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The Giant’s Causeway is the reason many people come to the North Coast, and Portrush is one of the best bases for it. It’s about 20 minutes from our apartments, so you can go early, come back for lunch, or fit it around a beach walk and a round of golf. Here’s how to get there and how to make the most of your visit.

What is the Giant’s Causeway?

The Giant’s Causeway was Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the National Trust, which looks after it, there are over 40,000 basalt columns here, formed some 60 million years ago. You can read UNESCO’s own description on the World Heritage List.

Book before you go

The National Trust says pre-booking is essential. The Visitor Experience ticket includes parking at the main car park, hourly guided tours, audio guides in 11 languages and the exhibition in the visitor centre. Book on the National Trust website, where you’ll also find current prices and opening times.

Opening times change through the year. On the day we checked (3 November 2026), the coastline was open from dawn to dusk and the visitor centre from 10am to 4pm. Check the calendar on the National Trust page for your dates.

Getting there from Portrush

By car

The visitor centre is on the B147 Causeway Road, 2 miles from Bushmills village. From Portrush it’s about 20 minutes along the coast road. Parking near the Causeway is limited:

• Main car park: next to the visitor centre, for National Trust members and Visitor Experience ticket holders. The Trust strongly advises booking online.
• Causeway Coast Way car park: at Innisfree Farm, 60 Causeway Road, for walkers, at £12 per vehicle through the JustPark app. National Trust members park free.
• Park and Ride from Bushmills: park in the Dundarave car park in Bushmills, buy a Park and Ride ticket at the Bushmills Visitor Information Centre (it includes your bus fare and admission to the Visitor Experience), and take the bus to the Causeway.

By bus and train

The National Trust lists several Translink bus services that stop at the Causeway: Ulsterbus 172, Goldliner 221, the Causeway Rambler 402, the Open Top Causeway Coast 177 and the Antrim Coaster 252. Some run only in certain seasons, so check times on the Translink website before you set out. By train, you can travel to Coleraine and change to the Ulsterbus 172.

On foot or by bike

For a big day out, walk there. The Causeway Coast Way runs along the coast from Portstewart to Ballycastle. From Portrush, the section to Portballintrae is 9.3 km, past Whiterocks and Dunluce Castle, and the next section on to the Giant’s Causeway is 4.3 km, entirely off-road. Wear proper boots, take water and check the weather. If you’d rather not walk back, check the Translink bus times before you set off. Cyclists can use National Cycle Network Route 93, which the National Trust says links to the site.

By sea

To see the Causeway from the water, Causeway Boats runs trips from Portrush Harbour along the coast past Dunluce Castle to the Giant’s Causeway. Aquaholics offers a 2.5-hour trip from Portstewart to the Skerries, Dunluce and the Causeway, with a pick-up in Portrush. Trips depend on the weather.

At the Causeway: choosing your trail

The National Trust has four colour-coded trails from the visitor centre:

• Blue Trail: the direct route, under a mile (0.8 miles), straight down to the famous stones, past rock formations the Trust describes as steeped in Irish legend.
• Red Trail: a bracing clifftop trail with viewpoints along the way.
• Green Trail: about 2 miles and fully accessible.
• Yellow Trail: see the National Trust page for the route and distance.

If the walk down is too much, two electric minibuses run a shuttle from the visitor centre to the stones. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available to borrow at no extra charge for members and Visitor Experience ticket holders.

Our tips

• Go early or late. The coastline is open from dawn to dusk, and the stones are at their most peaceful at the start and end of the day.
• Wear shoes with grip. The columns can be wet and slippery, especially near the water.
• Dress for the wind. Even in summer it can be breezy on the cliffs.
• Bring the dog. Dogs on leads are welcome across the World Heritage Site and in the visitor centre. Read Portrush with your dog for more.
• Check the opening calendar. Winter days are short, so plan around the light.

Make a day of it

The Causeway sits in the middle of some of the best coast in Ireland, so it’s easy to combine with other stops:

• Dunluce Castle, about 12 minutes from Portrush, on the way. No need to book.
• Bushmills Distillery, in the village 2 miles away. Book your tour online.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, about 28 minutes from Portrush. The bridge was first put up by salmon fishermen in 1755. Pre-booking is essential, and it can close in bad weather.
• White Park Bay and Dunseverick Castle, a quieter stretch of National Trust coast between the Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede.

Our Portrush and Causeway Coast area guide has more, from beaches and golf to where to eat.

Stay in Portrush

Staying in Portrush means you can visit the Causeway on your own schedule, then come back to the beach, the harbour and dinner in town. We have 29 self-catering apartments in central Portrush. Book direct for our best price. Pay 50% when you book (non-refundable), and the rest any time before you arrive. Coming in the quieter months? Look at our winter stays.

