Round Rathlin Lighthouses & Landing Tour
This tour is finished for the season. We are back in April. See the tours sailing now.
The full Rathlin experience: the whole island in one sailing, finished with an hour ashore.
On the water
– Once around the whole island: bird cliffs, sea stacks and caves
– All three lighthouses in one trip
– The West Lighthouse, home of the RSPB Seabird Centre, seen from the sea: a view most Rathlin visitors never get
Wildlife you may see
– Puffins (April to mid-August), razorbills and guillemots
– Seals hauled out on the rocks
– Dolphins and porpoises along the route (never guaranteed)
– Now and then a minke whale surfaces (rare and never promised, but it happens)
Your hour ashore at Church Bay
– Visit the Boathouse Visitor Centre
– Wander the harbour and village
– Coffee or a bite at the Manor House or McCuaig's (not included)
Good to know
– Only a few sailings a season
– Layers and flat shoes; toilets onboard and on Rathlin
– Weather dependent
Departs: Ballycastle Harbour (outer pier)
Duration: approx 4.5 hours
NB: Please arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Ballycastle is busy in peak season, so allow time for parking.
More from this tour
Common questions
What should I wear?
Layers, always: a warm layer and a windproof one, even when the harbour is sunny, plus flat shoes with grip. Every week someone boards in a t-shirt and regrets it by the first headland.
Where do we depart from?
Ballycastle harbour, right beside the town. Selkie waits on the outer pier, on the pontoon just after the Rathlin ferry: follow the ferry signs, walk on past the ferry and you'll find us. Please be at the boat 15 minutes before departure.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes: dogs sail free, no ticket needed. Keep them on a lead. Most people forget how cold it can get on the water, so please make sure you have your dog covered.
What if the weather turns?
Every sailing depends on safe sea conditions. If we have to cancel because of the weather, you hear it from us fast and you get a full refund or credit, as our refund policy says. The sea makes the final call on this coast.