Choose Your Hike

We offer different tour grading levels depending on the balance of physical challenge and comfort level that you require

Gentle Hikes

Our Gentle Hiking Tours are designed with the part-time hiker in mind.

People for whom taking photos, meeting the locals and enjoying a long lunch are as important as the hike itself.

Average Hiking Distance: 13-16km (8-10 miles) per day Average Hiking Time: 3-5 hours per day

See Tours: 4 Tage 5 Tage 6 Tage 7 Tage 8 Tage
4-Tage / 3-Nächte Leicht Ballintoy - Bushmills from 499 € per person View Itinerary
5-Tage / 4-Nächte Leicht Ballintoy - Portstewart from 609 € per person View Itinerary
6-Tage / 5-Nächte Leicht Rathlin Island & Ballintoy - Portstewart from 759 € per person View Itinerary
7-Tage / 6-Nächte Leicht Murlough Bay - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 889 € per person View Itinerary
8-Tage / 7-Nächte Leicht Murlough Bay - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 1009 € per person View Itinerary

Moderate Hikes

Our Moderate Hiking Tours will suit people who are used to regular exercise.

Hikers will appreciate the chance to cover plenty of ground each day without going beyond their limits.

Look out for the 🥾 symbol: this itinerary covers the entire Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast trail from Glenariff to Portstewart

Average Hiking Distance: 16-20km (10-12.5 miles) Average Hiking Time: 5-7 hours per day

See Tours: 4 Tage 5 Tage 6 Tage 7 Tage 8 Tage 9 Tage 10 Tage
4-Tage / 3-Nächte Moderat Ballintoy - Portstewart from 499 € per person View Itinerary
5-Tage / 4-Nächte Moderat Rathlin Island & Ballintoy - Portstewart from 609 € per person View Itinerary
6-Tage / 5-Nächte Moderat Murlough Bay - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 759 € per person View Itinerary
7-Tage / 6-Nächte Moderat Murlough Bay - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 889 € per person View Itinerary
8-Tage / 7-Nächte Moderat Orra Beg - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 1009 € per person View Itinerary
9-Tage / 8-Nächte Moderat Glenariff Forest Park - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 1119 € per person View Itinerary
10-Tage / 9-Nächte Moderat 🥾 Cushendall - Portstewart (Inkl. Rathlin Island) from 1239 € per person View Itinerary

Trail Info

The Route

For the most part, our Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast itineraries follow the ‘Ulster Way,’ an official long-distance walking route that spans 1,000km/625 miles around Northern Ireland. Additionally, we have included some additional non-waymarked sections that offer great views or easier walking paths.

From Cushendall to Ballycastle, moderate tours follow the ‘Moyle Way’ section of the Ulster Way. This trail takes you through the renowned Glens of Antrim, the picturesque woodlands and rivers of Glenariff Forest Park, and across remote uplands as you make your way towards the town of Ballycastle.

Next, many gentle tours visit Murlough Bay, known for its appearances in Game of Thrones, and continue onto a breathtaking cliff walk at Fair Head, which is a paradise for climbers and offers panoramic views towards Scotland. Most itineraries also include a visit to Rathlin Island, where you can delve into the island’s rich history and witness its world-renowned wildlife, including the famous Puffins.

From the lively seaside town of Ballycastle, the trail traverses farm and forestry tracks, along with minor roads. It leads to the charming village of Ballintoy, renowned for its iconic Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Continuing westward from Ballintoy, the trail joins the ‘Causeway Coast Way’ section of the Ulster Way, which takes you along the most acclaimed and scenic coastline in Northern Ireland.

This stunning coastline leads past the historically rich Dunseverick Castle and onward to the world-renowned Giant’s Causeway. Close-by is the town of Bushmills, which is home to the world’s oldest whiskey distillery. Continuing along the coastline, the trail takes you through the quaint coastal villages of Portballintrae and Portrush, offering glimpses of the magnificent ruins of Dunluce Castle, before finally arriving at the picturesque Victorian seaside town of Portstewart.

