Backpacking Rathlin Island Northern Ireland
May 19 2023 | Tagged: United Kingdom
Rathlin Island Northern Ireland: the perfect place for some remote, off-the-wall travel and see puffins if you are lucky.
Rathlin Island lies 6 miles/10 km off the North Antrim Coast.
The only way to get there is to take a ferry.
Scroll down to read about the ins and outs of taking the ferry to Rathlin Island
The only way to get there is to take a ferry.
Scroll down to read about the ins and outs of taking the ferry to Rathlin Island
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I mentioned in my previous post, the one about the pub crawl, that although you probably haven't heard of Rathlin Island, there are 2 quite famous events that you are probably aware of that are connected to Rathlin Island but didn't know they were linked to Rathlin Island.
In 1988 Richard Branson and Per Lindstrom were attempting to fly their hot air balloon, Virgin Atlantic Flyer across the Atlantic when they were forced to ditch into the sea just off Rathlin Island at Bull Point and were rescued by islander Tommy Cecil.
Branson donated £25,000 towards a rescue boat and for the renovation of The Manor House, where I stayed, and the tithe barn, which is now known as the Richard Branson Center.
And the second, Italian Guglielmo Marconi, the father of radio, oversaw experiments crucial to the development of modern telecommunications on Rathlin Island with the election of an 80-foot aerial near the East Lighthouse to communicate with Ballycastle Harbour.
The first commercial wireless signal in the world was recorded on July 6 1898.
Marconi won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1909.
A bit further back, Robert the Bruce hid in a cave on the island in 1306 after his defeat by the English at Perth in Scotland.
In 1988 Richard Branson and Per Lindstrom were attempting to fly their hot air balloon, Virgin Atlantic Flyer across the Atlantic when they were forced to ditch into the sea just off Rathlin Island at Bull Point and were rescued by islander Tommy Cecil.
Branson donated £25,000 towards a rescue boat and for the renovation of The Manor House, where I stayed, and the tithe barn, which is now known as the Richard Branson Center.
And the second, Italian Guglielmo Marconi, the father of radio, oversaw experiments crucial to the development of modern telecommunications on Rathlin Island with the election of an 80-foot aerial near the East Lighthouse to communicate with Ballycastle Harbour.
The first commercial wireless signal in the world was recorded on July 6 1898.
Marconi won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1909.
A bit further back, Robert the Bruce hid in a cave on the island in 1306 after his defeat by the English at Perth in Scotland.
My Top Things to do on Rathlin Island Northern Ireland:
There is more than enough to keep you busy for a couple of days.
RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre
The RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre is the main reason people come to Rathlin Island. Minibuses meet the ferry and for £5, paid in cash, they take you the 4 ½ miles to the most westerly point of Rathlin Island.
There are 2 companies who run the bus, on alternate days. This is my Puffin Bus:
You get 1 hour to do some bird watching and visit the West Lighthouse, one of 3 on Rathlin Island before the minibus takes you back again. Of course, you can walk back. Which is exactly what I did.
It costs £5 to enter the RSPB centre.
It costs £5 to enter the RSPB centre.
It was quite difficult to see the puffins but thankfully RSPB volunteers are on hand to point them out to you. They have binoculars that you can use.
Other than the puffins, you can easily spot numerous guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills, and fulmars.
Then there is also the lighthouse which you can visit too.
Other than the puffins, you can easily spot numerous guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills, and fulmars.
Then there is also the lighthouse which you can visit too.
Hiking on Rathlin Island:
The tourist office produce a map with all the walks marked:
I walked out to the East Lighthouse. It's private property so you can't go near the lighthouse but you can enjoy the views and if the visibility is good, you can see Islay and the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland.
And it was from here that Marconi sent the wireless transmission to Ballycastle.
And it was from here that Marconi sent the wireless transmission to Ballycastle.
Wildlife on Rathlin Island:
On my first afternoon, I saw grey seals basking in the afternoon fog, just south of the harbour.
And on the day I left, I saw a pair swimming right next to the ferry.
Was so happy!
And on the day I left, I saw a pair swimming right next to the ferry.
Was so happy!
The Irish Hare is quite common but I failed to get a photo and if you are patient you can spot the Golden Hare too with its golden coat and blue eyes.
On the way back from the East Lighthouse, 4 alpacas. These are obviously not wild.
On the way back from the East Lighthouse, 4 alpacas. These are obviously not wild.
Pub Crawl on Rathlin Island:
The concept of a pub crawl on an island with only one contender had so much potential but doing pub crawls and writing about them just ain't my thing. But alas, go to McCuaig's Bar and sample their finest.
Everyone is up for a conversation so can make a great evening out. There is a billiard table too.
Everyone is up for a conversation so can make a great evening out. There is a billiard table too.