Portrush is a great place for a dog. There are three beaches within a few minutes of the town centre, cliff paths, a harbour to explore and plenty of places to warm up afterwards. There are a few rules to know, though, especially in summer. Here’s what our guests ask us most, with links to the official sources so you can check the details for yourself.

Which of our apartments take dogs?

Two of our apartments welcome a dog: the Cosy Dog-Friendly Apt by West Strand in Dunluce Park, and the Modern Dog-Friendly Apt Beside Beach at West Beach. Both are 1-bedroom apartments on Eglinton Street, a few minutes’ walk from West Strand. A pet fee applies, as shown on each listing. If you’re not sure whether your dog will be comfortable, give us a call on 028 7044 5054 and we’ll talk it through.

Please let us know you’re bringing your dog when you book, so we can make sure you’re in the right apartment.

The summer beach rules: 1 June to 15 September

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has seasonal dog control orders on its busiest beaches. From 1 June to 15 September each year, the council says dogs are not allowed on these stretches around Portrush:

• West Strand: from the steps at Castle Erin to the harbour wall at the South Pier.
• East Strand: from the Arcadia eastwards to the stream.
• The small beach at the Arcadia: the whole beach.
• Whiterocks: from the beach access eastwards towards Dunluce Castle.

The same seasonal restrictions also cover parts of Castlerock, Downhill and Portballintrae (Salmon Rock). The boundaries matter, so before a summer beach walk look at the council’s dog control maps, which show exactly where the restricted zones start and stop.

Breaking a dog control order can mean a fixed penalty or prosecution. Visit Causeway Coast and Glens says a fixed penalty of £80 may be offered instead of prosecution, and the council’s own notice gives £200 as the penalty for dog fouling. Always bag it and bin it.

Out of season: the best time to come

Outside those summer dates, the seasonal beach restrictions don’t apply. Imagine West Strand on a crisp January morning with hardly anyone on it. The council’s other dog rules still apply all year, so keep your dog under control and close by, and pick up after it.

If you’re thinking about a longer break, our winter stays page has real prices for weekly and monthly stays.

Walks near the apartments

• West Bay and Ramore Head: a 2.9-mile loop on surfaced, mostly flat paths from West Strand, round the harbour and the headland and back along the East Strand promenade. Easy for older dogs and short legs.
• The Causeway Coast Way: the Portrush to Portballintrae section is 9.3 km, past Whiterocks and Dunluce Castle. In summer, remember the restricted part of Whiterocks beach and stick to the path.
• The promenades along both strands make an easy evening stroll, whatever the season.

Visit Causeway Coast and Glens has good safety advice for dog owners. In short: keep away from cliff edges, which are often loose underfoot; don’t let your dog run up to people uninvited; make sure it’s microchipped and wearing a name tag; and never leave it in a warm car. Near farmland, keep your dog on a lead. Under the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, allowing a dog on land with livestock when it isn’t under control is a criminal offence.

Days out with your dog

Some of the big sights on the coast are dog-friendly and some aren’t, so it’s worth checking before you go.

• Giant’s Causeway: the National Trust welcomes dogs on leads in all areas of the visitor centre and across the World Heritage Site, and on its guided tours. Read our Giant’s Causeway guide for parking and getting there.
• Carrick-a-Rede: dogs on leads are welcome outdoors and in the Weighbridge Tearoom, but they aren’t allowed to cross the rope bridge itself. If there are two of you, take turns.
• Dunluce Castle: no dogs, apart from assistance dogs.
• Boat trips: Aquaholics doesn’t take dogs on its scheduled trips. Check with any other operator before you book.

Where to eat with your dog

Harry’s Shack on Portstewart Strand is listed as accepting dogs, and the beach is right outside. In Portrush, The Quays on Eglinton Street says its beer garden is dog friendly. Policies change, so it’s always worth asking when you book a table.

Our quick checklist

• Book one of our dog-friendly apartments and tell us your dog is coming.
• Between 1 June and 15 September, check the council’s maps before any beach walk.
• Pack poo bags, a lead, a towel for sandy paws and a bowl for days out.
• Keep your dog on a lead near cliffs and livestock.
• Check whether each attraction takes dogs before you set off.

Ready to plan your trip? Search our apartments, or read our area guide for more ideas.

Portrush in winter is a different place from the busy summer town. The beaches are quiet, the light is low and golden on a clear day, and when the Atlantic gets up there’s no better show on the coast. Here’s how we’d spend a winter weekend, with almost everything a short walk or drive from our apartments in central Portrush.

