Fairhead offers some of the most dramatic cliff-edge walking on the Causeway Coast, with views to Rathlin Island and, on a clear day, Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre, just 12 miles away.
Overview
Fairhead’s cliffs rise roughly 600-650 feet (around 200m) - sources vary on the precise figure - formed from dolerite columns and popular with both hikers and rock climbers. The land is private working farmland, farmed by the McBride family for 12 generations, with three main trails open to walkers.
On the name itself: two different local legends explain “Fairhead,” and neither is confirmed as the definitive origin - one holds that it commemorates a mortally wounded man’s dying wish on the cliffs; another attributes it to a beautiful fair-headed girl from Rathlin Island and a fight between her suitors. Both are presented here as folklore, not settled history.
Getting There
By car: the A2 Cushendall Road from Ballycastle, then Torr Road, then Fairhead Road to the car park (GPS: 55.220974, -6.154258) - part of the Causeway Coastal Route. A £3 honesty-box fee helps maintain the privately-owned car park.
By public transport: bus route 1D serves Fair Head; Rathlin Island is a short ferry ride from Ballycastle (about 6 miles away).
The Trails
Coastal Path (Blue Route, 4.2km): the scenic cliff-edge walk, passing woodland, lakes, and a rough shore section - the best vantage point for the cliffs themselves, with wild goats sometimes visible below.
Lough Na Cranagh Trail (Red Route, 2.4km): a circular route past Lough Na Cranagh, with its Iron-Age man-made island, and on to Lough Fadden above Murlough Bay.
Farm Track Loop (Green Route, 4.2km): the gentlest option, through working farmland - suitable for families.
Conditions can change fast on exposed cliff terrain - proper footwear, caution in wind or poor visibility, and care near the edge are all genuinely important here.
History and Geology
The cliffs formed from volcanic activity over 60 million years ago, with dolerite columns up to 12 metres in diameter. The Druid’s Temple, a round cairn roughly 15 metres across with a central tomb, is a real ancient monument on the site. Early clachan (housing cluster) settlements are also scattered across the landscape.
Game of Thrones
Fairhead’s cliffs stood in for Dragonstone in the HBO series, drawing real additional visitor interest and dedicated filming-location tours to the area.
Nearby
Torr Head Scenic Drive (Cushendun to Ballycastle) takes in Carrickfergus Castle, the Gobbins, Glenarm Castle, and the Dark Hedges along its route. Murlough Bay offers a sandy cove, old lime kilns, and a ruined early Christian church (the Church of St Mologe). Ballycastle Town and Rathlin Island are both easily combined with a Fairhead visit.
Practical Notes
No facilities are available directly at Fairhead itself - toilets, dining, and accommodation are all in nearby Ballycastle.
