Ballycastle Beach
Update 7th February 2024: The footbridge at Pans Rock on Ballycastle Beach is currently closed due to structural damage caused during recent storms. This notice will be removed when the bridge reopens.
Ballycastle Beach is a popular tourist destination located on the Causeway Coast Route on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. Ballycastle Beach is approximately 1.2 kilometres in length and runs from the pier at Ballycastle Marina at the western end to Pans Rock in the east. Ballycastle Beach is comprised of predominately sand with some shingle. It backs on to Ballycastle Golf Course for most of its length. There is a promenade at the western end. The beach is located near the Marina, less than 1 mile from town centre There are no restrictions on swimming at this beach and a seasonal lifeguard service is provided by RNLI Beach Lifeguards (July-August 11am-7pm). Facilities: Car parking, Child friendly areas, Visitor Information Centre nearby, Seasonal RNLI Beach Lifeguards Service (July & August 11am - 7pm daily), Dogs are permitted (restrictions apply 1st June - 15th Sept), wheelchair access, disabled toilets and disabled parking The eastern end of Ballycastle Beach is part of Ballycastle Coalfield ASSI. Ballycastle Coalfield is the best exposure of a coalfield sequence in Ireland. It contains a series of Carboniferous sedimentary rocks (335-330 million years old) with contemporary lavas and younger Tertiary igneous rocks (60 M.y.). The sedimentary rocks were deposited in a shallow marine bay which gradually developed into a vegetated coastal swamp subject to periodic flooding by the sea. The vegetation was preserved as seams of coal. Fossils that have been found include goniatites (shellfish), fish remains, giant clubmosses and arthropod insects. The Tertiary dykes have metamorphosed the carboniferous shales to produce porcellanite and a range of minerals. The site also contains evidence of early industrial activity: the coals and iron ores were mined between the 16th and 19th centuries.The underlying geology and the spoil heaps give rise to both base rich and acidic habitats, including wet grassland, base-rich flushes and maritime heath. Limited saltmarsh occurs on some of the beaches.
Getting to the start by car
Ballycastle Beach is located along the Causeway Coastal Route South from Bushmills, along the A26 and A44 from Ballymena and along the Causeway Coastal Route North A2 from Larne.
Getting to the start by public transport
The bus station is on Station Road, just east of the Diamond. Ulster Bus Express 217 links Ballymena with Ballycastle and the Goldline Express 218 links Ballymena with Belfast. Bus 172 goes along the Coast Road from Coleraine to Ballycastle via Bushmills, the Giants Causeway and Ballintoy.
Directions from Town
The bus station is on Station Road, just east of the Diamond. Ulster Bus Express 217 links Ballymena with Ballycastle and the Goldline Express 218 links Ballymena with Belfast. Bus 172 goes along the Coast Road from Coleraine to Ballycastle via Bushmills, the Giant's Causeway and Ballintoy. All buses depart from opposite The Marine Hotel on North Street.
Location