Drop down a steep, winding road to one of the wildest, most beautiful bays on the whole Causeway Coast — woodland and ruined cottages above a rocky shore, with huge views out to Rathlin Island and, on a clear day, Scotland. A remote spot most people drive straight past.
What you'll do — make the dramatic drive down to the shore, wander the coastal paths and woodland, poke around the old ruined cottages, take in the big sea views towards Rathlin and Scotland, and stand where scenes for Game of Thrones were filmed — the Iron Islands, in the show.
How long — allow an hour or two to walk about, sit by the shore and soak it in; longer if you follow the paths up towards Fair Head.
Price — free. There's a small car park down at the bay, though it fills quickly on a fine day.
What to bring — sturdy boots and warm layers. The ground is rough and the weather turns fast out here; a flask and a bite to eat go a long way, as there's nowhere to buy anything.
The road down is very steep, narrow and single-track — take it slow, use the passing places, and it's really not one for big vehicles, campervans or nervous drivers. In winter it can be icy.
Remote, with no facilities and no lifeguard. No toilets, no café, and often no phone signal. Mind the tide and the slippery rocks, keep children and dogs close near the water, and take all your litter home.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — but come prepared.
Murlough Bay is open all year and free to visit — there's no gate, no ticket and no opening hours. The catch is getting there and being self-sufficient once you arrive: it's reached by a steep, narrow single-track road that drops sharply down to the shore, and there are no facilities at all — no toilets, no café, often no phone signal. Bring what you need, drive down slowly, and give yourself time to enjoy one of the quietest corners of the coast.
Small car park at the bayCoastal & woodland pathsSteep single-track access roadNo toilets or café
Take care on the road and the shore:
The access road is very steep and narrow, with tight bends and passing places — not for large vehicles or nervous drivers, and slippery in wet or icy weather. At the bay there's no lifeguard, so mind the tide and the wet rocks, and keep little ones and dogs close to you.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Sturdy boots with gripThe paths are rough and uneven and the shore is rocky — proper footwear makes all the difference.
🧥Warm, waterproof layersIt's exposed and the weather turns quickly out here — a good jacket keeps the day going whatever the sky does.
🥪A flask and snacksThere's nowhere to buy anything at the bay, so bring your own — a picnic by the shore is part of the pleasure.
📷A cameraThe cliffs, the cottage and the views to Rathlin and Scotland are as good as this coast gets.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free — there's no charge to visit or to park.
Opening
Open access all year round. There are no gates or set hours, but it's best in daylight and settled weather; the road can be treacherous in the dark or in ice.
Getting down
A steep, narrow, single-track road with tight bends and passing places leads down to the bay. Take it slowly. It's not suited to campervans, large vehicles or nervous drivers.
Facilities
None — no toilets, no café or shop, and often no phone signal. Bring everything you need and take your litter home.
Difficulty
Easy to moderate. You can enjoy the bay near the car park, or follow rougher paths through the woodland and up towards Fair Head for more of a walk.
Dogs
Welcome, but keep them under close control near the cliffs, the shore and any grazing livestock.
Views
Out across the water to Rathlin Island, and on a clear day to Scotland — the Mull of Kintyre and the islands beyond.
Film location
Parts of the bay were used as a filming location for Game of Thrones, standing in for the Iron Islands in the series.
How long
Allow an hour or two to walk about and take it in; longer if you head up towards Fair Head.
Questions
Before you go
What's the road down like?
Steep, narrow and single-track, with tight bends and a few passing places. It's fine if you take it slowly, but it's genuinely not one for campervans, large vehicles or nervous drivers, and it can be icy in winter. Drop into low gear on the way down.
Are there any toilets or a café?
No — Murlough Bay has no facilities at all. Bring a flask, some food and anything else you need, and take your litter home with you.
Is it free, and can I just turn up?
Yes on both counts — it's free, open all year and there's no ticket. There's a small car park at the bay, though it fills up quickly on a fine day.
Was Game of Thrones really filmed here?
Yes — parts of Murlough Bay were used as a filming location for the show, standing in for the Iron Islands. The wild, rocky shore beneath the cliffs is what you'll recognise.
Is it safe for children and dogs?
It's a wild shore with no lifeguard, slippery rocks and steep ground nearby, so keep children and dogs close to you, mind the tide, and take care near the water and the cliff edges.
What will I see across the water?
Rathlin Island lies just offshore, and on a clear day you can see across to Scotland — the Mull of Kintyre and the islands beyond. Sunrise and evening light out here are hard to beat.
Getting there
Murlough Bay sits on the coast east of Ballycastle, between Fair Head and Torr Head. Follow the signs off the Torr Road, then take the steep, narrow road down to the shore — slowly, and using the passing places.
For all its quiet, Murlough Bay carries a heavy piece of history. Sir Roger Casement — the diplomat turned Irish nationalist, hanged for treason in 1916 — knew this stretch of coast well and, so the story goes, asked to be buried "in the old churchyard on Murlough Bay" among the ruined cottages above the shore. His wish went unmet for decades, and he lies in Dublin, but a memorial still stands here in his name.
Look around and you'll see the marks of older, harder lives too — the tumbledown cottages, the old limekilns, the traces of the little coal workings that once clung to this coast. Today the crowds pass overhead on the way to Fair Head, and the bay is left to the goats, the seabirds and whoever takes the trouble to drive down that winding road. That, really, is the point of it.