Rathlin Island Coastal Walk
County Antrim
Rathlin Island lies six miles off the Antrim coast and the Roonivoolin coastal walk rolls south from the harbour over grassland, tarmac and gravel with huge sea views. It is dog friendly on this southern route, though dogs are banned inside the Kebble RSPB reserve and around the West Lighthouse, so plan the day around the permitted sections.
Ferry access from Ballycastle means cars stay on the mainland, so leave the boot in the harbour car park and walk on. Dogs must be on a lead throughout because of nesting seabirds, sheep and cattle on the common grazings. Toilets, a cafe and a pub are clustered around Church Bay, and there are no services once you leave the village so carry water and a towel for after.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 10.0 km (6.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 3 hr
- Walk Type
- Coastal
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- None
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Toilets, cafe and pub at Church Bay harbour, nothing en route.
- Parking
- Harbour car park at Ballycastle for vehicles before the ferry, limited disabled parking on Rathlin itself.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Rathlin Island Coastal Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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What’s Nearby?
Walk5.8 mi awayBallycastle to Murlough Bay Coastal Path
County Antrim
A dog friendly clifftop and shore walk down to the hidden cove of Murlough Bay with sweeping views towards Fair Head.
Walk6 mi awayFair Head Coastal Walk, Ballycastle
County Antrim
A dramatic Antrim headland walk with big cliff top views, but dog owners should note strict restrictions from working farmland.
Beach6.4 mi awayBallycastle Beach
County Antrim
A sandy beach in the shadow of the Ballycastle headland with Rathlin Island views and year-round access in this characterful north Antrim town.
Beach6.8 mi awayMurlough Bay Antrim
County Antrim
One of Antrim's most remote and dramatic bays below Fair Head's basalt columns, with historical connections to Roger Casement, year-round dog access and extraordinary views to Rathlin Island and Scotland.
Walk10.3 mi awayBallypatrick Forest Walk
County Antrim
A forest climb for a dog on a lead, rewarded with viewpoints over the Causeway Coast and a burial cairn nearly 4,000 years old.
Walk12.7 mi awayGiant's Causeway and North Antrim Cliff Path
Northern Ireland
One of Britain's great coastal walks along the Causeway Coast from the basalt columns to Dunseverick, dramatic all the way.