We are two couples that will travel in a car rental from Belfast to Portrush on a Sunday in July. We want to stop and visit Rathlin Island along the way. We will purchase the ferry tickets in advance of our visit but notice from the ferry web site that we must choose a departure time from Ballycastle (we are thinking around 10:00 or 11:00 am) and a return time (we are thinking of 3:00/3:30 pm). I realize a person could spend all day on the island, but we want to arrive in Portrush late afternoon. Is this a reasonable length of time for a visit of Rathlin Island? Thank you for your ideas and suggestions!
Posted by
Alexandria, VA
771 posts
I didn't see this post until just now--but think it's great you're going to Rathlin! My father's family is from there, so I have a connection. I have been twice, but it has been many years --like 45 years ago, and 20 years ago. The first time was as a student, and I took the ferry over for the day and walked around the island. The second time my husband and I stayed overnight, and discovered some relatives there. We also walked quite a bit, and also took one of the mini-buses out to the West Light Seabird Center and for a tour of the island. Here is a link to information on Rathlin:
http://www.rathlincommunity.org/visit
There seems to be a lot of blank space in the middle, but scrolling to the bottom you see the lighthouse and bird center, and information on the mini-buses that can take you there. They say allow 20 minutes each way for the bus which collects you at the ferry, and about an hour at the seabird center. If you feel you don't have time to do that, there are several walks listed on the site which would be interesting. One leads to the cave where Robert the Bruce took refuge on the island for a year. There is a museum on the history of Rathlin on the harbor, and I'm sure lots of other things that weren't there when we were there (like an ATM!)
Hope some of this helps.