Before you go

• Opening times are shorter in winter. Check each place’s official website before you set off, and book restaurants ahead at weekends.
• Pack layers, a waterproof and shoes with good grip. The wind off the sea can be sharp even on a bright day, and rocks and paths get slippery.
• Daylight is short in December and January, so plan the coast for the middle of the day and save the cosy stuff for the evening.
• Want to know what it costs? Our winter stays page has real prices. On the day we checked (3 November 2026), a weekend from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 January 2027 in our 1-bedroom Central Apt with Terrace came to £194.85 in total for two adults.

Friday evening: arrive and settle in

Check-in is from 3pm and arrival is by keysafe, so there’s no rush to get here. Drop your bags, put the kettle on, then walk down to the harbour. The Ramore Wine Bar is a Portrush institution, and it’s worth booking on a Friday or Saturday. For a pint, the Harbour Bar is just along Harbour Road. If you’d rather stay closer to the station end of town, The Quays on Eglinton Street is a popular bar and gastropub, with a dog-friendly beer garden.

Saturday morning: beach, coffee and the headland

Start the day on West Strand, the town beach right beside the harbour. It’s a Blue Flag beach, and in winter you’ll often have long stretches of it to yourself. Keep an eye on the water: the council notes that harbour porpoises are seen offshore.

Warm up afterwards at Babushka Kitchen Cafe, in the old lifeboat station on the South Pier. Then, if you’ve got the legs for it, follow the West Bay and Ramore Head walk. It’s a 2.9-mile circular route on surfaced, mostly flat paths, from West Strand round the harbour and Ramore Head and back along the East Strand promenade. On a wild day the waves breaking around the headland are a sight to see. Stay well back from the edge and let the sea do its thing.

Saturday afternoon: Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway

Head east along the coast road to Dunluce Castle, about 12 minutes away. The ruins sit right on the cliff edge, and they’re at their most atmospheric under a winter sky. From 1 November the castle opens 9am to 4pm, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. You don’t need to book, but it can close in extreme weather.

Carry on to the Giant’s Causeway, about 20 minutes from Portrush. The coastline is open from dawn to dusk. On the November day we checked, the visitor centre was open from 10am to 4pm, and the National Trust says pre-booking is essential for the Visitor Experience, which includes parking, guided tours and the exhibition. We’ve put everything you need in our guide to the Giant’s Causeway from Portrush.

Prefer something warmer? Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, dating from 1608, is nearby in Bushmills village. Book your tour online before you go. Children under 8 can’t join the tour.

Saturday night: music or a night in

If your weekend falls in mid-November, you might catch Atlantic Sessions, a music festival with more than 40 artists across Portrush and Portstewart. Alongside the ticketed headline gigs there are free music trails, so you can wander from bar to bar. In 2026 it runs from 12 to 15 November. In December, look at the Christmas events listings for markets and Santa events along the coast.

Or simply stay in. Every one of our apartments has a full kitchen, and there’s a lot to be said for a home-cooked dinner, a film and the sound of the sea outside.

Sunday: Whiterocks and the Causeway Coast Way

Whiterocks, about 2 minutes away, makes a great winter walk. White limestone cliffs run from Curran Strand towards Dunluce, with caves and arches along the way, including the Wishing Arch, Elephant Rock and the Lion’s Paw. Parking is free. The clifftop path is part of the Causeway Coast Way, a 31.5-mile route from Portstewart to Ballycastle. Its Portrush to Portballintrae section is 9.3 km, past Whiterocks and Dunluce Castle, if you fancy a longer walk before you head home.

Golfers have three famous links courses to choose from. Royal Portrush has the Dunluce and Valley links and has hosted The Open three times, most recently in 2025. Portstewart and Castlerock are a short drive west. Check visitor tee times on each club’s website, as winter conditions vary.

For a late lunch, drive the few minutes to Portstewart Strand and Harry’s Shack, a beach restaurant right on the sand. Finish with an ice cream from Morelli’s on the Promenade. It’s never too cold for a cone.

Staying a bit longer?

Why not turn a weekend into a week, or even a month? Our weekly rate applies automatically to stays of 7 nights or more, and our monthly rate to stays of 30 nights or more. On the day we checked, a 30-night stay from Monday 4 January 2027 in our Central Apt with Terrace (1 bedroom) came to £1,508.91 in total, about £50 a night. You’ll find more examples on our winter stays page.

Booking is simple. Pay 50% when you book (non-refundable), and the rest any time before you arrive. Book direct for our best price, and if you have a question, just call us on 028 7044 5054.

Plan your weekend

• Search our apartments and winter dates
• Read our full Portrush and Causeway Coast area guide
• Bringing the dog? Read Portrush with your dog