Rathlin Island Getting there & around

Getting there & around

A ferry (2076 9299; www.calmac.co.uk) operates daily (adult/child/bicycle return £10/5/1.30, 45 minutes) from Ballycastle; advance booking is recommended in spring and summer.

From April to September ferries depart Ballycastle at 10am, noon, 4.30pm and 6.30pm, and leave Rathlin at 8.30am, 11am, 3.30pm and 5.30pm. In winter boats leave Ballycastle at 10.30am and 4pm (4.30pm on Friday) and from Rathlin at 9am and 3pm.

You can’t take your car to Rathlin, but nowhere on the island is more than 6km (about 1½ hours’ walk) from the ferry pier. You can hire a bicycle (£8 per day) from Soerneog View Hostel, or take a minibus tour with McGinn’s (2076 3451), who also shuttle visitors between the ferry and Kebble Nature Reserve from April to August.