Portballintrae to Giant's Causeway: railway path and Blue Trail return

Start at the council's free Beach Road car park above Runkerry Beach in Portballintrae. Follow the footpath downhill to the Threequarter Footbridge over the River Bush, cross it and turn right along the wooden boardwalk. At the railway-path junction turn left, keeping to the shared walking and cycling route through the dunes.

Stay beside the heritage railway towards its Causeway terminus rather than turning onto the beach or Runkerry Head cliff path. Near the station take the pedestrian path uphill towards the Causeway Hotel. Follow the public pedestrian approach over the visitor centre's grass roof and descend the steps to join the Blue Trail. Follow its kerbed footpath downhill to the paved turning area beside the famous basalt columns, then return along the same route. The mapped walk ends on the surfaced path before the stones; climbing the columns is optional and not part of this route.

Allow about 2 hours 15 minutes for the return walk. The railway section is mainly gravel, with boardwalks and short slopes; the Causeway approach includes steps and a sustained descent followed by the uphill return. Boards can be slippery when wet. Watch for cycles and railway crossings, give way to the shuttle bus on the Blue Trail, and follow ranger advice and any local barriers. Wear shoes with good grip and choose daylight and settled weather.

The coastline is open dawn to dusk. Exterior toilets are available beside the Causeway Hotel; visitor-centre facilities require a Visitor Experience ticket. Check current signs for parking and access restrictions before setting off. Route information: Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Portballintrae walking map and National Trust's Giant's Causeway Blue Trail.

Cover photograph: Rossographer, ‘Path, Giant's Causeway [1]’, 23 May 2008. Source: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/817024 . CC BY-SA 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ . Uploaded without alteration; the site may resize or crop its display.