Getting there
- Flights to Derry (LDY) 30 km from the start
- Flights to Belfast (BFS) 65 km from the start
Treks / United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
Causeway Coast Way
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) · Nearest city: Belfast
TypeMulti-day trek
Days2–3
Distance≈ 51 km
Climbingvaries
Highest pointlow-level
A coastal walk past the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and ruined castles on Northern Ireland's north coast.
Fitness
Easy
Best seasonApril to October
Watch out: Some beach sections depend on the tide. Check tide times.
Why people choose it
It connects the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and castle ruins in a short, easy coastal walk.
What makes it different
- Giant's Causeway basalt columns
- Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
- Game of Thrones filming locations
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
EU 'roam like at home' doesn't apply in United Kingdom, and many plans charge extra there. A Europe data eSIM covers United Kingdom too.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Wild camping is generally not allowed without the landowner's permission. Use campsites or hostels.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Trail from OpenStreetMap (42.2 km) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Portstewart → Portrush → Giant's Causeway → Ballintoy → Ballycastle
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book your first and last nights, and check whether accommodation along the way needs reserving.
- Best time to go: April to October.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Belfast.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: April to October
April to May
Spring
Often the driest time of year, with long days and fresh green hills. Can still be cold and windy on the tops.
Bring
- Warm layer and hat
- Waterproof jacket
- Gloves for high ground
June to August
Summer
Longest days and warmest weather, but also rain showers, busier trails and, in Scotland, midges.
Bring
- Midge head net and repellent in Scotland
- Waterproofs, always
- Book accommodation early
September to October
Autumn
Fewer people and beautiful colours, but wetter, windier weather and shorter days.
Bring
- Full waterproofs, jacket and trousers
- Headlamp
- Waterproof boots
Be ready for
Tides
Some sections can only be passed at low tide. Carry a tide table and plan your day around it.
Strong wind
Exposed ridges and summits can be very windy and cold. A windproof layer and hat are worth carrying even on warm days.
What you'll see
8 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Causeway Coast Way
Photo credits: Causeway-code poet by code poet on flickr., CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Carrick a rede rope by Stuart Yeates from Oxford, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; The Promenade at Portstewart - geograph.org.uk by Des Colhoun, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Whiterocks Beach - Portrush, Northern Ireland, UK - August by Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View over Ballintrae from Dunluce Road - geograph.org.uk by Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Lake at Rathlin island, Northern Ireland by Joli, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Whiterocks Strand - geograph.org.uk by Robert Ashby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; View over Ballintoy - geograph.org.uk by Russel Wills, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
