Causeway Coastal Route Tours

About Causeway Coastal Route

The Causeway Coastal Route is a 120-mile (190-kilometre) driving route along the north coast of Northern Ireland between Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Consistently rated among the world's greatest coastal drives, it combines dramatic geology, ruined clifftop castles, the nine Glens of Antrim, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site into a single linear journey. The Giant's Causeway is the route's centrepiece — a formation of roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption, stepping down from the cliff into the North Atlantic. It is Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited natural attractions in Ireland. The visitor centre, managed by the National Trust, sits above the columns and offers audio-guided tours. The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, near Ballintoy, is a 20-metre rope bridge slung 30 metres above the sea, connecting the mainland to a small island once used by salmon fishermen. Nearby, Ballintoy Harbour — a photogenic cove with limestone rocks and a small stone quay — served as the Iron Islands harbour in Game of Thrones. The Dark Hedges, an avenue of gnarled beech trees planted in the 18th century, appeared as the Kingsroad in the same series and is one of the most photographed spots in Northern Ireland. Dunluce Castle, between Bushmills and Portrush, is a dramatic clifftop ruin perched on a basalt outcrop above the Atlantic. Parts of the castle kitchen fell into the sea during a storm in 1639. Bushmills Distillery, in the nearby village, holds the title of the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, with tours running year-round. The Glens of Antrim — nine glacier-carved valleys running from the mountains to the sea — fill the route's middle section between Belfast and Ballycastle. Glenariff, the widest glen, has a waterfall walk through a forested gorge. The coastal villages of Carnlough, Cushendall, and Cushendun are well-preserved and atmospheric stopping points.