Antrim · Northern Ireland

Causeway Coast Way

51km along Antrim's north coast — Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, White Park Bay.

51km3 daysAscent 800mmoderate
Written by Séamus O'Byrne · Aug 23, 2026

Updated August 23, 2026

The single most photogenic 51km in Ireland. Break it into 3 days: Portstewart → Portballintrae → Ballintoy → Ballycastle. Buses back or arrange left-luggage in Ballycastle.

Best months: April-October
Trailhead / base town: Portstewart
Nearest airport: BFS
Waymarked: Yes — signposted route

Waypoint map — 8 points

Topographic base map + trail polyline. Click each waypoint for the trail-note.

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Elevation profile

Estimated — download the GPX for definitive elevation data on device.

640m

Peak gain

0m160m320m480m640m0km13km26km38km51km

Profile is an approximation from the trail's published ascent metres + typical mountain-profile shape. Real per-metre elevation available in the GPX download opened on Garmin, Gaia, Komoot, or Apple Watch.

Community reviews

Real hikers, real dates, real conditions. No premium tier — no AllTrails-style paywall.

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Trail waypoints in order

  1. 1

    Portstewart (Start)

  2. 2

    Dunluce Castle

  3. 3

    Giant's Causeway

  4. 4

    Dunseverick Castle

  5. 5

    White Park Bay

  6. 6

    Ballintoy Harbour

    Game of Thrones filming location

  7. 7

    Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

  8. 8

    Ballycastle (Finish)

Causeway Coast Way — frequently asked

How long does the Causeway Coast Way take to complete?

3 days for the full 51km (800m total ascent). Difficulty grade: moderate.

Is the Causeway Coast Way waymarked?

Yes — waymarked with yellow arrow + walking-man signs at every junction. You do not need a topo map to complete it, but bring one anyway for weather-diversion decisions.

When is the best time of year for the Causeway Coast Way?

April-October. Outside these months conditions can turn technical (mud, mist, short daylight) and the value-per-effort drops sharply.

Where should I base myself for the Causeway Coast Way?

Portstewart — the trailhead is here and it's the natural place to sleep before + after. Fly into BFS, pre-book airport transfer, and pick a base hotel with parking if you're doing multiple sections.

Do I need a permit for the Causeway Coast Way?

No permit required — the trail crosses public land, National Parks land, or is a formally waymarked national trail with open access. Respect any farm-stile signs and leave gates as you found them.