Breathtaking Ballintoy Harbour – Northern Ireland

Ballintoy is a nice small village having a small harbour there. There are plenty of rocks in water around the place. During the high tide the water from the waves splashes on (or over) them continuously. The combination of the wind and the splashing sound makes the place is amusingly lyrical.

As the Ballintoy harbour is just beside the Giant causeway coastal route (by car or foot), plenty of visitors pay attention to this place. This place is located around 20 minutes of walking distance (through causeway trek) from Larrybane Quary. It takes another 5-10 minutes to reach the harbour after reaching the entry point to the village. It is because the road from there is serpentine and long.

There is a small plateue of rocks in water (when you reach Ballintoy harbour, it is at your right side). Few people were doing fishing. Didn’t see anyone was paying attention to that place. We’ve gone there to explore the area. From there the view towards the Larrybane Quary was picturesque. The natural wall beside the bay makes the view beautiful. Also there is a very small beach there near the rocks, and the tall steep rock is just beside the beach. The waves were crashing on that walls. And the splashing waters looked like they were trying to climb the wall.

There are several small pots (holes) in the stone. Water uses to come inside during high tide with a fierce might. It looks like the water is trying to crash the hole down. But the solid stone is still standing there. Those holes are really deadly. The level of water rises very quickly. And sometimes too much water can not escape, and that causes hissing sound. We’ve spent a fair amount of time near this area to enjoy the orchestra of water.

Sheep island is visible at far from Ballintoy.

The main attraction of Ballintoy harbour is the small rocks surrounded near by (in water). I don’t know how they look like during low tide. But during high tide they use to get under water for a while (specially when the waves are too heavy). That makes the water splashing around with sound. Sometimes those rocks use to get under wave. And when the water is flowing around the rocks it looks like someone poured milk on them.

Cascade of rocks. Hopefully they will go under water during high tide.

There are plenty of rocks around in Ballintoy harbour. Sometimes one rock gets under water, and sometimes another one. This kind of random display gives you an opportunity to do some eye exercise. Some of the places are like a tray and the water is trapped inside that tray. And looks like someone is shaking the tray. While I was there I’ve seen plenty of visitors were standing nearby to see that.

View towards Larrybane quarry and Rope bridge from Ballintoy.

The Balllintoy harbour is having a small jetty (or dock?). I didn’t see any boat arriving or leaving from there. There were plenty of people who were doing fishing there. I’ve also seen few kayak and people were doing practice on there. That dock channel should be a deep one and mouthwatering for the swimmers. But due to cold I didn’t see anyone doing swimming there. Summer can be a different story I guess (if the swimming is allowed there).

This is a Zoom-in photo towards Larrybane Quarry.

How to go to Ballintoy Harbour:

If you are doing Giant causeway coastal route walk then you do not need direction. It will be there sooner or later if you follow your track. Similar for the drivers who are driving. For others the Bus number 402 is your friend. You can take the bus either from Bushmills or from Ballycastle depending upon where you are. The bus is slightly costly as it is for the tourists.

This wall was awesome. Crystal clear waters were splashing over it.

Where to stay:

There are not too many options near Ballintoy harbour to stay. That’s why they are slightly costly and you have to book them early. Also the restaurants can be a problem as this is not a big city (unless you are with your own car). But if you really want to stay there then here is list of hotels near Ballintoy Harbour.

Booking.com

Most of the people try to stay at Ballycastle or Bushmills as they are having all other city options. I’ve stayed at Ballycastle one night and at Bushmills other night. Here is list of hotels from Ballycastle, and list of hotels from Bushmills.

Another strike. I never wanted to leave this place. But our time was very limited.

There is a very tinny puny beach near the rocks. A family were doing BBQ there. Can you see them?

The natural wall beside the coastal route. We came beside that place. But that wall only looks beautiful from Ballintoy.

We are still at a tinny corner of Ballintoy. Didn’t start in a full fledge yet.

There are plenty of rocks like this in Ballintoy Harbour. They go under water during high tide. Splashing of water on them makes the place very noisy and melodious.

When we’ve reached there it was the moment when high tide approaching just started. I think during peek of high tide this place will go under water.

As the sun was at left side, that’s why anything at right was very blue.

Another few rocks.

Splashing of water again.

Closer look to the tinny puny beach that I was talking earlier.

This small pot in stone was very deadly. The water was pounding inside very powerfully.

Another pot. This one is the most beautiful one, and water is full this time.

Same pot, but this time water is drained. It has a crevice in it as well.

This video shows how powerful the water can be in different pots.

Sometimes the wave is so heavy that it covers this rock completely. And at some point it looks like someone poured milk over the rock.

Again, when the wave overpower the height of the rocks.

This is another dead pool. It looks like the place is a tray filled with water, and someone is shaking the tray. This place is always white as the water never gets a chance to rest.