Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [586]
Sleeping
BUDGET
Watertop Open Farm ( 2076 2576; www.watertopfarm.co.uk; 188 Cushendall Rd; tent sites per person £4, caravan sites from £14; Apr-Oct) About 10km east of Ballycastle on the road to Cushendun, child-friendly Watertop is based in a working farm and activity centre, offering pony trekking, sheepshearing and farm tours.
Glenmore Caravan & Camping Park ( 2076 3584; www.glenmore.biz; 94 White Park Rd; camp/caravan sites from £10/12; Apr-Oct) Glenmore is a small and peaceful camping ground with its own trout-stocked fishing lough, about 4.5km west of Ballycastle on the B15 road to White Park Bay.
Ballycastle Backpackers ( 2076 3612; www.ballycastlebackpackers.net; 4 North St; dm/tw £15/40; ) This is a small and homely hostel set in a terrace house overlooking the harbour, with one six-bed dorm, a family room and a couple of twin and double rooms. There’s also a cosy self-catering cottage in the backyard, with two twin rooms with private bathroom (£25 per person per night, also available for rental by the week).
MIDRANGE
Glenluce Guesthouse ( 2076 2914; www.glenluce.com; 42 Quay Rd; s/d £30/60; ) Recently taken over by an enthusiastic young couple, Glenluce is our favourite among several B&Bs on Quay Rd. It has a luxurious lounge, its own tea shop, and a warm and welcoming family atmosphere. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, if a bit creaky in the floorboard department, and the house is only a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
Crockatinney Guest House ( 2076 8801; www.crockatinneyguesthouse.co.uk; 80 Whitepark Rd; s/d £50/65; ) This large, purpose-built guesthouse enjoys a superb location on the coast road 3km west of Ballycastle, with a panoramic view of Rathlin Island, Fair Head and the Scottish coast. All six rooms have en-suite bathrooms – the upstairs rooms have the best views, while the ground floor room is equipped for guests with limited mobility.
Eating
Pantry ( 2076 9993; 41A Castle St; mains £2-5; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat) Housed in a former printer’s shop with a lovely original black-and-white mosaic floor, this brisk and cheerful cafe serves a wide range of sandwiches, from pitta to panini and bagels to baguettes, as well as cappuccino and homemade cakes. It’s uphill from the Diamond.
Cellar Restaurant ( 2076 3037; 11 The Diamond; mains £9-16; noon-10pm Mon-Sat, from 5pm Sun Jun-Aug, 5-10pm Sep-May) This cosy little basement restaurant with intimate wooden booths and a big fireplace is the place to sample Ulster produce – locally caught crab claws grilled with garlic butter, and Carrick-a-Rede salmon are both on the menu, along with Irish beef and lamb, and lobster from Rathlin Island. There are also good vegetarian dishes such as baked peppers stuffed with mushroom and shallot.
Quay 26 ( 2076 1133; Bayview Rd; mains £10-16; noon-3pm & 5-9pm) Seafood is the main item on the menu at this minimalist, modern restaurant with a view across the marina to the cliffs of Fair Head – mussels in white wine and garlic, grilled sea bream, and smoked haddock with bacon, chive and cheese mash. There’s also Irish venison, lamb shank, and roast veggie linguini for those who don’t fancy the fish.
Getting There & Away
The bus station is on Station Rd, just east of the Diamond. Ulsterbus Express 217 links Ballycastle with Ballymena, where you change to Goldline Express 218 or 219 for Belfast (£9, two hours, three daily Monday to Friday, two Saturday).
Bus 172 goes along the coast to Coleraine (£4, one hour, eight daily Monday to Friday, two on Saturday, three Sunday) via Ballintoy, the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills. Also see Getting There & Around, Click here.
The ticket office for the Rathlin Island Ferry is beside the harbour.
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RATHLIN ISLAND