How to spend a weekend on the Causeway Coast

How to spend a weekend on the Causeway Coast

A weekend on the Causeway Coast is best spent slow: one day for the big sights, one day close to base, and somewhere quiet to come back to each night. The coast packs a lot into a small stretch, so you don't need to rush. Here's how to spend two unhurried days from a base at the foot of Binevenagh, near Limavady, with the whole route on your doorstep.

Where to base yourself

Start by staying somewhere central and calm. Tír Hollow Retreat sits on the Causeway Coastal Route with Binevenagh behind it and the Magilligan foreland in front, which puts the beaches, cliffs and the Giant's Causeway all within an easy drive. You get busy coast by day and deep quiet by night. Browse our stays to pick your base, from cave rooms to rotating cabins.

Day one: the headline sights

Give your first day to the coast's big hitters. The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's first UNESCO world heritage site, is about an hour east and worth the drive for its basalt columns and clifftop paths. On the way back, the downhill demesne and mussenden temple sit dramatically above the sea, and the beaches at portstewart and portrush are made for a slow afternoon. Keep an eye on the light: the north coast puts on a show at golden hour.

Day two: closer to base

Spend your second day near the retreat. Climb to the Gortmore viewpoint on Binevenagh for panoramic views over Magilligan, Inishowen and, on a clear day, across to Scotland. Below it, Benone beach and Magilligan strand give you miles of white sand, and many stretches welcome dogs. Back at base you can fish the two spring-fed lakes or walk the forest trails. See things to do and the fishing for what's on site.

Practical tips

A car makes the coast easy, and midweek is quietest if you want the beaches to yourself. Pack layers, since the weather turns quickly, and leave time to simply sit and watch the sea. Our Causeway Coast guide (https://tirhollowretreat.co.uk/causeway-coast-guide) has more on the area and the sights worth building your weekend around.

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