Rathlin Island Ferry & Seabird Centre — Sail to Rathlin and watch puffins crowd the cliffs all summer long.
What you'll see: Puffins (best May-July), guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars nesting on the sea cliffs.
Season: Ferry runs 3 April to 30 September 2026. Seabird Centre open daily from around Easter (5 April in 2026) to late summer (closed 31 August in 2025; check before you go), 9:00am-5:00pm (last entry 4:00pm).
Dogs: Dogs welcome on the ferry (free, on a lead) and can be brought to the site by bus, but only assistance dogs are allowed inside the Visitor Centre. No dogs on Kebble Nature Reserve.
Parking: Public car parks at the Ballycastle ferry terminal with seasonal charges; limited at peak times. A car permit is required to drive on the island.
Food: Café at the Seabird Centre (tea, coffee, snacks) plus picnic seating; food available at Church Bay.
Toilets: Accessible toilets at the Seabird Centre and Church Bay; baby changing at both and onboard the car ferry.
Plan your visit
Puffins, guillemots and razorbills at eye level
The West Light Seabird Centre sits in a working lighthouse built into the cliff face, so the viewing platform looks straight across at the colonies. In season you'll spot puffins with their bright bills, plus guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars packed onto the rock. The best puffin viewing runs from late April to early August, peaking May to July when the birds are rearing chicks. RSPB staff are on hand to help kids find the birds, and you can hire binoculars at the centre. Reaching the lower platform means 98 steps down the cliffside, so it's better for steadier walkers than toddlers in a buggy.
Ferry adventurePuffins in seasonSeabird viewing platformBinocular hireCafé and toiletsDogs OK on the ferry and site (not inside the centre)
Good to know before you go:
Rathlin and the RSPB reserve run seasonal wildlife events through spring and summer, built around the seabird breeding season. Check the RSPB Rathlin pages before you travel for guided sessions and any special open days.
Before you set off
What to bring
🔭BinocularsHalf the fun is spotting the birds, seals or deer before they spot you.
👟Walking shoes or welliesPaths can be soft, grassy or muddy after rain — comfy waterproof feet win.
🧥A coatOut in the open the weather changes fast; dress for it and enjoy the fresh air.
💧Water and a snackReserves are quiet places — few have a café, so pack a little something.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Ferry 2026 single: adult £8.40, child £4.20, under-5s free (ticket still required). Seabird Centre entry £9 for non-members, free for RSPB members. Puffin Bus approx £6 cash return.
Opening / season
Ferry runs 3 April to 30 September 2026. Seabird Centre open daily from around Easter (5 April in 2026) to late summer (closed 31 August in 2025; check before you go), 9:00am-5:00pm (last entry 4:00pm).
Best for ages
Around 5 and up; the cliff steps and full-day boat trip suit older, steadier kids better than toddlers.
What you'll see
Puffins (best May-July), guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars nesting on the sea cliffs.
Food
Café at the Seabird Centre (tea, coffee, snacks) plus picnic seating; food available at Church Bay.
Toilets
Accessible toilets at the Seabird Centre and Church Bay; baby changing at both and onboard the car ferry.
Parking
Public car parks at the Ballycastle ferry terminal with seasonal charges; limited at peak times. A car permit is required to drive on the island.
Dogs
Dogs welcome on the ferry (free, on a lead) and can be brought to the site by bus, but only assistance dogs are allowed inside the Visitor Centre. No dogs on Kebble Nature Reserve.
Accessibility
Upper viewing platform is wheelchair accessible, but the lower platform is 98 steps down and the bus is not wheelchair accessible. Full wheelchair and pushchair access to the cliffs is not feasible.
How long to allow
A full day, allowing for the ferry crossings and the trip out to the west end.
Address
Rathlin Island Ferry, Ballycastle Harbour, Ballycastle, Co Antrim; RSPB West Light Seabird Centre, west end of Rathlin Island.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Ferry 2026 single: adult £8.40, child £4.20, under-5s free (ticket still required). Seabird Centre entry £9 for non-members, free for RSPB members. Puffin Bus approx £6 cash return.
What will we see?
Puffins (best May-July), guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars nesting on the sea cliffs.
When is the best time to go?
Ferry runs 3 April to 30 September 2026. Seabird Centre open daily from around Easter (5 April in 2026) to late summer (closed 31 August in 2025; check before you go), 9:00am-5:00pm (last entry 4:00pm).
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs welcome on the ferry (free, on a lead) and can be brought to the site by bus, but only assistance dogs are allowed inside the Visitor Centre. No dogs on Kebble Nature Reserve.
Where do I park?
Public car parks at the Ballycastle ferry terminal with seasonal charges; limited at peak times. A car permit is required to drive on the island.
Getting there
Rathlin Island Ferry & Seabird Centre is at Rathlin Island Ferry, Ballycastle Harbour, Ballycastle, Co Antrim; RSPB West Light Seabird Centre, west end of Rathlin Island.. Public car parks at the Ballycastle ferry terminal with seasonal charges; limited at peak times. A car permit is required to drive on the island. Tap below for directions.
Rathlin is the only inhabited island off the coast of Northern Ireland, lying a short sail north of Ballycastle. The ferry, run by Rathlin Ferry Service, links the island to the mainland from early April to the end of September, using the fast passenger ferry Kintra II and the larger Spirit of Rathlin.
The RSPB West Light Seabird Centre is built into a working lighthouse at the island's western tip, where the cliffs open onto the Atlantic. The unusual upside-down lighthouse design puts the light at the base, and the centre's viewing platform brings visitors right alongside the nesting colonies of one of Northern Ireland's most important seabird sites.