Antrim Coast Road Tour: Giants Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede

Giants Causeway coastal drive tour with rope bridge and castle views over the Atlantic

A private guided tour of the Antrim Coast Road from Bushmills covers the Giants Causeway UNESCO site, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, Dark Hedges and scenic stops along one of the world's top ten road journeys. You spend 90 minutes at the Giants Causeway exploring the hexagonal basalt columns, 90 minutes walking to and crossing the rope bridge with views toward Scotland, and time at Dunluce Castle's internal walls and ramparts before returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Giant's Causeway1h 30m · entry included
2. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge1h 30m
3. Old Bushmills Distillery30m
4. Dunluce Castle30m
5. Dark Hedges20m

Explore Causeway Coastal Route highlights

• Drive along Antrim Coast Road
• Visit Dunluce Castle
• Walk Dark Hedges road
• Explore Ballycastle shorefront
• Walk on Downhill Beach
• Visit Old Bushmills Distillery giftshop
• Photograph Royal Portrush golf course and shops
• Walk and cross Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
• Explore Giant's Causeway UNESCO site

The experience

The tour departs from your hotel and follows the Antrim Coast Road, a drive ranked among the world's best for its combination of coastal views and mountain backdrop. Your guide handles navigation while you take in the route. The day is built around stops rather than a rigid schedule, so the pace adapts to what catches your eye. You'll visit five major sites across the eight hours, with the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge anchoring the day.

At the Giants Causeway, you have 90 minutes to walk among the UNESCO-protected basalt columns that descend to the water. The site is self-guided once you arrive. Your guide can point out the geology and the best angles for photographs, but the exploration is yours. Carrick-a-Rede follows, a 90-minute stop that includes the walk to the rope bridge itself: a narrow crossing 100 feet above the water with views across to the Scottish coast. Crossing the bridge costs 9 pounds per person and is optional. Many visitors photograph it from the cliff path instead. Dunluce Castle sits on a headland nearby. You can walk its internal walls and stand on the ramparts overlooking the Atlantic. The Dark Hedges, an avenue of beech trees famous as the Kings Road from Game of Thrones, offers a different kind of stop: a short walk through a tunnel of branches. Downhill Beach and Portrush shorefront provide photo opportunities, and you'll pass the Old Bushmills Distillery giftshop, where you can browse without a formal tour.

Your guide speaks English or French and knows the route's history and the best light for photography at each stop. Hotel pickup is included. The tour can depart from and return to either Belfast or Derry, so confirm your base when you book. Bring comfortable walking shoes (you'll cover uneven ground at the Giants Causeway and climb to the rope bridge), and a camera or phone for the coastal views. Admission to Carrick-a-Rede bridge and Dunluce Castle are not included and are paid on arrival.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and return.
• a guide fluent in English or French.
• 90 minutes at the Giants Causeway and 90 minutes at Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
• access to Dunluce Castle's interior and ramparts.
• stops at Dark Hedges, Downhill Beach, Portrush shorefront and the Old Bushmills Distillery giftshop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site£ 14

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Derry Blue Badge Guide

Is this one for you?The tour runs eight hours with substantial walking at two major stops and uneven ground throughout, so it suits travelers comfortable with a full day on their feet and ready for coastal paths and a rope bridge crossing. Departures can be arranged from either Belfast or Derry depending on where you're staying, so confirm your hotel location when booking.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

39 verified traveler reviews

5 ★39

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What is there to do at the Giants Causeway during the 90 minutes you have there?

The Giants Causeway is a self-guided UNESCO site where you walk among the distinctive hexagonal basalt columns that slope down to the sea. Your guide can explain the geology and point out the best vantage points, but you're free to explore at your own pace, photograph the formations and walk to the water's edge.

Do you actually cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, or just see it?

Crossing the rope bridge is optional and costs 9 pounds per person. The 90-minute stop includes the walk to the bridge and the crossing if you choose it, but many visitors photograph it from the cliff path and the approach instead, which is equally dramatic.

Can you tour inside the Old Bushmills Distillery, or is it just the giftshop?

The stop at Old Bushmills includes the bar and giftshop only. A full distillery tour is not part of this route. You can browse, buy a drink or a bottle, and photograph the building and grounds.

What is the Dark Hedges and why is it on the tour?

The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees that form a natural tunnel along a country road. It's famous as the Kings Road filming location from Game of Thrones and offers a striking photograph. The walk takes a few minutes and is a visual contrast to the coastal stops.

How much walking is involved across the whole day?

Walking varies by stop. The Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede involve the most: uneven ground, some climbing, and a 100-foot rope bridge crossing if you choose it. Dunluce Castle, Dark Hedges and the beaches are shorter walks. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the terrain is suitable for all fitness levels, though the rope bridge is not for those with a fear of heights.

Does the tour include admission to Dunluce Castle and the rope bridge?

Admission is not included. Dunluce Castle costs 5 pounds per person and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge costs 9 pounds per person. Both are paid on arrival. Your guide can help you buy tickets at each stop.