Days Out NI
Coastal walk Ballycastle

Fair Head

Walk the top of Northern Ireland's highest sea cliffs, with views to three coasts.

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Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
BallycastleCoastal walk
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2 hoursHow long
5kmDistance
FreeCost
All agesBest for
Not permitted o…Dogs

Fair Head — Walk the top of Northern Ireland's highest sea cliffs, with views to three coasts.

  • Distance: Main loop roughly 4-5km; shorter options from about 1.5 miles.
  • How long: About 1.5 to 2 hours for the main loop.
  • Terrain: Clifftop grass, bog, farm track and stiles, often wet and muddy.
  • Dogs: Not permitted on this route (working grazing land).
  • With kids: Sheer, unfenced 100m+ drops right by the path. Keep children close, hold hands near edges, avoid in wind or poor visibility. Best for confident walkers aged 6+.
  • Parking: Farm car park off Fairhead Road, around 3 pounds per car via honesty box (bring coins).
Plan your visit

A clifftop loop across the top of NI

From the farm car park, the main Bealach Runda (Blue) loop runs roughly 4 to 5km out across the headland and back via minor roads through the hamlet of Coolanlough. The trailhead panel offers shorter and longer options, from about 1.5 up to 3.4 miles, so you can match the route to small legs. You'll cross open moorland and bog to reach the cliff edge, where the dolerite rock face falls 100m or more in vertical columns shaped 60 million years ago. Look out for Lough na Cranagh and its crannog, the Grey Man's Path gully, and the long views to Rathlin, Islay and Kintyre. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours and expect wet, uneven ground throughout.

Free walk Car park (small fee) 200m sea cliffs Rathlin & Scotland views ~4-5km loop Steep, unfenced edges
Good to know before you go:

The Causeway Coast hosts seasonal guided walks, ranger-led events and outdoor festivals through the year, with Fair Head also a world-class rock-climbing venue. Check ahead for organised walks before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Good shoes or bootsShore paths can be rocky, uneven and a little muddy after rain.
  • 🧥A coat or windproofThe coast is breezy — a fresh sea wind is half the fun of it.
  • 💧Water and a snackThere is rarely a shop right on the path, so pack a little something.
  • 🔭Binoculars or a cameraFor the seabirds, the seals and the big views across the water.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free to walk
Parking
Farm car park off Fairhead Road, around 3 pounds per car via honesty box (bring coins)
Distance
Main loop roughly 4-5km; shorter options from about 1.5 miles
How long to allow
About 1.5 to 2 hours for the main loop
Difficulty
Moderate; some climbing and uneven ground
Terrain
Clifftop grass, bog, farm track and stiles, often wet and muddy
Safety with kids
Sheer, unfenced 100m+ drops right by the path. Keep children close, hold hands near edges, avoid in wind or poor visibility. Best for confident walkers aged 6+
Dogs
Not permitted on this route (working grazing land)
Buggy-friendly
No, the ground is too rough and boggy
Toilets / food nearby
None on site; nearest toilets, cafes and shops in Ballycastle (5 miles)
Address
Fairhead Car Park, off Fairhead Road, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim (grid ref D175426)
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free to walk
How far is the walk?
Main loop roughly 4-5km; shorter options from about 1.5 miles
How long should I allow?
About 1.5 to 2 hours for the main loop
Can I bring the dog?
Not permitted on this route (working grazing land)
Is it buggy-friendly?
No, the ground is too rough and boggy
Getting there

Fair Head is at Fairhead Car Park, off Fairhead Road, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim (grid ref D175426). Farm car park off Fairhead Road, around 3 pounds per car via honesty box (bring coins). Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around BallycastleSee what else is close by More coastal walks across NIBeaches, cliffs, harbours and headlands
The story

About this stretch of coast

Fair Head, known in Irish as An Bhinn Mhor or Benmore, is Northern Ireland's tallest cliff face, a 5km ridge of dolerite rising around 200m above the sea. The vertical columns formed about 60 million years ago when molten rock pushed in as a sill between older Carboniferous sediments, then cooled into the organ-pipe shapes you see today.

The headland is rich in history. Lough na Cranagh holds a crannog, an artificial island dwelling dating back centuries, and waymarkers around the loop carry interpretation about the old loughs and farmland. The Grey Man's Path, a steep gully bridged by a fallen pillar, has long been the climbers' route down to one of the largest and most demanding rock faces in these islands.

Today Fair Head is a haven for wildlife and climbers alike, with ravens overhead, seabirds on the cliffs and sweeping views across the North Channel to Scotland.