Ballycastle hotels

Hotels in Ballycastle

Ballycastle is on the edge of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of Northern Ireland's most picturesque harbour settlements. The town, which has existed since the Middle Ages, is acclaimed for its exceptionally clean sandy beach and is an excellent base for exploring Northern Ireland's dramatic northern coast.

Key landmarks in and around Ballycastle

Dating back to the 16th century, Kinbane Castle is known for its remarkable sea views, although the building was attacked by English soldiers shortly after its construction and quickly fell into ruins. Ballycastle is also overlooked by Holy Trinity church, a protected Grade 'A' Listed landmark that was completed in the 1750s and is noted for its attractive Italianate features and tall octagonal spire.

Fair Head

Fair Head, a 196-metre headland, has been an inspiration for many artists over the years and has been a destination for rock climbing since the 1960s. The headland even became a nesting area for two golden eagles for a time in the 1950s, and offers excellent panoramic views towards Rathlin Island and Scotland.

The beach

No trip to Ballycastle would be complete without a visit to Ballycastle Beach, which has earned the prestigious Blue Flag award in recognition of its cleanliness. This white sandy bay is popular with families during the school summer holidays, and is only a short walk from the centre of the town and numerous Ballycastle hotels.

Ould Lammas Fair

This event has taken place at Ballycastle for nearly four centuries and includes a large farmers' market. The fair is still held every year at the end of August, and is just one of numerous Lammas Day harvest festivals held in destinations throughout the United Kingdom.

Other local places of interest:

The Antrim Coast and Glens

See the lush hills and mountains of the Antrim Plateau, explore some of the finest sandy beaches in the country, or consider taking a boat trip to Rathlin Island, a Special Area of Conservation and home to a substantial seabird population.

In just a short car journey, you can also witness Northern Ireland's greatest natural wonder, the Giant's Causeway, which is a former volcanic site and comprises tens of thousands of basalt columns. This site has been a source of fascination for countless numbers of artists and scientists over the years, and is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.