Causeway Coast Overview

Past Cushendun, the northern coast shifts from gentle to dramatic, paving the way for Northern Ireland’s postcard superstars. Sea-battered cliffs and castle ruins tower 600 ft. above white, wave-lapped beaches before yielding to the geological splendor of the Giant’s Causeway. Lying between stretches of scenery, the Causeway is a hopscotch of 40,000 black-and-red hexagonal stone columns, formed by volcanic eruptions 65 million years ago. The site today swarms with visitors, although few take time to explore the rest of the stunning and easily accessible coastline.

The A2 is suitable for cycling and is the major thoroughfare for the main towns along the Causeway. Ulsterbus #172 (Coleraine Bus and Rail Center ☎7032 5400, timetable info 9066 6630; www.translink.co.uk) runs between Ballycastle and Coleraine (and to Portrush once daily) along the coast (1 hr.; M-F 7 per day, Sa 1 per day, Su 3 per day; £5) and makes frequent connections to Portstewart. The #140 “Triangle” service connects Portrush, Portstewart, and Coleraine (M-Sa every 10-30min. 7am-10:30pm, Su every hr. 7am-10:30pm; £2). The #252 “Antrim Coaster” runs up the coast from Belfast to Portstewart via about every town imaginable (£4 to Larne, £9 to Belfast). Ulsterbus also runs package tours that leave from Belfast, Portrush, and Portstewart (£10-30). The orange, open-topped Bushmills Bus traces the coast between Coleraine, 5 mi. south of Portrush, and the Causeway. (Coleraine bus station ☎7032 5400. July-Aug. 5 per day.) Hitching along A2 or the inland roads is difficult due to the low number of passing cars and is never recommended by Let’s Go.