Located on the Causeway Coastal Route between the Giant’s Causeway and Ballycastle, Ballintoy is a small village with only around 200 inhabitants. It lies about 5 miles west of Ballycastle and 17 miles northeast of Coleraine - both a short drive away, making Ballintoy a workable base for exploring the wider Causeway Coast, including Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, the Dark Hedges, and Royal Portrush.
The village was originally built around a single street. In Irish, Ballintoy means “the northern townland” (Baile an Tuaigh), and it’s one of the real filming locations for HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Ballintoy falls within Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council - the local authority formed in 2015 by merging Ballymoney Borough Council, Coleraine Borough Council, Limavady Borough Council, and Moyle District Council (Ballintoy’s former council area). Ballintoy Beach is well-sheltered, making it a good spot for swimming.
Ballintoy Harbour
The small fishing harbour is less than a mile from the village, reached by a narrow, steep road that winds down past Knocksaughey Hill, passing the white Ballintoy Parish Church on the way. It’s a genuinely scenic route, not just a means to an end.
There’s a car park at the harbour, though it fills up quickly at peak times. The Ballintoy Harbour Café serves homemade Irish fare, and there are picnic facilities nearby if you’d rather bring your own food and eat looking out at the Atlantic.
