Kinbane Castle, A Hidden Gem on the Causeway Coastal Route

Kinbane Castle was a surprising, unscheduled stop on our self-guided tour of the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland. A road trip around the Causeway Coastal Route is one of the best things to do in Northern Ireland. It’s so scenic and magical, although I’d argue that was the case for most of Ireland.

The Causeway Coastal Route runs along the coast of Northern Ireland, between Belfast and Derry. We managed to drive the entire route in a day, although you should try to take a couple of days there to absorb your surroundings more slowly.

Kinbane Castle in County Antrim was one stop on our tour of the Causeway Coastal Route. We started our day with an early morning departure from Belfast, stopping at the Dark Hedges, Kinbane Castle, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Ballintoy Harbour, Dunseverick Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Downhill Demesne, and lastly, stopping for the night in Derry.

If you’re planning a road trip to Northern Ireland along the Causeway Coastal Route, definitely add a visit to Kinbane Castle. The castle ruins are isolated and magnificent, and the surrounding cliffs and limestone headland are astonishingly brilliant. You won’t be disappointed. Be sure to include this on your list of the best castles of Ireland.

Getting to Kinbane Castle

As we drove between the small town of Ballycastle and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, we stumbled upon a random sign on the road. It simply read, “Kinbane Castle.” This castle wasn’t on our itinerary and we didn’t know anything about it. Even still, we thought it would be fun to veer off course to check it out. I’m so glad that we did.

It’s only possible to reach Kinbane Castle by car. I doubt that many tours go here. If so, it would need to be a small group tour in a van. There’s no way that huge tour buses could attempt the narrow, winding road that leads to Kinbane Castle.

I picked up my rental car in Dublin and used that car to take a road trip all over Ireland. You may choose to pick up your rental car in Belfast. Compare car hire prices and find the best rates on rental cars in Belfast here. Here’s where you can search for all rental cars in Ireland, too.

Even though I flew to Dublin, you can also fly straight to Belfast for a road trip of Northern Ireland. Here’s how to find the cheapest flights to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.

A Short History of Kinbane Castle

Looking at the ruins of Kinbane Castle now, it’s hard to imagine what it once looked like back in its previous glory. It was a two-storey castle built in 1547 by Colla MacDonnell, son of the Lord of Islay and Kintyre. It had a large courtyard, and even perhaps other smaller buildings around it.

Kinbane Castle, also known as Caisleán Ceinn Bán, White Head Castle, and Kenbane Castle, was besieged by British Forces in 1551 and 1555. The castle was partially destroyed by cannon fire. Rebuilt soon afterwards, Colla MacDonnell passed away at the castle in 1558.

During another attack in the 1500s, soldiers from Carrickfergus arrived to overtake the castle. They weren’t able to immediately gain access and waited below in the hollow between the cliffs and castle. Those within the castle lit a fire on the headland to call for assistance.

As help arrived, the soldiers became trapped between the hollow, with cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other. The soldiers were all killed and the hollow became known as “Lag na Sassenach” (Hollow of the English). Even without any prior knowledge of the mass deaths and sieges when I first explored Kinbane Castle, this area proved to have a striking and even haunting atmosphere.

Nowadays, Kinbane Castle is a State Care Historic Monument sited in the townland of Cregganboy, in Moyle District Council area. The space surrounding the castle is a Scheduled Historic Monument. This is one of the most beautiful locations for an Irish castle, and one of the most brilliant Irish castle ruins on the Causeway Coastal Route.

Approaching Kinbane Castle in Northern Ireland

There’s a small parking lot at the end of a narrow, winding dirt road. There’s no way that giant tour buses can get down from the main road. As we visited Kinbane Castle early in the morning, there was no one else in sight, except for the few people that arrived as we were leaving.

Even still, the site must welcome enough guests as there was a small building with bathroom facilities at the car park. Kinbane Castle must have grown a bit in popularity since my visit. There’s now a mobile coffee shop called Brew With A View that parks at the Kinbane Castle parking lot (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only).

Early on a weekday morning in the fall, Kinbane Castle was completely ours. The busiest times will be in the summer on the weekends. If you like having historic landmarks and natural landscapes all to yourself, I suggest visiting on a weekday morning during the shoulder season or off season.

Saunter down a slowly declining path, absorbing the stunning views all around. A staircase of 140 steps meanders down towards the narrow headland. The ruins of an ancient castle will materialize as you gradually descend the path by the cliffs. It’s a really nice walk that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Not much of Kinbane Castle remains, although this didn’t make my discovery of the site any less magical. The word, “Kinbane” means “White Head” and it refers to the white limestone surrounding the castle. While this was not a filming location of Game of Thrones, the environment and atmosphere looks to be straight out of the show.

Hiking to the Castle Ruins

The scenery surrounding the castle was absolutely breathtaking. Kinbane Castle faces dramatic, jagged cliffs, and a deep, blue sea extends beyond it as far as I could see. It’s not one of the most famous castles in Ireland, but it’s one of the most stunning castle ruins I’ve seen.

Naturally, as in most of Ireland and Northern Ireland, everything was so green. After all, it’s the Emerald Isle. Layers of moss and soft grasses covered nearly every surface. From Kinbane Castle, you can soak up spectacular views of Rathlin Island and Dunagregor Iron Age fort.

Don’t be like me and leave your hiking boots in the car. Without sturdy shoes, you’ll have a much more difficult time. Although there were some steps, most of the path towards and around Kinbane Castle was quite slippery and not well maintained. Take your time on this path as it’s quite a steep drop down below!

Sadly, while this headland is absolutely beautiful, it has claimed many lives. Please proceed with caution. If the weather isn’t great or the path is closed, don’t even think about walking up there. Fortunately, it was a sunny and clear day when we visited with barely any clouds in the sky.

Where to Stay Near Kinbane Castle

Spending the night in Belfast is a fantastic idea before embarking on a road trip of the Causeway Coastal Route. You can also make a day trip to Kinbane Castle from Belfast. Here’s where we spent the night in Belfast, a hotel that I highly recommend.

Clayton Hotel Belfast

When searching for an accommodation in Belfast, the Clayton Hotel Belfast ticks all the boxes. Clean and comfortable? Check. Welcoming staff? Check. Fantastic location? Yes! From the Clayton Hotel Belfast, you can walk all over the city. Titanic Belfast and the Peace Walls are both within walking distance. You can park your car and easily get around on your own two feet.

I was very pleased with the luxurious and spacious room. I had a fabulous night’s rest in my comfortable bed, with its fluffy pillows and perfectly firm mattress. The decor is sleek and modern, yet there’s a relaxed sophistication that feels more like home than a hotel room. Be sure to make yourself a cup of tea with the kettle and complimentary tea bags.

More Places to Stay in Belfast

Looking for more great hotels and accommodations? We’ve got you covered! Use this handy map to browse all hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals in Belfast. Enter your travel dates for even more accurate results. Click on each property to learn more.

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