Terrain Overview

This trail offers a wide variety of terrain for you to explore. From enchanting forest trails and tranquil moorland paths to breathtaking cliff views, serene beach walks, leisurely promenade strolls, and occasional stretches of quiet country roads, each day brings a new and exciting experience.

The Moderate tour itineraries specifically include the more demanding mountain sections of the Moyle Way in the Antrim Glens. These hikes, from Cushendall/Orra Beg to Glenariff Forest Park and from Orra Beg to Ballycastle, take you through remote countryside and reach the highest point of the walk at Sleaveanorra (Orra More), standing at 500m in elevation. These sections may have boggy and rugged terrain, and during inclement weather, navigation can become slightly more challenging.

Our Gentle tour itineraries are designed to showcase the beautiful Antrim Coast and are suitable for both novice walkers and experienced hikers. Along the coastal section of the trail, the highest point reaches approximately 180m above sea level, providing a manageable challenge. Additionally, none of the off-road sections are particularly remote, ensuring accessibility and comfort throughout the journey.

Aggregate ascent over the whole route is approximately 3,000m (9,840 ft).
As this this route is divided into three distinct sections (depending on your chosen itinerary) please find the ascents for each below:

  • Antrim Glens (Cushendall – Glenariff Forest Park – Ballycastle): 1200m
  • Rathlin Island: 150-550m
  • Causeway Coast (Murlough Bay – Ballycastle – Portstewart): 1500m

ELEVATION PROFILES (not including Rathlin Island)

  Antrim Glens (Cushendall to Ballycastle – 42km)

antrimglens elevation profile

  Causeway Coast (Murlough Bay to Portstewart – 62km)

antrim elevation profile

Terrain by Stages


Cushendall – Glenariff Forest Park: Coastal walk at the start, then a gentle riverside path and country roads, followed by a selection of woodland trails through Glenariff Forest Park. Some steeper climbs on the Scenic Trail in the forest park.

Orra Beg – Glenariff Forest Park: Remote mountain terrain, across exposed moorland and sheltered forest tracks. Much of this section can often be boggy and very wet underfoot. Both mountains are at 500m, so temperature will be cooler than at sea level.

Orra Beg – Ballycastle: Secluded forest paths, tracks and quiet country roads. Enchanting woodland walk through Breen Oak Forest. One short, steep climb with overgrown section at the bottom. Woodland sections can often be wet underfoot.

Murlough Bay – Ballycastle: Coastal road and secluded beach, steep climb to cliff-top trails. Off-road trails can be rugged in places. Country roads and quaint coastal roads, finishing with beach walk.

Rathlin Island: Choice of routes. Quiet island roads and paths through a gently rolling landscape of pastures and meadows. The way towards the west lighthouse follows a long road with an initial steep climb and many smaller ups and downs that can make it feel like you have climbed more than you actually did.

Ballycastle – Ballintoy: Minor roads out of Ballycastle, then along (sometimes overgrown) forest trails, minor roads and a coastal path to finish.

Ballintoy – Bushmills (Giant’s Causeway): Picturesque coastal paths, leading to a long beach, followed by stunning scenic cliff trails all the way to the Giant’s Causeway. Some short but steep ups and downs between Dunseverick and Giant’s Causeway.

Bushmills (Giant’s Causeway) – Portstewart: Scenic coastal paths and minor roads, long beach walk to a vibrant seaside town, beachfront paths beside links golf courses, finishing on bustling promenade.

Prices / What's Included

Length of Tour Price Per Person (€ ) Single Supplement (€ ) :¹
4 days / 3 nights 499 300 BOOK NOW
5 days / 4 nights 609 360 BOOK NOW
6 days / 5 nights 759 410 BOOK NOW
7 days / 6 nights 889 470 BOOK NOW
8 days / 7 nights 1009 530 BOOK NOW
9 days / 8 nights 1119 590 BOOK NOW
10 days / 9 nights 1239 660 BOOK NOW
¹A single supplement is an additional charge for walkers booking single accommodation (a room for one person). The total tour price per person requesting a single room is the price per person plus the single supplement.

