Self-Launched Antrim Coast Walk: Northern Ireland's Wild Edge
5 days · Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland
Exodus charges £1,415
No-markup version: ~£395 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Trade the operator package for your own self-launched adventure along one of the most dramatic coastlines in the British Isles. This 5-day walk covers the best of the Antrim Coast — the Moyle Way, Fair Head, the iconic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway — all bookable independently at a fraction of Exodus's price. Accommodation is budget-friendly B&Bs and guesthouses in Cushendall, Ballycastle, and Bushmills. Luggage transfers can be self-arranged via local taxi firms (around £20–30 per transfer), and all walking routes are well way-marked with free OS maps available via the OS Maps app or Viewranger. Estimated costs are approximate and based on 2025 budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Cushendall
Cushendall, County Antrim
Make your way to Cushendall, the gateway to the Glens of Antrim and your starting point for the walk. From Belfast, take the Translink Ulsterbus 150 (Antrim Coaster) service direct to Cushendall — runs daily, roughly 1.5 hours, around £6–8 each way. Check in to your B&B or guesthouse, grab dinner at a local pub, and pick up any last-minute supplies. The village has a small supermarket and a good few pubs worth a pint of Guinness in.
🚌Translink Ulsterbus 150 Antrim Coaster from Belfast, ~£7 one way
🛏Londonderry Arms Hotel or local B&B in Cushendall — budget around £45–60/night in a twin/double room
- →Travel to Cushendall by Ulsterbus 150 Antrim Coaster from Belfast Europa Bus Centre (~£7)
- →Check in and explore Cushendall village
- →Pick up free Moyle Way route notes from the tourist information point or download the OS Maps app trail
- →Pub dinner in Cushendall — try Mary McBride's Bar for local atmosphere
Orra Beg to Ballycastle — Moyle Way
Cushendall to Ballycastle
A big day on the Moyle Way covering 20 km (12.4 miles). Arrange a local taxi transfer from Cushendall to the Orra Beg trailhead the evening before — local firms like Ballycastle Taxis charge around £15–20. The route heads north through forest tracks, along the banks of the Glenshesk River, through the beautiful Breen Oakwood Nature Reserve — one of Ireland's last ancient oak woodlands — and past Knocklayd Mountain and Coolaveely Wood before a final stretch through Ballycastle Forest into Ballycastle town. You stay in Ballycastle for two nights, so dump your bag and celebrate with fish and chips at the harbour.
🚌Local taxi to Orra Beg trailhead (~£18); walk remainder of day
🛏Glenluce B&B or Ballycastle Backpackers / local guesthouse — budget ~£45–55/night
- →Taxi transfer to Orra Beg trailhead (~£18)
- →Walk the Moyle Way north through Breen Oakwood Nature Reserve (20 km / 12.4 miles)
- →Pass Glenshesk River and Knocklayd Mountain viewpoints
- →Arrive Ballycastle — fish and chips at Morton's on the harbour
Fair Head Loop
Ballycastle & Fair Head
A shorter but spectacular day — 8 km (5 miles) around the Murlough Bay and Fair Head coastal loop. The dramatic dolerite cliffs of Fair Head rise 196 metres above the sea with jaw-dropping views across to Rathlin Island and, on a clear day, the Scottish coast. Take a local taxi or the summer Rathlin Ferry bus link to the trailhead at Fair Head car park (~£8–12 return taxi). The route is well way-marked and free to walk. Return to Ballycastle for the afternoon — consider a day trip ferry to Rathlin Island (Calmac, ~£12 return) or visit the Ballycastle Museum (free). The evening is yours — the House of McDonnell pub is a great local spot.
🚌Local taxi to/from Fair Head (~£10 return)
🛏Same accommodation as Day 2 in Ballycastle (~£45–55/night)
- →Taxi to Fair Head trailhead (~£10 return)
- →Walk the Fair Head and Murlough Bay coastal loop (8 km / 5 miles) — free
- →Dramatic cliff-top views to Rathlin Island and Scotland
- →Optional: afternoon day-trip ferry to Rathlin Island (Calmac, ~£12 return)
- →Evening at the House of McDonnell pub, Ballycastle
Larrybane to the Giant's Causeway
Carrick-a-Rede, Ballintoy, White Park Bay, Giant's Causeway, Bushmills
The showstopper day — 16 km (9.9 miles) of pure Antrim Coast magic. Take a local taxi or the Causeway Rambler bus (Translink route 402, seasonal, ~£5 day ticket) to Larrybane visitor centre. First up is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge — book your £9.50 crossing in advance via the National Trust website, essential in peak season. The coastal path then winds through Ballintoy Harbour (a Game of Thrones filming location), past White Park Bay beach, the tiny hamlet of Portbraddan and the ruined Dunseverick Castle. The finale is the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway — entry to the site itself is free, though the visitor centre costs £13.50 (optional). From the Causeway, hop on the Translink Ulsterbus 172 or Causeway Rambler into Bushmills (£2–3) for your final night. Don't miss a tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery — book direct at bushmills.com, ~£15–20.
🚌Translink Causeway Rambler bus Route 402 to Larrybane (~£5 day ticket); public bus to Bushmills (~£2)
🛏Causeway Hotel (budget rooms) or Bushmills Inn B&Bs / local guesthouses — ~£50–65/night
- →Causeway Rambler bus (Route 402) to Larrybane (~£5 day ticket)
- →Cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge — book via National Trust (~£9.50)
- →Walk coastal path through Ballintoy Harbour, White Park Bay, Portbraddan (16 km / 9.9 miles)
- →Explore ruined Dunseverick Castle — free
- →Giant's Causeway — free site entry; optional visitor centre ~£13.50
- →Public bus into Bushmills (~£2)
- →Old Bushmills Distillery tour (book direct at bushmills.com, ~£17)
Depart Bushmills
Bushmills to Belfast or onward
After breakfast, check out and make your way home. From Bushmills, take the Translink Ulsterbus 172 to Coleraine (£4–5), then a NI Railways train from Coleraine to Belfast Great Victoria Street (~£10–12, 1 hour). Alternatively, the Antrim Coaster 150 bus from Portrush (a short taxi or bus hop from Bushmills) goes all the way back to Belfast. If time allows before departure, pop into the Giants Causeway & Bushmills Railway for a scenic narrow-gauge heritage train ride (seasonal, ~£7).
🚌Ulsterbus 172 to Coleraine (~£4) then NI Railways train to Belfast (~£11)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Breakfast and check-out
- →Optional: Giants Causeway & Bushmills Railway narrow-gauge heritage ride (~£7)
- →Ulsterbus 172 from Bushmills to Coleraine (~£4)
- →NI Railways train Coleraine to Belfast Great Victoria Street (~£11)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£395 | £1,415 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,020 per person (72%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£395
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Antrim Coast Walk: Northern Ireland's Wild Edge cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £395 per person for 5 days in Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,415 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £395 — a saving of roughly £1,020 (72%) per person.
How long is the Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, culture, backpacker trip through Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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