When do new weekend ferry services to Rathlin Island start?

New weekend ferry services to Rathlin Island start on April 3, 2026.

What unique attractions can visitors find on Rathlin Island?

Visitors can find an 'upside-down' lighthouse, a pub decorated with shipwrecks, and can spot seals and seabirds like puffins.

What is the travel time for the quickest ferry to Rathlin Island?

The quickest ferry to Rathlin Island takes just 25 minutes.

Home / Lifestyle / New Weekend Sailings to Rathlin Island This Spring

New Weekend Sailings to Rathlin Island This Spring

24 Mar

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Summary

Weekend ferry sailings to Rathlin Island are launching this spring.
The island offers unique attractions like an 'upside-down' lighthouse.
Rathlin Island is a nature reserve known for seabirds and seals.

New Weekend Sailings to Rathlin Island This Spring

Starting April 3, 2026, Rathlin Island will become more accessible with new weekend ferry services from Ballycastle Harbour. These expanded sailings, running until September 20, 2026, include additional early morning return journeys on Saturdays and Sundays, facilitating easier day trips or longer stays. The ferry service, which can be completed in as little as 25 minutes, offers passenger-only and luggage-carrying options.

Rathlin Island, a six-mile-offshore gem in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is home to 140 residents and boasts several unique attractions. Church Bay, the main arrival point, features a gravelly beach ideal for spotting seals and is adjacent to McCuaig's Bar, decorated with remnants of over 40 shipwrecks. The island is also known for its three lighthouses, including a distinctive 'upside-down' lighthouse built in 1912 to mitigate fog.