Moyle Way

Walk Overview

The Moyle Way covers 44 kilometres (27 miles) from Waterfoot (near Cushendall) to Ballycastle. The path delves into the vivid green Glens of Antrim county and traverses forest trails, country roads as well as open mountainsides. It passes through the Glenariff Forest Park featuring tranquil woodlands, iconic waterfalls and abundant wildlife. En route there are magnificent views of the Glenshesk River, the Coolaveely Forest, Mt. Knocklayd and the Ballycastle Forest.

The Moyle way finishes in Ballycastle. From Ballycastle, there is an opportunity to visit Rathlin Island. The steep, inaccessible cliffs of this wild island provide ideal nesting territory for thousands of birds including puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. In Spring and Summer, the island is covered in colourful wildflowers.

Ballycastle is the point where the the Moyle Way meets the Causeway Coast Way. For those seeking a scenic and varied multi-day walk in Northern Ireland, a combination of the Causeway Coast Way and Moyle Way is an excellent choice and is able to be tackled by novice walkers.

Further information:

• A three day itinerary is described below.

• For more information on walking in the Glens of Antrim, click the button below.

Itinerary

The walk to Ballycastle takes 2 days to complete. An itinerary (including Rathlin Island) is shown below.

Day 1

Cushendall to Orra Beg

Distance: 21 km

Time: 6 hours

Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast

Walk Options

Guided

There are walking tour operators offering one or multi-day day guided walks in the area, including part or all of the Moyle Way.  Accommodation is either offered at one central base or at a number of locations en route, depending upon which tour operator you choose.

Typically, the package offered by these operators include:

• Tours with professional guides, 

• Accommodation with ensuite at bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and small hotels

• All breakfasts (some operators include lunches and dinners)

• Transfers between the walks and the accommodation

Assisted self-guided

Several tour operators offer the Moyle Way as a self-guided trip.

Typically, the service includes:

• Trail notes, maps and information pack

• Accommodation, usually with ensuites

• Luggage transport between accommodation

• Breakfasts and optional packed lunches

• 24/7 Support

Accommodation options range from comfortable through to luxury, depending upon the size of the village or town and the purchased package.

Independent

There are camping areas along the route that make camping on each night a possibility. It’s also quite feasible to book accommodation along the route yourself and, if you require luggage transfers, to arrange that independently.

For those considering this option, it’s worth noting that the self-guided tour operators often have preferred rates with accommodation providers and luggage transfer companies. They also often have reserved allocations at the best-located/most suitable accommodation for the particular walk, so sometimes when accommodation shows no availability to an independent inquiry there’s still availability through a self-guided operator.

Essential Information

Access

The starting point for the walk is Cushendall in Northern Ireland.

There are frequent bus services from either Belfast or Dublin to Cushendall.

From Belfast, there are regular buses to Ballymena (1 hour trip), from Ballymena the Ulster bus service takes 45 minutes to reach Cushendall.

Alternatively, from Dublin airport, there are buses to Belfast Europa Buscentre to connect with the bus service to Ballymena and Cushendall as mentioned above.

The finishing point is Ballycastle. There are frequent bus services from Ballycastle to either Belfast or Dublin.

Best time

The best time to do the walk is between March and October.

Traditionally, April and May are the most popular months as the weather is usually better and less changeable.

Difficulty

This walk is rated at a difficulty level of easy to moderate. The track is generally level with a few steep climbs and some undulating (sometimes muddy) terrain.

The trail is clearly marked except for the section between Orra Beg and Ballycastle where maps and route notes are needed for navigation.

Accommodation

There is a good selection of high standard accommodation providers including bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, inns and hotels.

Some of the accommodation providers near to the track are attuned to walkers’ needs or offer amenities suited to walkers. 

We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.

Dining

We can assist you in choosing some special dining options along the route.

Other activities

As a popular tourism destination, the Glens of Antrim and Causeway Coast region offers many attractions in addition to the Moyle Way and the Causeway Coast Way.

Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can explore these other attractions.

Popular choices include Portballintrae which provides easy access to the new state of the art visitors centre at the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site. Another popular excursion from Portballintrae is to Bushmills Distillery which runs regular tours and tastings. Game of Thrones fans can visit the Dark Hedges, Cushenden Caves (the Stormlands), Larrybane Head (Storm’s End) and Ballintoy Harbour (Lordsport).

We can assist walkers to explore the many attractions of the Glens of Antrim and Causeway Coast region.

Assistance

We can assist walkers with various aspects of their walking holidays.