Discover the UK's most underrated road trip with this 4-day itinerary!
A magical adventure awaits…
Get ready for a wild and cinematic journey to the Emerald Isle, one of the finest road trips you will ever take. I genuinely believe that Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route is one of the most spectacular road trips in the entire UK… and weirdly, one that still flies under the radar.
So, why do I think this beautiful coastal route is the UK’s most underrated road trip?
Well, it has magical waterfalls – some of the UK’s best. It has miles of pristine beaches, many mighty castles, and fun and vibrant villages. On top of that, there are ridiculously lush forests, perfect for hiking and exploration!
Even more importantly, it is very motorhome, campervan and caravan-friendly. Campsites are plentiful, off-grid park-ups are fantastic and some local councils even offer overnight stays on their most conveniently located car parks.
My Northern Ireland Road Trip Itinerary…
In today’s blog, I’m going to present a 4-day Northern Ireland road trip itinerary. You may have seen me talking about it at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC in February. I genuinely believe it is the UK’s most underrated road trip. If you missed my talk, don’t worry, I will cover all the essentials here!
The route begins in Belfast and ends in Derry, but it can be done in either direction. It covers the best locations and offers something for all tastes!
If you haven’t visited Belfast before, it’s an incredible city, and really needs a couple of days exploring on its own, so I have not really covered it in this road trip itinerary. The same goes for Derry / Londonderry!
Read on to get planning your Northern Ireland road trip!
Day 1
Belfast to Glenariff
Start the day by heading to the charming Carrick Fergus. It’s home to the Carrick Fergus Castle, which Ed Sheeran gave a nod to in one of his songs.
Next up, I recommend a stroll along the Blackhead Coastal Path in Whitehead, where you can enjoy beautiful coastal views and a photogenic lighthouse.
After that, get ready for The Gobbins’ incredible coastal walk, where you’ll cross bridges, platforms and explore caves. There are dramatic views across to Scotland! The walk requires some level of fitness but is a wonderful and unique experience.
The powerful and majestic Glenoe Waterfall is one of the best falls in all of Ireland, and the car park is so conveniently located that you’ll get maximum pay-off for very little effort!
Another must-see is the Chaine Memorial Tower in Larne. It’s known to locals as the Pencil, because it looks like one! Standing some 28 metres high, it’s dedicated to James Chaine who was responsible for setting up the ferry link between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
After that, it’s time for another beautiful waterfall – Cranny Falls. It takes around 25-30 minutes to get there from the car park in Carnlough up a gentle sloping path. You’ll start to reach some woodland and hear the waterfall before you see it. I remember walking across the viewing platform here and being in complete awe. It was picture perfect with lots of lush ferns and moss.
Once you’re ready to turn in, I recommend the Glenariff Forest Park campsite, run by the local council. It’s one of the cleanest and tidiest sites I’ve ever been to.
Day 2
Glenariff to Ballintoy
If you decided to stay the night at Glenariff Forest Park and its awesome campsite, you’ll start the day adventuring through one of its magical waterfall trails!
Continuing along the coast, you’ll pass through the mesmerising town of Cushendall. I happened to pass through here on the day they were holding their vibrant Festival of The Glens. The town was full of food traders, indie stalls and there were lots of games and festivities.
If you’re into Game of Thrones, be sure to check out Cushendun Caves, an easy stop on your road trip.
The next stop is possibly one of my favourite places in Ireland, Murlough Bay. It flies under the radar as it’s pretty remote, and the drive down can be challenging! However, you’ll discover a beautiful beach that feels completely cut off from the rest of the world. You’ll see the impressive Torr Head in the distance too, making for some cool photo opportunities.
Next, visit the charming seaside town of Ballycastle, and then finish the day at the mighty Kinbane Castle. The castle ruins are stunning, perched on an outcrop of headland. Look out for seals on the rocks and waters surrounding the castle.
Day 3
Ballintoy to Portrush
Day 3 begins at one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic locations, the heart-stopping Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This bridge was originally constructed for fishermen to cross and bring their catch ashore. Today, it’s owned and operated by the National Trust so if you’re a member, you can visit here and a number of other locations in Northern Ireland for free. As someone with a pretty big fear of heights, walking across this for the first time was terrifying!
Just a short hop from Carrick-a-Rede is the ruins of Dunseverick Castle, which is worth a look for history buffs.
Then it’s time to make your way to the most famous place in Northern Ireland, the mammoth UNESCO World Heritage Site of Giant’s Causeway. It’s a magnificent set of basalt columns formed by hot lava being pushed through rock. On my first visit, I got up at sunrise and practically had the place to myself, it was a lovely experience.
The nearby town of Bushmills acts as the gateway to the Giant’s Causeway and is definitely worth a stop. It’s packed full of great little eateries, some fish & chip shops and of course, a few bustling pubs. There’s also a distillery where you can sample Bushmills whiskey!
Following on from Bushmills, your trip will become even more magical at Dunluce Castle, where you can enjoy some spectacular views.
Next, why not enjoy a stroll down a beautiful, sweeping white-sand beach? Whitepark Beach is one of those wholesome beaches that offers pure tranquillity and is particularly magical at sunset.
Day 4
Portrush to Derry
Start the day with a leisurely walk to Whiterocks Beach. This place is home to some of the most beautiful turquoise waters, white sands and is backed by scenic cliffs. When I first saw this place the sun was beaming down and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere tropical like Thailand! What an incredible beach.
Portrush itself is home to the Royal Portrush golf course. It’s also a fabulous little seaside town with plenty of great independent eateries, and games and arcades to keep the kids entertained.
Continuing in the direction of Derry, you’ll come across Portstewart Strand, another National Trust location. You can actually park on the beach here in your campervan or motorhome and make a morning, afternoon or entire day of it if you like.
Just a couple miles up the beach is the Mussenden Temple, perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Continuing with the beach theme, the stretch of coastline from Portstewart most of the way to Derry is filled with beautiful sandy beaches, the largest and most beautiful being Benone Beach.
I’d highly recommend a day or two in Derry / Londonderry, if you get the chance. There’s a lot to see here, some great eateries, tonnes of history and of course the peace wall, where you can do a walking tour to get a better understanding of the Troubles.
Extend the trip…
Now if you want to extend your Northern Ireland Road Trip, you’ve got plenty of options. The first of which would be to head around to Muff and begin the Wild Atlantic Way which starts on the jaw-dropping Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal.
The other option I’d highly recommend would be visiting the Mourne Mountains in the southern part of Northern Ireland. This would make more sense logically if you were to do the route from Derry to Belfast but I’ll leave that completely up to you!
For even more Northern Ireland road trip inspiration…
You can find out more about The Causeway Coastal Route by watching my viral YouTube video! My adventures in Northern Ireland were even covered in the local media, including Belfast Live and the Irish Mirror! Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coastal Route is also covered in my guidebook, Road Trip Ireland. It is the ultimate guide to Ireland and the Atlantic Way, featuring route maps, itineraries, must-see locations and loads of practical tips. Happy travels!
