Where is Islandmagee?

Islandmagee is a coastal peninsula in County Antrim, between Larne and Whitehead, Carrickfergus. It is located on a small outcrop of land off the coast. While you are in Islandmagee you can bask in the stunning coastal scenery.

How to get to Islandmagee?

Islandmagee by Car
Despite its name, Islandmagee is not an island. Therefore, it is possible to drive there from the direction of Carrickfergus using the B150 to connect the Low Road or Middle Road of Islandmagee.

Islandmagee by Train or Bus
Alternatively you can arrive in Islandmagee via a train or Bus journey. The closest train station being Ballycarry, where you can get a connecting bus to Islandmagee. You can also get direct buses from places nearby such as Larne, and Whitehead.

Islandmagee by Ferry
If you are in Larne you have the option to take the passenger ferry from Larne to Ballylumford. This ferry crossing has been in use since the 19th century and still helps people get to Islandmagee today but the timetable is very weather dependent.

Things to do in Islandmagee

Walks

The beautiful scenery of Islandmagee makes it the perfect place for a walk. One walk recommended by Walk Ni is the Ulster Scotts walk. This 1.9 mile walk starts by the Harbour and takes in the Muck Island Wildlife Sanctuary as well as some stunning coastal views.

Cycling & Horse Riding

If you enjoy cycling Islandmagee is home to fantastic cycling routes, of varied difficulty, that will let you take in the coastal beauty of the town.
You can even take in the scenery of Islandmagee from the back of a horse. The Islandmagee Riding Centre is a family friendly horse riding centre that will help you get riding.
Location: 103 Browns Bay Rd, Islandmagee, Mullaghboy, Larne BT40 3TL
Opening Hours:
Open 7 days a week – 9am-5pm (6:30pm Wednesdays).

Browns Bay

5 of the best things to do in Islandmagee, Ireland 2

If you enjoy cycling Islandmagee is home to fantastic cycling routes, of varied difficulty, that will let you take in the coastal beauty of the area.

Browns Bay is a horseshoe shaped beach stretching 600m of sand. The perfect place to be enveloped by your natural surroundings and get away from it all. This award winning sandy beach is a great place for all the family to enjoy picnics, swimming, water sports (including wind surfing and paddleboarding), or just a leisurely walk along the sand.

West of Browns Bay you can walk to Ballylumford Harbour where you can see Ferris Point Lighthouse. Ferris Point Lighthouse has been there since the 19th Century historically named the Larne Lough Lighthouse. The lighthouse standing there today is a modern addition but the historic lighthouse was placed here in 1839.

East of the bay is Skernaghan Point, here you will find a National Trust walk which is a great idea for a day out if you are interested in some exercise. This 3 mile walk takes you through gorse (wild grass) fields which may be a little muddy if the weather is wet but the views are very much worth it.

The Gobbins Cliff Path

A very short drive from central Islandmagee, the Gobbins Cliff Path is a very different hiking experience.

What is the Gobbins?

The Gobbins is a dramatic cliffside walk created by Berkeley Deane Wise, a railway engineer in 1902. The Gobbins Footpath was part of a development of Victorian tourism for ordinary people in Antrim which began in the late 19th century. The pathway was once said to be busier than Royal Avenue, Belfast and was a huge success until it closed during World War Two. Apart from a short re-opening in the 1950’s the path lay dormant until a project from the Larne Borough Council aimed to recreate the iconic cliff paths.

Is the Gobbins Family Friendly?

Although, the beautiful coastal views are a wonder at any age the pathway through the Gobbins is a hard trek and due to safety regulations it is unsuitable for people under 4ft tall. You are unable to carry children around the Gobbins so unfortunately you may have to wait until your children are a little taller to let them experience the path.

Safety at the Gobbins

  • No people under 4ft are able to traverse the path.
  • Helmets and Boots must be worn (Hiking Boots can be rented if you don’t have them).
  • Tours are guided at all times.
  • A short safety demonstration will be given before the walk.

The walk along the Gobbins is a tough one not advised for those with medical conditions such as asthma or angina. The walk is equivalent to 50 flights of stairs, for context, The Stairway to Heaven is approximately 37.5 flights of stairs. If you want a good bit of exercise as well as beautiful coastal views on a truly unique cave path then Gobbins is for you. Otherwise you may want to stick to the beaches of Islandmagee.

We recommend you book ahead as the tours get full and we often see tourists being turned away who had not thought to book in advance!

Opening Hours

The Gobbins is open 8:30am – 5:00pm every day, but they may have to close due to inclement weather. You should arrive 15 minutes before your walk time as a short safety demonstration is provided.

Port Muck

Port Muck is home to a beautiful harbour and two National Trust walks which will expose you to the natural beauty of the Islandmagee area. Port Muck is also home to a safe beach for swimming and picnic areas making it the perfect place to spend a sunny day. Especially if you want to take part in SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding), as the harbour wall protects you from the waves – perfect for learning.

For those who love the coastal wildlife, Port Muck boasts Sandwich Terns, excitedly fishing and the usual Cormorants usually perched on the marker buoys at the entrance to the harbour. This is also is a great place for singing Skylarks. Black Guillemots can be seen coming and going from their nest colony to the north of the port. Common Gulls and all 5 of the other gull species – Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Black-headed and Kittiwake are regularly encountered.

The causeway joining Muck Island to the mainland is an example of a tombolo – from the Italian for pillow or cushion – a spit of land which is covered at high tide and exposed at other times. An island joined in such a way is known as a tied island.

In this area there are cliff nesting sites for Peregrine Falcons and Fulmars..

You will also see some of the Puffins which breed here, on our only mainland Puffin colony.

When we swim in the sea here throughout the year, we are treated to the occasional curious grey seal floating languidly nearby in the water and watching us. On one very exciting occasion a dolphin and her calf swam a circle around us before heading out to sea leaving us in awe.

Grab a drink & a bite to eat

After all those walks in nature and swimming in the sea, Islandmagee is a great place to grab a bite to eat, a famous icre-cream or a well-earned pint. Check out my page on restaurants in Islandmagee to find out where is the best place to go for ice cream, sea food, and more.

From Port Muck to The Gobbins there is a lot you can do in Islandmagee. This coastal peninsula is filled to the brim with the best wildlife and nature Northern Ireland has to offer. Have a picnic, do some bodyboarding, or enjoy a nature walk. Take some time with your family and friends to truly appreciate a hidden gem of the Antrim Coast.

It is also a perfect base to explore the famous North Antrim Coast Road.

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Contact Hours

Mon – Fri          9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday           9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday             Closed

Address

Islandmagee, Co Antrim

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