Days Out NI
Coastal walk Ballycastle

Torr Head

Stand at Northern Ireland's closest point to Scotland, just 12 miles across the sea.

5 photos
Open accessWalk it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
BallycastleCoastal walk
Get directions
45 minutesHow long
15 minutesDistance
FreeCost
Buggy okBest for
On leadsDogs

Torr Head — Stand at Northern Ireland's closest point to Scotland, just 12 miles across the sea.

  • Distance: Short, roughly 10 to 15 minutes up to the headland from the car park.
  • How long: About 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you stop for photos.
  • Terrain: Rough grass and rock, slippery when wet; steep in places.
  • Dogs: Welcome but keep on a lead near cliffs and livestock; confirm if unsure.
  • With kids: High, exposed headland with unfenced drops; keep children close and away from the edges.
  • Parking: Free car park at the end of the road, small and fills up in summer.
Plan your visit

A short climb to a huge view

From the car park, a steep track leads up to the headland, which rises to about 67 metres. It's a short walk, roughly 10 to 15 minutes up, but it's a real pull and the grass can be slick after rain. At the top you reach the ruined coastguard station, built in 1822, with its circular stone walls still standing. The reward is the panorama: Scotland's Mull of Kintyre across the North Channel, Rathlin Island to the north-west, and the cliffs of Fair Head along the coast. On a clear evening it's one of the best sunset spots on the Antrim coast.

Free Free car park Views to Scotland Coastguard ruin Short walk Steep and exposed
Good to know before you go:

The Causeway Coast and Glens hosts seasonal guided walks, ranger-led events and coastal festivals through the year, with the Glens of Antrim and nearby Ballycastle a good base for what's on.

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 car park at the end of the road, small and fills up in summer
Distance
Short, roughly 10 to 15 minutes up to the headland from the car park
How long to allow
About 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you stop for photos
Difficulty
Short but steep and exposed; easy in distance, harder in effort and footing
Terrain
Rough grass and rock, slippery when wet; steep in places
Safety with kids
High, exposed headland with unfenced drops; keep children close and away from the edges
Dogs
Welcome but keep on a lead near cliffs and livestock; confirm if unsure
Buggy-friendly
No, the path is too steep and rough for a buggy
Toilets / food nearby
None on site; nearest toilets, cafes and shops are in Ballycastle, about 20 minutes away
Address
Torr Head, Torr Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim BT54 6RQ
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How far is the walk?
Short, roughly 10 to 15 minutes up to the headland from the car park
How long should I allow?
About 30 to 45 minutes, longer if you stop for photos
Can I bring the dog?
Welcome but keep on a lead near cliffs and livestock; confirm if unsure
Is it buggy-friendly?
No, the path is too steep and rough for a buggy
Getting there

Torr Head is at Torr Head, Torr Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim BT54 6RQ. Free car park at the end of the road, small and fills up in summer. 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

Torr Head is the closest point on the island of Ireland to Scotland, just 12 miles across the North Channel from the Mull of Kintyre. The rocky hill rises to about 67 metres and sits on Dalradian rock with a band of limestone, the same ancient geology that links the north-east of Ireland to Scotland.

The ruin on top was built in 1822 as a signal station for Lloyd's of London, relaying news of passing North Channel shipping. It later carried a semaphore station and was among the first places to trial Marconi's wireless telegraphy, with experiments in the area in 1898. The coastguard quarters were raided and burned in 1920 during the Irish War of Independence, and have stood as a shell ever since.

Long before the station, the headland was the site of an ancient cashel, a stone ringfort, tied in legend to the tale of Deirdre of the Sorrows. Below the head, the little harbour was once a salmon fishery station, working through the migration season.