Other things of note to see on Rathlin Island:
There are two churches, the Church of the Immaculate Conception:
And St Thomas' Parish Church:
The standing stone on a field that doubles as a football pitch:
Enjoy the peace a quiet!
Rathlin Island is the most perfect of spots in an age of fast living and non-stop noise.
I loved my time on the island. Come and see for yourself.
I loved my time on the island. Come and see for yourself.
How to get to Rathlin Island Northern Ireland:
Getting to Rathlin Island is easy. You can only get there by ferry.
Rathlin Ferry run two ferries:
1. Spirit of Rathlin:
This is a 105T cargo and passenger ferry which can take 141 passengers.
I took this one, both ways.
2. Kintra II: This is a modern high-speed catamaran built in 2020 and can carry 82 passengers.
Rathlin Ferry run two ferries:
1. Spirit of Rathlin:
This is a 105T cargo and passenger ferry which can take 141 passengers.
I took this one, both ways.
2. Kintra II: This is a modern high-speed catamaran built in 2020 and can carry 82 passengers.
How long does the Rathlin ferry take?
The journey from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island takes 40 minutes with the Spirit of Rathlin and 30 minutes with the Kintra II
Check the schedule and book your tickets on the Rathlin Ferry website.
Ordinarily, I hate booking stuff but in an age where everyone books, things get sold out So to avoid being left out in the cold, get on the modern-day bandwagon. Book, Book, Book and avoid being disappointed. The blurb even says "Bookings are mandatory".
I booked online at 7 am and the first few boats were not showing. Already sold out to those who booked in advance and to those who wanna DO Rathlin Island as a day trip. Take the first boat across and the last boat back.
I booked online at 7 am and the first few boats were not showing. Already sold out to those who booked in advance and to those who wanna DO Rathlin Island as a day trip. Take the first boat across and the last boat back.
How much is the ferry to Rathlin Island?
One-way tickets cost £6.
A word of warning. The waters around Rathlin Island can be very treacherous. The weather can turn pretty unpleasant often without warning. Boats do get cancelled so do not travel on a tight schedule. Have a backup plan just in case you are forced to spend an extra day there.
A word of warning. The waters around Rathlin Island can be very treacherous. The weather can turn pretty unpleasant often without warning. Boats do get cancelled so do not travel on a tight schedule. Have a backup plan just in case you are forced to spend an extra day there.
Taking the ferry back from Rathlin Island to Ballycastle:
Accommodation on Rathlin Island
Most visitors come to Rathlin Island on a day trip. They take the first ferry over and the last one back.
But if you are interested in staying the night, options in 2023 are limited.
I stayed at the Manor House, the only hotel on the island. I booked a single room for 2 nights. I am used to backpacker hostels so I revelled in the luxurious comfort.
It was totally off my backpacker budget but I was tired of watching my budget every second and tired of room sharing. I needed some privacy. And above all, I wanted to go there!
Things are slightly different these days in that wanting to do something or going someplace takes priority to some extent over the cost involved.
Breakfast at the Manor House is included, which is amazing. They have a restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner and also for non-guests. They serve wine, bottled beer and a small selection of spirits and whiskeys.
Aside from the Manor House, the Rathlin Glamping Pods offer camping with a spot of luxury.
There is also the Rathlin Hostel but, as the tourist information office informed me, you have to rent out the whole place. Great for groups, not for solo travellers.
2 or 3 B&Bs didn't reopen after Covid and any others just switched to being holiday cottages.
But if you are interested in staying the night, options in 2023 are limited.
I stayed at the Manor House, the only hotel on the island. I booked a single room for 2 nights. I am used to backpacker hostels so I revelled in the luxurious comfort.
It was totally off my backpacker budget but I was tired of watching my budget every second and tired of room sharing. I needed some privacy. And above all, I wanted to go there!
Things are slightly different these days in that wanting to do something or going someplace takes priority to some extent over the cost involved.
Breakfast at the Manor House is included, which is amazing. They have a restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner and also for non-guests. They serve wine, bottled beer and a small selection of spirits and whiskeys.
Aside from the Manor House, the Rathlin Glamping Pods offer camping with a spot of luxury.
There is also the Rathlin Hostel but, as the tourist information office informed me, you have to rent out the whole place. Great for groups, not for solo travellers.
2 or 3 B&Bs didn't reopen after Covid and any others just switched to being holiday cottages.
Room 9 at the Manor House on Rathlin Island:
Other facilities for the traveller:
There is a tourist office, a souvenir shop, and there is McCuaigs Bar. This doubles as Rathlin Island's only pub and only café which is known as The Ebb And Flow café, see photo below:
There is a cooperative supermarket with limited hours and every time I passed by, they were closed.
There is a cooperative supermarket with limited hours and every time I passed by, they were closed.
The WiFi at both the Manor House and McCuaig's Bar are very fast, great for getting some work done and there is 4G signal all over the island