What’s Included in the Price?

  • Stay in our friendly, family-run guesthouses
  • Relax in comfortable en-suite bedrooms*
  • Big breakfasts will keep you going all day long
  • Luggage? Don’t worry, we’ll move it for you!
  • Detailed maps, route notes and GPS tracks mean you’ll never get lost
  • Walking directions written and updated by the Hillwalk Tours team
  • Local alternative/supplementary route options based on local knowledge
  • Our waterproof map-case keeps your maps and documents dry
  • If you need to contact us, we’re here 24/7 to help
  • Insider tips on the best places to eat and drink**
  • Explore the local history and culture in our fascinating guides
  • Discover the most interesting attractions on the trail
  • Need info on transport? We’re happy to help

* Unless already booked out in which case we’ll try to secure a private bathroom

** You will have the opportunity to purchase picnic lunches and evening meals each day. If you are staying in a remote location, the B&B owner will prepare a tasty surprise for you upon request.

Please Note:

We occasionally charge additional supplements on the Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast for tours starting during the high season. This is due to higher costs involved in booking our upgrade option or in cases where our normal accommodation suppliers do not have availability, and an alternative, more expensive, supplier is sourced with your approval.

Extra Days/Activities

Antrim is full of charming people and places for you to meet and discover. It’d be a shame not to stop a while!

Bushmills / Portballintrae: Visit the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction, or learn the 400-year old secrets of Ireland’s finest whiskey at the Bushmills distillery.

Portstewart: The North Coast of Antrim is home to some of the finest links golf courses in the world. Test your game at Royal Portrush, home to 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell.

Belfast*: There’s always lots to do in Northern Ireland’s capital. We recommend the Titanic Walking Tour (the Titanic was made in Belfast) and visits to City Hall and the Ulster Museum.

Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast: where Game of Thrones was filmed

The hit HBO series Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern Ireland with the Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast region boasting many of the iconic set locations for the blockbuster series.

For fans of Game of Thrones who want to explore The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros by foot, our 10-day Moderate Walking Tour is the best choice for your Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast hike as it covers all the locations shown in the map below. It starts in Glenariff (Dothraki Sea) and finishes at Portstewart Strand, or the Dorne Coast as it is known in Game of Thrones. Many of the below filming locations can also be visited on our gentle and shorter, moderate tours.

Here’s our map of the route, showing which filming locations you’ll pass on your walk:

Game Of Thrones Map Filming Locations Northern Ireland

Iconic Game of Thrones Filming Locations on the Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast Trail

1 – Glenariff (Dothraki Sea) Where Sansa Stark, together with Littlefinger, viewed Robin Arryn’s efforts at duelling.
2 – Fair Head (Dragonstone) Fair Head is where Jon Snow finally meets Daenerys and her dragons at Dragonstone in Season 7, Episode 3.
3 – Murlough Bay (Slaver’s Bay) Murlough Bay was used to film Slaver’s Bay where Ser Jorah and Tyrion are captured after being discovered by a slave ship.
4 – Larrybane Quarry (The Stormlands) Larrybane Quarry was used to depict the Stormlands and borders the Sea of Dorne in Westeros.
5 – Ballintoy Harbour (Lordsport Harbour) This is the location of Lordsport Harbour in Season 2 when Theon Greyjoy returns home.
6 – Dunluce Castle (Pyke Castle) Dunluce Castle was home to the House of Greyjoy.
7 – Portstewart Strand (Dorne Coast) In Season 2 of Game of Thrones, Portstewart Strand was filmed for the scene in which Stannis Baratheon rejects the 7 gods of Westeros and in Season 5 this long stretch of beach was used to depict the coast of Dorne when Jaime Lannister was required by his sister Cersei to return her daughter Myrcella to King’s Landing

 

There are other Game of Thrones filming locations located off our Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast tour that you can visit by taking a taxi or public transport.

