Sources · Destination Guide

Causeway Coast and Rathlin Island

Cold-water wrecks, tidal walls and basalt coastlines at Northern Ireland's wild northern edge

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Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For Causeway Coast and Rathlin Island

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

42 sources • Updated Sep 4, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Sep 4, 2026.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast - Official World Heritage listing supporting the geological significance and approximately 40,000 basalt columns.
DAERA: Skerries and Causeway SAC - Official protected-area description covering strong currents, wave exposure, reefs, sandbanks, sea caves, eelgrass and year-round harbour porpoise.
Department for Communities: La Girona and HMS Drake - Official notice explaining that La Girona requires a licence and that artefact removal from HMS Drake may be an offence.
RSPB Rathlin Island Nature Reserve - Official reserve guidance on seabird season, West Light access, walking conditions and wildlife.

Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For Causeway Coast and Rathlin Island

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

42 sources • Updated Sep 4, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Sep 4, 2026.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast - Official World Heritage listing supporting the geological significance and approximately 40,000 basalt columns.
DAERA: Skerries and Causeway SAC - Official protected-area description covering strong currents, wave exposure, reefs, sandbanks, sea caves, eelgrass and year-round harbour porpoise.
Department for Communities: La Girona and HMS Drake - Official notice explaining that La Girona requires a licence and that artefact removal from HMS Drake may be an offence.
RSPB Rathlin Island Nature Reserve - Official reserve guidance on seabird season, West Light access, walking conditions and wildlife.

- Official March 2026 update confirming ferret eradication and the ongoing need for island biosecurity.

Visit Causeway Coast & Glens: Rathlin Island - Official destination overview covering access, wildlife, the lighthouse and peak-season planning.

Visit Causeway Coast & Glens: Rathlin Island FAQs - Official practical guidance on ferries, car restrictions, island transport, cash, communications, facilities and seasonal opening.

Visit Causeway Coast & Glens: Rathlin Sound Festival 2026 - Official event page confirming the May 22 to May 31, 2026 festival and its maritime-heritage focus.

Rathlin Ferry timetable and fares - Official 2026 summer timetable, crossing times, adult and bicycle fares, luggage rules, vehicle restrictions and weather caveat.

Met Office: Portrush climate averages - Official 1991-2020 monthly climate averages used to compare daylight, temperature and wetter winter conditions.

Aquaholics: Ballycastle and Rathlin Island dive sites - Local operator descriptions of HMS Drake, Lochgarry, Ballintoy Harbour, Farganlack Point and other Rathlin sites.

Aquaholics: Causeway Coast dive sites - Local operator descriptions of Kinbane, Benbane, Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede and the protected La Girona area.

Aquaholics: Portstewart and Portrush dive sites - Local operator descriptions of the Skerries, Towy, Foul Grounds, Ramore Head and current or swell considerations.

Aquaholics: Dive boats - Local operator information on MCA-coded day boats, diver lifts, heated cabins and onboard facilities.

Aquaholics: Diving schedules and rates - Local operator evidence for land-based two-dive day trips along the Causeway Coast and Rathlin.

Aquaholics: Diving equipment rental - Local operator inventory covering cylinders, Nitrox, regulators, BCDs, wetsuits and drysuits.

Aquaholics: Causeway Coast wildlife - