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Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday in Northern Ireland
Portrush to Ballycastle
Day by Day Itinerary
A 26 mile coastal section of the Ulster Way in Northern Ireland between Portrush and Ballycastle, including the world famous Giant’s Causeway and Carrick a Rede rope bridge. This route can be walked in either direction.
This is one of our Coastal Walking Holidays in UK and Ireland and also one of our Northern Ireland Walking Holidays.
Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday
in Northern Ireland
Portrush to Ballycastle
4 days walking and 5 nights
A 26 mile section of the Causeway Coast Way walking trail, part of The Ulster Way around Northern Ireland, situated in the sheltered waters of the North Channel between Northern Ireland and the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland.
This magnificent self guided walking holiday combines many varied habitats, a fascinating mixture of seaside towns, small harbours, tidal beaches and rolling hills.
The Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope-bridge and a day trip to Rathlin Island are among the many highlights.
The route can be walked in the other direction from Ballycastle to Portrush.
This Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday connects with the Glens of Antrim at Ballycastle for a longer walking holiday.
Our self-guided walking holidays are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind and can be tailor-made to your own personal requirements.
The routes are clearly way-marked to provide reassurance on your hiking vacation.
We use a selection of guest houses, inns or small hotels with en-suite or private bathroom to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing. Rest assured that all our accommodation walking holiday providers are hand-picked and offer you that famous British hospitality.
Special diets can be catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
We organize the luggage transfer so your bags are at your next accommodation when you arrive. We try to get your bags delivered by 4pm, but this may be delayed due to road conditions.
Let’s Go Walking has developed one of the largest selection of walking holidays.
Our offices are staffed 9am to 9pm during our walking season (March to September) to ensure your walking holiday runs without a hitch.
All our walking holidays are self-guided and you must be a confident map reader and able to navigate from a compass bearing. The weather in the UK and Ireland can change quickly effecting visibility and underfoot conditions. It is important to carry a selection of clothing with you on your hike each day to cope with changing weather conditions. If you are not confident of completing any days walk, do not set out.
This walking holiday in the UK operates March to September and in either direction.
The daily distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too.
Our stated distances include mileage to the accommodation or pickup point and so may not agree with the guide book mileages.
Rest days can be taken in any location.
Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of the UK or Ireland. Our staff will be happy to advise on necessary transfers.
Online booking available.
A deposit of £85 per person is required to secure the booking, with the balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Optional extra days and accommodation upgrades can be added during the booking process online.
Please wait for the confirmation of your holiday before making final travel plans just in case your holiday is not available for your requested date.
Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday
Suggested Tour Duration:
5 nights, 4 days walking
Total Distance:
26-40 miles
Min/max daily distance:
8/14 miles
Average Daily Distance:
9 miles
Grading:
easy
Features:
Giants Causeway
Bushmills Irish Whiskey Distillery
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Rathlin Island
coastal walking
seals and wildlife
This walk connects with:
Glens of Antrim/Moyle Way
Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday
Portrush to Ballycastle
Day by Day Itinerary
Optional Day in Belfast
Day 1: Arrive at Portrush
To start your walking holiday on The Causeway Coast Way walking trail you make your own way to Portrush, Northern Ireland (Ulster) for your first night’s accommodation. Portrush is well connected to Belfast by train and bus. We can assist with coach or train transfers if necessary as well as ferry or plane travel from UK. Car parking is available for the duration of your self-guided walking holiday on The Causeway Coast Way.
Optional Day in Portrush
Day 2: Portrush to Giant’s Causeway/Bushmills 8 miles easy
Walking out of Portrush, take time to visit Dunluce Castle. The present castles dates back to the 16th century but the site may have been used by the Normans in the 12th century. We take a short detour inland to Bushmills for a visit to its famous Whiskey Distillery. If you wish you can take a restored tramway from Bushmills to the Giant’s Causeway, return to the Causeway Coast Way to walk to the Giant’s Causeway, the highlight of any walking holiday in Ireland.
Optional day at the Giants Causeway
Day 3: Giant’s Causeway/Bushmills to Ballintoy 10 miles easy
As you are walking on the cliff tops of the Causeway Coast Way you have a superb view of the Giant’s Causeway far below. In good visibility Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre can be seen, as well as the islands of Islay and Jura . The hiking trail passes the hamlet of Portbraddan, the site of Ireland’s smallest Church, and the ruined Dunseverick Castle. The walking trail crosses White Park Bay before reaching Ballintoy.
Day 4: Ballintoy to Ballycastle 8 miles easy
Walking on from Ballintoy the trail passes Larry Bane Bay and soon reaches another highlight of the Causeway Coast Way hiking tour, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, strung between the cliffs 30 meters above the sea to allow fishermen to reach their fishing nets. This rope bridge is off-route and therefore optional. Hiking on to Kenbane Head the white cliffs of Rathlin Island come into view. Ballycastle has a fine selections of bars and restaurants, it also has a fine beach and pretty little harbour.
