Portballintrae to The Giant’s Causeway - Causeway Coastal Way

Start : Car park above Runkerry Beach, nearby Portballintrae harbour, 4 Port, Portballintrae, Bushmills (BT57 8RT)

(S) From the car park above Runkerry Beach, follow a gravel footpath downhill (East) for around 400 m. Cross a footbridge over the Bush River and turn right (East) onto a wooden boardwalk that traces the bank of the river.

(1) At a junction with a gravel path, turn left (North). You now pass through an extensive sand dune system, walking beside the track of the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway. Cross the tracks twice to reach a wooden gate.

(2) Turn left (West). Follow this path towards the beach, then veer right and descend across a footbridge at the end of the sand. Continue for around 1.8 Km between a slipway and the impressive building of Runkerry House, which dates from the early 1860s. The path now climbs onto the cliff tops, passing around the edge of Runkerry Head. This is the start of a beautiful and dramatic stretch of natural coastline.

(3) From the top of the headland, there’s a great view east towards the Giant’s Causeway. Dip across a cove, then continue to an information sign detailing the walking trails around the causeway. You have just joined the Green Trail, which follows this path to the visitor centre.

(4) Continue around the headland, past the white building of the Causeway Hotel. Just beyond this you reach a flight of steps heading down to your left. It may not be obvious, but you are now on the grass-covered roof of the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre. Go down the steps to reach the visitor centre (E).

Start : Car park above Runkerry Beach, nearby Portballintrae harbour, 4 Port, Portballintrae, Bushmills (BT57 8RT)

Parking : Car parks along the walk

Terrain : Varried tracks, beach, rock, road

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Refreshments available at most towns and villages along the route and at several of the tourist attractions.

Hotels and Airbnb at the arrival :
The Causeway Hotel
Causeway Coast Rentals
Finn McCool's Giants Causeway Hostel

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Did You Know?
The Giant’s Causeway is Ireland’s only natural World Heritage site. Some 40,000 hexagonal columns were created here during a period of intense volcanic activity some 60 million years ago. An analogy often used to illustrate the cooling process of the lava is the cracking of lake beds when they dry out in the sun.