Northern Ireland boasts some of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe. Rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and emerald headlands create perfect terrain for unforgettable walks. From gentle family-friendly strolls to challenging hikes over windswept promontories, the variety of coastal paths offers something for every ability level and interest.
Here is a list of 20 coastal walks that showcase the breathtaking maritime landscape of Northern Ireland. Each offers unique perspectives on this spectacular shoreline.
The Causeway Coast Way
This 33-mile route between Portstewart and Ballycastle serves as Northern Ireland’s signature coastal walk. It features the world-famous Giant’s Causeway with its hexagonal basalt columns.
The path winds through dramatic cliff landscapes formed by ancient volcanic activity and offers glimpses of Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre on clear days. Most walkers tackle this route in sections, with the stretch between Dunseverick Castle and the Giant’s Causeway providing an accessible 5-mile segment with consistent jaw-dropping views.
Murlough Bay to Fair Head
This remote and rugged walk presents some of the most spectacular cliff scenery in Northern Ireland, with panoramic views across the sea to Scotland and the Mull of Kintyre. The path climbs gradually along the cliffs with the imposing basalt columns of Fair Head rising 600 feet above the sea, creating a formidable presence.
Wildlife spotters might glimpse peregrine falcons circling above, while the remnants of an old coal mining operation provide fascinating historical interest along this relatively challenging 4-mile route.
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Portstewart Strand
This gentle beach walk follows one of Northern Ireland’s finest stretches of golden sand, backed by ancient dune systems teeming with rare wildlife and plant species. The firm sand makes for easy walking at low tide, while the Bann Estuary at the western end attracts diverse birdlife, including ringed plovers and oystercatchers.
The two-mile route offers spectacular sunset views across to Donegal and connects to the charming promenade of Portstewart town with its Victorian architecture.
The North Down Coastal Path
Stretching 16 miles from Hollywood to Orlock Point, this well-maintained path combines natural beauty with historic sites, including World War II gun emplacements and old smuggling harbors. The route passes through Crawfordsburn Country Park with its beautiful woodlands and waterfall before continuing along dramatic cliffs and rocky shores.
The section between Bangor and Groomsport offers a particularly accessible 4-mile stretch with Victorian bathing pools, harbor views, and plentiful coffee shops.
Portmuck to The Gobbins
This dramatic walk along the eastern coast of Islandmagee follows cliff paths with spectacular views of the Antrim coast and across to Scotland. The route passes the abandoned limestone quarry at Portmuck before reaching the entrance to The Gobbins cliff path, an engineering marvel from 1902 that has been restored for guided tours.
Seabirds, including puffins, razorbills, and kittiwakes, nest on the cliff faces, creating a lively atmosphere during breeding season on this challenging but rewarding 3-mile trail.
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Murlough Nature Reserve
The wooden boardwalk through Northern Ireland’s first nature reserve protects the fragile 6,000-year-old dune system while providing an easy walking surface with magnificent views of the Mourne Mountains sweeping down to the sea. The 3-mile circular route opens onto a pristine beach where seals can frequently be spotted offshore and rare butterflies flutter through the dune vegetation.
The diverse habitats support over 600 species of butterflies and moths, making this County Down walk a paradise for nature enthusiasts.
Ballintoy to Whitepark Bay
This section of the Causeway Coast offers a perfect mix of dramatic sea stacks, hidden caves, and a pristine sandy bay away from the busier tourist areas. Starting at the picturesque Ballintoy Harbor, the path climbs over limestone cliffs before descending to the pristine sweep of Whitepark Bay, where archaeological remnants dating back to Neolithic times have been found.
The moderate 3-mile walk offers exceptional photography opportunities and chances to explore tidal rock pools teeming with marine life.
Castle Ward Shore Trail
This National Trust property offers a fascinating 2-mile coastal route along the shores of Strangford Lough, combining historical interest with stunning natural beauty. The path winds through woodland before emerging onto shoreline sections with views across to Portaferry and the Narrows, where the Irish Sea meets the Lough.
The unusual architecture of Castle Ward House provides a striking backdrop, while the trail passes ancient monuments, including a reconstructed tower house and medieval shore fortifications.
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Cushendun to Cushendall
This 6-mile route along the eastern coast of the Glens of Antrim passes through landscapes shaped by geology and mythology. The path winds between the picturesque villages of Cushendun, with its Cornish-style cottages, and Cushendall, nestled beneath Lurigethan Mountain.
Along the way, walkers pass caves associated with the Children of Lir legend and remarkable red sandstone cliffs that contrast dramatically with the blue sea and green fields, creating one of Northern Ireland’s most colorful coastal panoramas.
Benone Strand
The uninterrupted 7-mile stretch of golden sand from Downhill to Magilligan Point offers one of the most spacious beach walks in Northern Ireland, with the dramatic backdrop of Binevenagh Mountain. The beach has firm sand that is ideal for walking and provides constantly changing perspectives of Donegal across Lough Foyle and the distant Scottish islands.
