Days Out NI
Coastal walk Ballycastle

Knocklayd Summit Walk

Climb the cone-shaped hill above Ballycastle for a 360 view of Rathlin and the Glens.

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Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
BallycastleCoastal walk
Get directions
A couple of hoursHow long
2.8 milesDistance
FreeCost
Buggy okBest for
On leadsDogs

Knocklayd Summit Walk — Climb the cone-shaped hill above Ballycastle for a 360 view of Rathlin and the Glens.

  • Distance: Roughly 2.8 miles (4.5km) return from the Drumavoley Road car park, about 330m of ascent.
  • How long: A couple of hours up and back at a family pace — allow longer with little legs.
  • Terrain: Gravel forest track, then grassy and boggy open hillside near the top.
  • Dogs: Welcome but keep on a lead near livestock — confirm before you go.
  • With kids: No cliffs, but open and exposed at 514m — windy summit, keep kids in sight, go on a clear day.
  • Parking: Free Forestry Service car park off Drumavoley Road.
Plan your visit

A steady climb to a top-of-the-world view

The walk starts at Ballycastle Forest car park and heads straight up a wide gravel track, keeping left at a couple of junctions. The track gradually turns from grit to dirt as you gain height, then a farmer's gate leads you out of the trees onto open hillside. From here it is a steep pull up grassy, boggy slopes to the summit cairn at 514m. From the Drumavoley Road car park the round trip is roughly 2.8 miles (4.5km) with about 330m of climbing, and most families take a couple of hours there and back, longer with little legs. The reward is a clear-day panorama over Rathlin Island, the Causeway Coast beaches, the Glens of Antrim, the Sperrins and, in the haze, Scotland.

Free Free car park 514m summit 360 views Rathlin Island Steep and boggy 2.8 miles return
Good to know before you go:

The Causeway Coast and Glens host seasonal guided walks, ranger-led hill days and outdoor festivals through the year, and Ballycastle's events calendar fills up over the summer. Check what's on before you plan your trip.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Good shoes or bootsShore paths can be rocky, uneven and a little muddy after rain.
  • 🧥A coat or windproofThe coast is breezy — a fresh sea wind is half the fun of it.
  • 💧Water and a snackThere is rarely a shop right on the path, so pack a little something.
  • 🔭Binoculars or a cameraFor the seabirds, the seals and the big views across the water.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Parking
Free Forestry Service car park off Drumavoley Road
Distance
Roughly 2.8 miles (4.5km) return from the Drumavoley Road car park, about 330m of ascent
How long to allow
A couple of hours up and back at a family pace — allow longer with little legs
Difficulty
Moderately hard: steady forest track then a steep, boggy climb
Terrain
Gravel forest track, then grassy and boggy open hillside near the top
Safety with kids
No cliffs, but open and exposed at 514m — windy summit, keep kids in sight, go on a clear day
Dogs
Welcome but keep on a lead near livestock — confirm before you go
Buggy-friendly
No — the upper hillside is steep and boggy, not buggy-friendly
Toilets / food nearby
No facilities at the car park; toilets and cafes in Ballycastle town
Address
Ballycastle Forest car park, Drumavoley Road, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How far is the walk?
Roughly 2.8 miles (4.5km) return from the Drumavoley Road car park, about 330m of ascent
How long should I allow?
A couple of hours up and back at a family pace — allow longer with little legs
Can I bring the dog?
Welcome but keep on a lead near livestock — confirm before you go
Is it buggy-friendly?
No — the upper hillside is steep and boggy, not buggy-friendly
Getting there

Knocklayd Summit Walk is at Ballycastle Forest car park, Drumavoley Road, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. Free Forestry Service car park off Drumavoley Road. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around BallycastleSee what else is close by More coastal walks across NIBeaches, cliffs, harbours and headlands
The story

About this stretch of coast

Knocklayd is a 514m hill that rises in an almost perfect cone above Ballycastle, a shape that makes it a landmark from across the north Antrim coast and out at sea. Its lower slopes are wrapped in Ballycastle Forest, first planted in 1931, including a stand of European larch dating to 1936. Much of the original woodland has since been clear-felled and replanted to build richer habitat for wildlife.

The hill sits where the Glens of Antrim meet the coast, so the summit looks out over Rathlin Island, the Causeway beaches and, on the clearest days, the Scottish islands of Islay and Jura. Part of the long-distance Moyle Way and Ulster Way runs through the forest below, following an old railway line locals call the Glentaisie Trail.