Other Game of Thrones Filming Locations that can be visited

8 – The Dark Hedges (Road from King’s Landing) The avenue features in Season 2, episode 1: On the King’s Road, where Arya Stark has escaped from King’s Landing. She joins the Night’s Watch, in a cart, and travels north on the King’s Road. The Dark Hedges are 13km from Ballycastle and can be accessed by car or by taking a bus followed by a short walk.
9 – Cushendun Caves (The Stormlands / Shadow Creature Scene) Made famous by Game of Thrones in Season 2 Episode 4 where they were used as the Shadow creature’s birth site. Cushendun is just 10 minutes by car from Cushendall.

Booking Extra Days

  1. Choose WHERE you wish to stay.
  2. Decide HOW MANY NIGHTS you need.
  3. Go to the BOOKING FORM and fill in the ‘Extra Nights Required/Other Requests’ section.

The costs of extra nights during your Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast hiking tour start from €75 per person per night and from €120 for single hikers who will have their own private room. 

You can also add extra nights in some other popular locations in Ireland: Dublin (Dún Laoghaire), Belfast, etc. Please enquire when booking. The costs of these extra nights vary by location and date booked.

Please note that if you book any extra nights in a location not included in your tour itinerary, you will have to make your own arrangements to transfer your bags to this location.

Accommodation

Staying at the very best accommodation during your time in Ireland can transform a “good” hiking tour into a “great” hiking tour.

That’s why, at Hillwalk Tours, we take the quality of our accommodation partners seriously. So much so that you will find we strive to only work with high-quality and well-reviewed accommodation. Additionally, most of our accommodation partners have been personally checked by a member of the Hillwalk Tours team to ensure your comfort.

As keen hikers ourselves we know you’ll want somewhere relaxing to put your feet up in the evening. A place where a warm smile from your hosts makes you feel welcome as soon as you step through the door. If your hiking gear gets wet, it’s nice to know that you can dry it or, if you ask, it may even be taken from you and returned nice and dry the next morning.

Comfy beds, en-suite bathrooms (where available), tasty breakfast menus, and a friendly & cosy atmosphere – these are all the things that we like so you can rest assured that we’ll do our best to find them for you as well.

To find out more about the types of accommodation you can expect to find on a Hillwalk Tours walking holiday, read here: Accommodation on your Walking Tour

In addition, if you’d like to stay an extra night at any location during your hiking tour, just let us know.

Please Note:

Due to limited accommodation options in some locations on your tour, we may need to book you into accommodation which will require transfers to/from your hike start/end point or where you will have private bathroom facilities instead of an ensuite. We may also need to book you into the same accommodation for more than one night to cover multiple locations. The cost of this is covered in your basic tour price and will not affect your tour itinerary.

In general, we try to book accommodation which is as close to the local amenities as possible. If you are staying in a remote location (where access to local pubs/restaurants is not feasible), the hosts of the accommodation that you are staying at will ensure that you are well fed.

Travel Info

Please note: Antrim is located in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom (UK). The currency used in Northern Ireland is Pound Sterling (£) and not Euros (€).

If you are entering Northern Ireland directly by ferry or plane, a passport is required. If you are an EU Citizen, a national identity card will not suffice, as the UK is no longer in the EU.

Travelling to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland: Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the island of Ireland will continue to have no land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This means that people can travel freely between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland without any land border check.

Getting to and from your Antrim Glens & Causeway Coast hiking tour is easy… when you know how!

In your hiking pack, you will receive all the necessary public transport information you need to make your journey as convenient as possible.

In the meantime, if you’d like to do some advance planning yourself, here are our tips:

Most Convenient Airports

Sustainable Travel (from Europe)

Public Transport

How to Get to the Start-point of your Hiking Tour within Ireland:

Departing from Portstewart:

Use the ‘Journey Planner’ option on the Translink website.

Travelling by car?

If you would like to leave your car at the first or last accommodation on your tour, for the duration of the tour, then you can directly contact the accommodation owners before the start of your tour to check that this is possible. We will provide contact details for the accommodation provider.

FAQ

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