Fairhead Circular Walk

Fairhead is an iconic location along the coast of Northern Ireland and as such, it can become quite busy. Be sure to arrive early if you want to secure parking. Additionally, the terrain here is fairly rugged in places, and while it is a fairly easy route without much elevation gain, you will still want to wear some comfortable walking shoes.

Even with all of these things considered, this is a fantastic walking route that will expose you to some of the most beautifully scenic terrain that Northern Ireland has to offer. Fairhead is an imposing cliff that stands 196m above the sea, offering expansive views along the coast that include Rathlin Island to the northwest. It is such an impressive sight that Claudius Ptolemaeus may have even written about the cliffs in his 2nd Century CE work Geography. In any case, if you find yourself in the area, you would be remiss if you skipped out on the opportunity to walk this amazing route.

Setting out from the trailhead, you will make your way to the north to traverse the rugged terrain, passing by the waters of Lough na Cranagh Crannog on your left as you work your way to the coast. Once there, you will follow the trail as it bends to the west, working along the edge of the imposing cliff as you take in the stunning views across the sea that extend out to Rathlin Island.

Continue along the trail as it skirts the rugged cliffside and turns to the southwest. Here, you will have a great sightline looking out to Ballycastle, as you keep on and pass by Lough Doo. Shortly after passing by the small lake, the trail will bend to the southeast and eventually meet up with a lane. Following this to the left, you will make your way along the final portion of the walk that will bring you back to the trailhead where you started the Fairhead CIrcular Walk.

Trail Highlights

Fairhead

Located at the northeastern corner of County Antrim, Fairhead is a 3.1mi mountain cliff that offers stunning views looking out onto Rathlin Island. It is possible that the imposing rock formation was mentioned in Ptolemy’s 2nd Century CE work Geography as a point along the coast referred to as Robogdion.

Standing 643ft above the sea, the impressive cliff is a popular destination for rock climbers, as the rock face forms vertical columns that resemble an organ’s pipes and make for excellent climbing. The formation is one of the largest climbable rock walls in Northwest Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fairhead formed from?

Fairhead Cliff is formed from an igneous rock called dolerite, being created by volcanic activity roughly 60mya.

How high is Fairhead?

The rockwall at Fairhead is roughly 100m tall and stands 196m above the sea.