The road down to Ballintoy Harbour is half the fun — a steep, narrow lane that leaves the main coast road and drops toward the sea in a run of tight, winding switchbacks, hedges close on either side, the water flashing between them. Then the land falls away and there it is below you: a tiny stone harbour cupped in the rocks, a boat or two riding at their moorings, a whitewashed harbour building on the quay, and cushions of pink sea-thrift growing straight out of the stone.
Down at the water it's the kind of place that slows you right down. The kids can pick their way over the limestone foreshore to peer into rock pools, the sea stacks and rocky islets rise offshore, and a coastal path leads away over the headlands toward White Park Bay one way and Carrick-a-Rede the other. It still works for its living, too — fishing boats come and go from the slipway, so keep little ones back from the edge and off the ramp when a boat's on the move.
Fans of Game of Thrones will know it on sight. Ballintoy stood in for Lordsport, the harbour on Pyke in the Iron Islands — this is where Theon Greyjoy comes ashore. Round it off with tea and something home-baked at Roark's Kitchen on the quay, then a slow wander back up the hill with the whole coast spread out behind you. It's a rich, salt-air couple of hours the whole family will be glad you made the time for.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free and always open.
Ballintoy Harbour is free to visit and open all year round — just drive down and park. The one thing to know is the road: it leaves the main coast road and drops to the harbour in a series of steep, narrow, winding switchbacks, single-track in places, so take it slowly and be ready to give way. There's a small car park by the harbour that can fill up fast at busy times and in summer; if it's full, come back a little later or park up in Ballintoy village and walk down. Parking charges may apply — confirm on the day.
Roark's Kitchen caféToilets at the car parkPicnic areaCoastal walks both waysDogs on a lead
It's a real working harbour:
Boats use the slipway, so keep children back from the water's edge and clear of the ramp — mind your footing on the rocks and near the quay, especially when it's wet or the tide is in.
Before you set off
What to bring
🥾Grippy shoes or bootsThe foreshore is uneven limestone and rock — good footing makes the rock pools and the coast path easy.
🧥A coat or windbreakerIt's right on the sea, so it can be breezy even on a bright day — a layer keeps everyone out longer and happier.
🪣A net and a bucketThe rock pools are made for a bit of exploring — crabs, shells and whatever the tide has left behind.
📷A cameraThe harbour, the sea stacks and the Game of Thrones view are worth a shot from the top of the hill and down on the quay.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to visit and free open access all year. Parking charges may apply at the harbour car park — confirm on the day.
Opening
The harbour itself is open all year, day and night, as an outdoor coastal spot. Roark's Kitchen café is seasonal and tends to close over the winter months, so check before a cold-weather trip.
The access road
A steep, narrow, winding road drops from the main coast road (Knocksaughey Hill) down to the harbour, single-track in places with tight bends. Take it slowly, use passing spots and give way — not one to rush.
Parking
A small car park sits right beside the harbour and can fill up quickly at peak times. If it's full, park in Ballintoy village and walk down.
Food
Roark's Kitchen, a small tearoom on the quayside, does teas, coffee, home baking, ice cream and hot food like soups and stews. Seasonal — often closed in winter. There's a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own.
Toilets
Public toilets are at the harbour car park.
Dogs
Welcome on the coast and the walks — keep them on a lead near the working harbour, the slipway and any livestock on the cliff paths, and clean up after them.
What you'll see
A tiny stone working harbour, sea-thrift on the rocks, rock pools on the limestone foreshore, sea stacks and rocky islets offshore, and cliff-top coastal walks toward White Park Bay and Carrick-a-Rede. It's also the Game of Thrones filming location for Lordsport on the Iron Isles of Pyke.
Getting around
The quay is fairly level but the foreshore is rough rock, and the road down is steep — not ideal for wheels; take care with buggies and anyone unsteady.
How long
Allow one to two hours for a wander, the rock pools and a cup of tea — longer if you set off along the coast path.
Questions
Before you go
How bad is the road down?
It's steep, narrow and winding — a run of tight switchbacks that drops from the main coast road to the harbour, single-track in places. It's perfectly doable in an ordinary car; just take it slowly, use the passing spots and be ready to give way to anyone coming up.
Is it free, and do I need to book?
Yes, it's free to visit with open access all year, and there's no booking. Parking charges may apply at the harbour car park — confirm on the day.
Is there parking?
There's a small car park right by the harbour, but it can fill up fast in summer and at busy times. If it's full, park in Ballintoy village and walk down.
Is there anywhere to eat?
Roark's Kitchen on the quayside does tea, coffee, home baking and hot food. It's seasonal, so it may be closed in the winter months — check before you go. There's also a picnic area.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — the coast and the walks are dog-friendly. Keep them on a lead near the working harbour and the slipway, and around any livestock on the cliff paths.
Is it really the Game of Thrones harbour?
It is — Ballintoy stood in for Lordsport, the harbour on Pyke in the Iron Islands, where Theon Greyjoy comes ashore. Fans usually spot it straight away from the top of the hill.
Getting there
Harbour Road, Ballintoy, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, BT54 6NA — on the Causeway Coast between Carrick-a-Rede and White Park Bay, about five miles west of Ballycastle. Turn off the main coast road and follow the steep, winding harbour road down to the sea.
Ballintoy is a small working harbour on the Causeway Coast, cut into the limestone at the foot of a steep hill below the village of the same name. Boats have long come and gone from its slipway, and it still earns its keep from the sea — a genuine bit of coastal Antrim rather than a set piece.
Its wider fame arrived with the cameras. When Game of Thrones needed the Iron Islands, Ballintoy became Lordsport, the harbour on Pyke, and visitors from all over the world now find their way down that winding road to stand where Theon Greyjoy came ashore. The pull is easy to understand: sea stacks, rock pools, sea-thrift on the stone and a coast path leading off to White Park Bay and Carrick-a-Rede — a proper piece of the Causeway Coast, still small enough to feel like a find.