Causeway Coastal Route

A coastal road of roughly 195 km from Belfast along the Antrim coast to Derry, linking the Antrim Coast Road, the Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle.

The Causeway Coastal Route is the best-known self-drive route in Northern Ireland. It runs north from Belfast on the A2, following the coast of County Antrim to Derry (Londonderry), a total of about 120 miles (roughly 195 km). The southern section is the Antrim Coast Road, built in the 19th century and hugging the sea. Highlights include Carrickfergus Castle, the Gobbins cliff path, Glenarm, and the Antrim Glens, including Glenariff Forest Park and Cushendun Caves. You can take a scenic detour around Torr Head. The northern section is the highlight. It includes the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Ballintoy Harbour, the Dark Hedges (the filming location of Game of Thrones, slightly inland), the UNESCO World Heritage Giant's Causeway, the Bushmills Distillery, and Dunluce Castle on a clifftop. The route ends at the old walls of Derry, passing Portstewart Strand and the Mussenden Temple. Without stops it takes four to five hours, and two to three days is recommended, with a night in Ballycastle or Portrush. The roads are in good condition, but the coastal roads are narrow. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so speed limits are in miles per hour. If you hire a car in the Republic of Ireland and drive across the border, tell the rental company in advance.

Causeway Coastal Route

Along the route