Your Solo Coastal Pilgrimage: Ballintoy, Northern Ireland
by SonnySideUp
Oct 19, 2025
💡Follow me, and when you go out to play, you can get the guide directly from me, isn’t that great? 💡
130 miles of wild romance of the Atlantic Ocean
Once rated as the world's No. 1 road trip destination by foreign travel media
Follow my experience to enjoy the Causeway coastline!
🚗 Itinerary suggestions
Recommended days: 3-5 days (2 days in Belfast + 1 day in Derry + 2 days along the way)
Start and end: Belfast → Londonderry (counterclockwise loop)
Best way to play: self-drive! Stop and take photos along the way
🌟9 must-see attractions
1️⃣ Giant's Causeway
40,000 hexagonal stone pillars piercing the sea! Science says it was a volcanic eruption, and legend has it that it was a battlefield of giants. It is recommended to stay at Causeway Hotel to enjoy the sunrise and sunset
2️⃣ Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The waves are crashing against the shore 30 meters below your feet, and you are a true brave man if you walk across the 90-meter rope bridge! If you are lucky, you may even see a basking shark
3️⃣ Dark Hedges
The prototype of the King's Road in Game of Thrones! The magical tunnel woven by 90 beech trees has a fairy-like filter in the morning mist
4️⃣ Dunluce Castle
The medieval ruins on the cliff, the same as the cover of the Led Zeppelin album. Don't miss the postcard camera at the corner
5️⃣ Ballintoy Harbour
The filming location of the Iron Islands in "Game of Thrones", the waves exploded into fireworks on the reefs. A hidden secret away from the crowds
6️⃣ Portrush Beach
Three white-gold beaches + a golf resort, remember to try freshly-opened oysters with whiskey
7️⃣ Bushmills Distillery
A time-honored brand that opened in 1608! 16-year-old whisky is now a legend
8️⃣ Belfast
Titanic Museum is a must-visit! Recommended to stay at Ten Square Hotel, walk to the Peace Wall & City Hall
9️⃣ Londonderry
Ireland's only complete walled city, 1.5 km circular walkway to see 400 years of wind and rain
📸Exclusive route for "Game of Thrones" fans
Dark Hedges→Ballintoy Harbour→Cushendun Caves→Magham Mourne Quarry, get a complete set of filming location guides
💡Practical TIPS
✅ Choose the right lane when driving! Some sections of the road are so narrow that tractors have to give way
✅ The best time is from May to September, but you may encounter magical weather of "four seasons in one second" all year round
✅ There are one-day tours from Belfast, which are suitable for kids with tight schedules
✅ You can rent a car directly with a Chinese driver's license + translation, remember to buy full insurance!
This epic coastline certified by the BBC has both the shock of a world heritage site and the romance of a fairytale scene. Do you dare to challenge the most beautiful road on the Internet this summer?
Post by Emma Adams.81 | Feb 16, 2025



















