If you were only to do one scenic drive in Northern Ireland, it should be along the coast of Antrim. Ireland has numerous beautiful drives, including the well-known Ring of Kerry drive, but the drive along the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland can match any of them for its variety and stunning scenery.
Highlights include coastal towns like Portrush and Ballycastle, Bushmills with its famous whiskey distillery, the World Heritage Site of the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the spectacular Glens of Antrim.
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Facts About the Drive along the Coast of Antrim, Ireland
- From Portrush to Belfast along the Antrim costal route is about 75 miles (120kms)
- The drive should take 2-3 hours, plus extra for stops. Two days would be better, to enjoy everything
- There is a faster cross-country route from Larne or Belfast to Portrush, if you need to return more quickly
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Route for the Drive along the Coast of Antrim, Ireland
From Portrush drive east along the A2 into Bushmills. The coastal scenery is magnificent from the start. In Bushmills allow time to visit the Old Bushmills Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in the world.
From Bushmills follow the signs for the Giant's Causeway, where you will also want to spend plenty of time. From the Giant's Causeway turn left as you exit, to enjoy more of the beautiful Antrim coastal scenery, and then this road rejoins the A2. Turn left towards Ballycastle.
Before you get to Ballycastle take the B15 road forking left to Ballintoy. Go through Ballintoy to the tiny island of Carrick-a-Rede, joined to the mainland by a swaying rope bridge. Beyond Carrick-a-Rede the B15 rejoins the A2 at Ballycastle, a lovely harbor town and a good place to take a break for lunch, or even stay overnight.
From Ballycastle the A2 goes all the way along the east coast to Larne, from where you can either go on into Belfast or return to Portrush taking the more direct inland route via Ballymena.
However, along this stretch is where you will find the Glens of Antrim, and you can divert inland to enjoy one or more of them, as time allows. If you only have time for one drive, then make it Glenariff, known as the Queen of the Glens. For this you take a right turn on the A43 at Waterfoot, just after passing through Cushendall. It's only a short drive of six miles or so, but it goes through the impressive scenery of Glenariff to the Glenariff Forest Park. Here you'll find a Visitor Centre and a chance to explore, before continuing the drive.
For a little variety, turn left out of the park onto the B14 which takes you back to Cushendall through Glenballyemon, another of the Glens of Antrim, and back to resume the Antrim Coastal Drive.
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To see some accommodation options along the Antrim Coast Drive, click here.
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The Antrim Coastal Drive is included in the Best Drives in Britain and Ireland.
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Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