The Mussenden Temple, perched dramatically on the cliff edge above the eastern end, adds architectural interest to this straightforward but invigorating walk.
Bloody Bridge to Newcastle
This coastal section of the Mourne Mountains offers a dramatic meeting of mountains and sea as the granite peaks sweep down to the shoreline. Starting at the old stone bridge with its somber history, the path follows the Bloody Bridge River before joining a coastal trail with stunning views across Dundrum Bay.
The 4-mile route to Newcastle offers interesting geological features, including weathered granite boulders and natural rock arches shaped by centuries of Atlantic storms.
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Portballintrae to Bushmills
This accessible 3-mile stretch follows the Bush River from its coastal outlet at Portballintrae to the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery in Bushmills. The path passes the ruins of Dunluce Castle, dramatically positioned on a clifftop promontory, before following the heritage railway line inland.
The diversity of coastal, river, and countryside landscapes makes this an ideal introductory walk for those exploring the North Coast for the first time.
Killard Point Nature Reserve
This windswept headland jutting into the Irish Sea offers a 4-mile circular walk through one of Northern Ireland’s most important maritime heath habitats. The peninsula near Strangford features evidence of early Christian settlements and provides sweeping views across to the Isle of Man on clear days.
Spring brings a spectacular display of wildflowers, including rare orchids, while winter storms create dramatic wave displays against the rocky shoreline.
White Park Bay to Ballintoy
The curved sweep of this pristine National Trust beach on the North Antrim coast offers an easy but spectacular 2-mile walk between limestone headlands. This remote beach contains unexpected historical elements, including Neolithic tools regularly exposed by shifting sands and tidal movements.
The adjacent grasslands rich in wildflowers support one of Northern Ireland’s largest colonies of choughs, the rare red-billed member of the crow family that thrives in this undisturbed coastal habitat.
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Roe Valley Country Park
This riverside and coastal walk follows the dramatic gorge carved by the River Roe as it approaches the sea near Limavady. The 4-mile path passes through woodland before opening to coastal views across Lough Foyle to Donegal, with the ruins of O’Cahan’s Castle providing historical interest.
The park contains remnants of Northern Ireland’s linen industry, including water wheels and mill races, creating a fascinating blend of industrial heritage and natural coastal beauty.
Magilligan Point
This flat peninsula walk explores the area where Lough Foyle meets the Atlantic Ocean, featuring one of the finest dune systems in Northern Ireland. The 3-mile circular route passes Magilligan Martello Tower, built in 1812 to defend against Napoleonic invasion, and offers excellent birdwatching opportunities as the estuary attracts numerous migratory species.
The ferry connection to Greencastle in Donegal operates nearby, making this an ideal starting point for exploring both sides of the Foyle.
Crawfordsburn to Helen’s Bay
This accessible section of the North Down Coastal Path connects two popular beaches via a cliff path with outstanding views across Belfast Lough. The 2-mile route passes through Crawfordsburn Country Park, with its mixed woodland, before following a rocky shoreline to the golden sands of Helen’s Bay.
Grey Point Fort, a perfectly preserved coastal artillery site from the World Wars, provides historical interest with its gun emplacements and underground magazines open to exploration.
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The Mournes Coastal Route
This spectacular 6-mile path from Annalong to Bloody Bridge hugs the coastline where the mountains of Mourne sweep dramatically down to the sea. The trail passes active granite quarries that have operated since the 1800s, with the Annalong Cornmill providing insight into the area’s industrial heritage.
Views extend across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man, while behind walkers stand the imposing peaks of Slieve Donard and Slieve Binnian, creating one of the most dramatic backdrops of any coastal walk in the British Isles.
Rathlin Island
Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island offers outstanding coastal walking. Its unusual L-shaped formation creates diverse maritime landscapes. The 4-mile route to the West Light Seabird Centre follows dramatic cliffs, which during summer months host thousands of nesting seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills.
The island’s position at the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea creates fascinating tidal patterns visible from the elevated coastal paths circumnavigating this tranquil outpost.
Waterfoot to Glenariff
This short but spectacular 2-mile coastal walk starts at the beach in Waterfoot before climbing to offer panoramic views over Red Bay with its distinctive red sandstone cliffs. The route continues to the mouth of Glenariff, known as the ‘Queen of the Glens’ for its exceptional beauty, where waterfalls reach the sea through a richly wooded gorge.
The coastal dairy pastures along this route produce the milk for some of Northern Ireland’s finest ice cream, available from local shops in this picturesque corner of the Antrim Glens.
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Where Land Meets Sea
These coastal routes represent the finest edge-of-land experiences Northern Ireland offers, combining natural splendor with rich cultural heritage. The varied terrain ensures that walkers of all abilities can find appropriate paths, from level beach strolls to challenging cliff scrambles.
While these 20 walks showcase the highlights, countless unmarked paths and beach access points invite exploration of this magnificent coastline, where new perspectives await around every headland and memories are carried home on the Atlantic breeze.
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