Day 5: Day trip to Rathlin Island 2-14 miles easy
Any visit to the Causeway Coast of Ireland should include a trip to this special island. Rathlin Island is only 6 miles north of Ballycastle and the ferry takes between 20 and 45 minutes. Rathlin Island is an L shaped island seven miles long famous for its seabird colony and rare flora. There are plenty of walking trails as well as a bar and a cafe and is the only offshore inhabited island in Northern Ireland. Cost of ferry not included in price of holiday). You return to Ballycastle for your overnight stay.
Optional Day in Ballycastle
Optional Day in Belfast
Day 8: Depart after breakfast
Depart after breakfast or extend your holiday and spend some time in the area.
You can extend your holiday by continuing on the Glens of Antrim Moyle Way.
We can transfer you to your car or station.
Please note the following events in the area:
The Giants Causeway trail run will take place Saturday 12th Apr 2025.
The North West 200 Bike Race takes place 5th to 10th May 2025.
The Northern Ireland AirShow will take place Sat 7th and Sun 8th Sept 2024 (dates for 2025 to be confirmed).
The Giants Causeway Marathon will take Sat 21st June 2025.
This will affect your enjoyment of the area, the availability of accommodation in the entire area and our ability to deliver your luggage.
Therefore when booking your walking holiday on Causeway Coast Way we suggest you avoid this area around these dates.
from Portrush to Ballycastle
(west to east)
in Northern Ireland
6 day itinerary
4 days walking and 5 nights
Suggested Itinerary
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Belfast | |
| Day 1: | arrive Portrush | |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Portrush | |
| Day 2: | Portrush to Bushmills via Giants Causeway | 8 miles |
| Optional Day | optional extra day at Giants Causeway | |
| Day 3: | Bushmills to Ballintoy | 10 miles |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Ballintoy | |
| Day 4: | Ballintoy to Ballycastle via Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (optional) | 8 miles |
| Day 5: | day trip to Rathlin Island | 2-14 mileage to suit |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Ballycastle | |
| Day 6: | depart Ballycastle | |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Belfast |
6 day itinerary 5 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2025 | £650 | £1,145 | £1,245 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £64.00 per person
depending on location
Optional Accommodation Upgrades for
Causeway Coast Way
Can be added when booking online
Subject to availability Supplement per person per night
Portrush
Atlantic Hotel
double/twin
£45.00
single
please ask
Magherabour Hotel
£45.00
please ask
Royal Court Hotel
£54.00
please ask
Causeway
Grays Hotel
double/twin
£29.00
single
£88.00
Causeway Hotel
£75.00
please ask
Ballycastle
Marine Hotel
double/twin
£55.00
single
£128.00
What’s included
in your Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday in UK
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed itineraries
Optional Extras
for your Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday in UK
- upgrade to the region’s most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
What’s not included
in your Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday in UK
- day trip ticket to Rathlin Island
- lunches and dinners
- travel insurance
- entrance to Giants Causeway (National Trust)
Lunches and Dinners
These are not included.
Evening meals
These are available at overnight locations, either at your accommodation or in the town/village.
Packed lunches
These can be provided by your accommodation or can be obtained from a local store, or cafe or inn along the route.
Holiday Travel Insurance
We require that you take out holiday insurance as Let’s Go Biking Ltd accepts no liability for the following:
cancellation, personal accident, illness, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, and any unforeseen circumstances, especially travel delays.
This is in addition to our existing
booking conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our telephone Lines are open 7 days a week.
UK +44 (0)1837 880075
or +44 (0)207 193 1252
March to September 9am to 9pm
October to February 9am to 5pm
US +1 (646) 233-1541
New York 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
AUS +61 (02) 8006 0182
Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time:
March to September 7pm to 7am EADT
October to February 7pm to 3am EADT
CAN +1 (647) 4786251
Toronto 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
or
Causeway Coast Way Walking Holiday:
How to get there
- By Plane to Belfast or Londonderry where we can arrange transfer to Portrush or Ballycastle
- By Sea to Belfast or Larne
- By Car to Portrush or Ballycastle where parking is available
- By Train / Bus to Portrush or Ballycastle
We have Coastal Walking Holidays in the UK in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands.
This is one of our categories of walking holidays.
- Arran Coastal Way in Scotland
- Causeway Coast Way in Northern Ireland
- Causeway Coast Way and Glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland
- Channel Islands
- Cleveland Way part of the England Coast Path
- Cumbria Coastal Way part of the England Coast Path
- Dingle Way in Ireland
- England Coast Path
- Fife Coastal Path in Scotland
- Great Gardens of Cornwall
- Great Gardens of Devon
- Guernsey, Herm and Sark in the Channel Islands
- Hebridean Way in Scotland
- Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path part of the Wales Coast Path
- Isle of Man
- Isle of Mull
- Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall
- Jersey Coastal Footpath in the Channel Islands
- Kerry Way in Ireland
- Lecale Way in Northern Ireland
- Lleyn Peninsula, part of the Wales Coast Path
- Norfolk Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- Northumberland Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- Pembroke Coast Path part of the Wales Coast Path
- Rye to Ramsgate on England Coast Path
- Solent Way part of the England Coast Path
- Somerset Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- South West Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- Suffolk Coast Path
- Tarka Trail in Devon
- Wales Coast Path
- Yorkshire Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
