Life

Weekend walk: Ballintoy to Bushmills

Area: Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Distance: 12.4 miles Linear (one way)

Map: Sheet 5 of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Discoverer Series available from Land & Property Services osni.gov.uk or nidirect.gov.uk/map-shop-information.

Nearest town to start: Ballintoy

Facilities: Café, toilets and a car park are available in Ballintoy Harbour.

Developed by: This walk has been developed and is maintained by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

Terrain: Uneven single-file clifftop tracks and beaches.

Walk Description: Expect spectacular views along this 12-mile Causeway Coast walk. It starts at Ballintoy Harbour which you may recognise as the quay of 'the Iron Islands' from Game of Thrones. From the harbour, follow the Causeway Coast Way path in a westerly direction, passing low dunes and pastures.

Cross the stile which will lead you past rock stacks to access the narrow end of White Park Bay. Walk along the beach before crossing the rocks and chalk boulders to access Portbradden. During high tide, you may need to join the main coast road via the track at the youth hostel, and follow the winding road down to Portbradden.

Take some time to enjoy the picturesque cottages in Portbradden before continuing along the coast, passing through the arch at Gid Point and a series of rocky bays to Dunseverick Harbour. After a landslide forced its closure in 2012 this clifftop path has recently been reopened and features stunning scenery.

Continue along the Causeway Coast Way passing by Portmoon Salmon Fishery, Contham Head, Benbane and Bengore Head. At the highest point on the walk between Benbane and Bengore is Hamilton's Seat, which offers superb views. The path continues past the Bays of Port na Tober, Port na Spaniagh and the Ampitheatre. At this point you can take the ‘Shepherd’s Steps’ down to the water’s edge to explore the hexagonal basalt formations that make the Giant’s Causeway a World Heritage Site.

From here follow the tarmac path to the visitors centre or return up the ‘Shepherd’s Steps’ back to the clifftop path and follow the gravel trail to the visitors centre. Walk through the car park to the junction of the Causeway Road and the Runkerry Road, continue down the Runkerry Road for 300m to reach the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway.

Here you can hop on the Translink Causeway Rambler to get back to White Park Bay. Alternatively, follow the path alongside the railway track along its length until you reach the Bushmills Station on the Ballaghmore Road where you can organize a lift or taxi back to the start.

Responsible Walking: Please remember to practice the principles of Leave No Trace when enjoying the outdoors in order to minimise your impact on the environment. For more information, see leavenotraceireland.org.

Disclaimer: This information has been provided by WalkNI.com in association with The Irish News. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information. However, neither WalkNI.com nor The Irish News can accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Where such are brought to our attention, the information for future publications will be amended accordingly.

:: Visit WalkNI.com for route descriptions, maps, and transport and facility information for over 240 quality walks across Northern Ireland.