Offers of Coasteering Northern Ireland

You’re going to jump into deep water, you’re going to play in crashing waves, you’re going to explore caves, coves, and pools, you’re going to do it all - if you sign up for a coasteering excursion in Northern Ireland. The activity has only been around for a few decades, but already it’s become one of the most sought after adventures in the British Isles. The attraction lies in the access you get to the zone where land meets ocean - and we’re not talking about beaches. It will take you to rocky headlands, tidal pools, cliffs and other hidden nooks and crannies along the coastline, and allows you to treat this fascinating landscape as an adventure play area.

Northern Ireland has some of the most iconic coastal scenery in the country. The Giant’s Causeway, where hexagonal pillars of rocks jut up out of the water, is frequently at the top of lists of Britain’s greatest natural wonders. It’s a protected area and so unsuitable for coasteering, but the Causeway Coast is a long stretch of the northeast shore of the island which has some of the top coasteering locations in the UK. But it’s not the only place that keen coasteerers can enjoy in Northern Ireland - County Down boasts some great natural play areas on its Sea coast. Atlantic ocean or Irish Sea, the question isn’t which, but which first?

Where are the best places to go coasteering in Northern Ireland?

• Ballintoy: Locals of this small village on the Causeway Coast have always known that there’s something special about the area, but it wasn’t until the second season of Game of Thrones came out that international TV-watching public found out about it. What you see when looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean from Ballintoy is a fantastical landscape of rocky towers and channels that create something like a miniature fjord landscape. The incoming waves crash their way into this labyrinth, and you can join them! Alternatively, try to find your way across the rocks without touching the water, or climb to the top of the highest cliffs before plunging down into deep pools below.

• Dunsverick: Not far away from Ballintoy is Dunsverick, where the ruins of a castle sit on a promontory above the sea. The shoreline is varied, with wide rock pools to explore, jagged cliffs to scramble on, and Dunsverick falls, where a river tumbles down a series of waterfalls in the cliffs to the sea. This area is popular for families, as the difficulty level is as high or as low as you want it to be, while the scenery is bound to please everyone.

• Portbradden: This is the next door neighbour of Dunsverick, and it has a more serious nature. Dark cliff faces of volcanic rock stand above boulders and outcrops on the shoreline. This site isn’t so family friendly - the waves are bigger, the jumps are higher, and the thrills are more extreme.

• Ballyhornan: It isn’t just the north coast of Northern Ireland which is worth exploring. County Down, in the southeast, is bordered by the Irish Sea, which has carved out some fascinating shoreline formations over the millennia. Some of the best are at Ballyhornan, a small village on the Sheepland Coast, where upturned strata form a jagged limit between the land and the sea. As well as the rock climbing, cliff jumping and marine wildlife, you can explore old smugglers caves here and, when the tide is low, cross to Guns island.

• Carlingford Lough: The last place on the list is on the border with the Republic. Here, the coast isn’t so much a dramatic drop over a cliff, but a rocky shelf where the outgoing tide leaves rocks sticking out of the water, which hide deep tidal pools. It’s a fascinating place to discover, and you can always decide whether you want to get around by scrambling and jumping above the water, or swimming in it.

Adventure duration

Is an activity that you do with a guide, or guides, because you need local knowledge of the landscape and tides in order to plan safe excursions. You can sign up for an open session with other adventurers, or organise a private trip for you and your family, or group of friends. Standard open sessions last between 2 and 4 hours, while you can arrange a complete coastal safari as a private group, travelling along the coast and going coasteering in multiple locations with breaks for food over the course of a day.

Requirements to do this activity

Depending on where you go, what the conditions are like, and how far you want to push yourself, this sport can be as ìntense as you like. In fact, in some locations in Northern Ireland, you don’t even have to know how to swim to take part. This is because these locations don’t have any deep water where you won’t be able to touch the bottom. Places like this, including Dunsverick and some parts of the County Down coast, are suitable for children of 12 years old and up. Although older teens and adults will also enjoy these less intense locations, there are more rugged and wild spots, where the minimum age is 16 years old, which might be a better choice.

What do you need to bring the day of the experience?

Like we said before you’ll be with a guide during the trip, and, as well as making sure you stay safe and have sun when you get down to the water’s edge, they’ll also make sure that you have the right equipment. You’ll be given a wetsuit, a buoyancy aid and a helmet to protect you from the elements and let you focus on the adventure. Your guide only asks that you come prepared with a swimsuit to go under the wetsuit, a pair of old shorts to go over the wetsuit, and a pair of lace up trainers that you’re prepared to get wet. Don’t forget a towel, a change of clothes and maybe a snack for after the activity, and prepare to have a good time!

When it comes to good fun, the coast offers the most! Find out for yourself by booking the best adventure around.