfast City HallVisitor centre · BelfastOpened on Donegall Square in 1906 and built of Portland stone. William Pirrie brought skilled men from the Harland and Wolff shipyard to fit out the interiors, and guided tours go inside.
Carrickfergus CastleCastle · CarrickfergusJohn de Courcy began the castle soon after he invaded Ulster in 1177, on the water's edge in Carrickfergus. It stayed in military use until 1928.