Rathlin Island Wild Camping

Taking in Giant’s Causeway and the Ulster Way as well as the golf courses and sand dunes of Portstewart, the Antrim coast at the very north of Ireland is one of the most scenic places you can be. A must-see if you’re in the area is Rathlin Island, a six-mile ferry trip across the Atlantic from the seaside town of Ballycastle and including an RSPB Seabird Centre with colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Rathlin so far is wild camping only and needs the permission of local landowners to pitch up, but most campers set up in the harbourside field next to McCuaig’s Bar, whose owners are very accommodating. Ring the bar in advance to let them know you’re coming.

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Features

No dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

No dogs allowed

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby leisure

Restaurant nearby

Location

Rathlin Island Wild Camping

Rathlin Island

Ballycastle

Co. Antrim

Northern Ireland

BT54 6RT

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

55.29337°N
-6.1978°W

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Ballycastle	6.2 mi	Sea	Good	Good	Excellent	Good
Portballintrae (Salmon Rock)	14.5 mi	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Waterfoot	16.9 mi	Sea	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Portrush (Whiterocks)	17.4 mi	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Portrush (Curran Strand)	18.7 mi	Sea	Good	Good	Good	N/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Giant's Causeway, Antrim, Northern Ireland 13.2 mi

National Trust

Carrick-a-Rede 7.2 mi

Giant's Causeway 13.1 mi

Portstewart Strand 22.4 mi

Downhill Demesne and Hezlett House 26.1 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

RATHLIN (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 01/03/2006) 0.8 mi

The Mull of Oa 21.6 mi

THE OA (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 09/09/2005) 22 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.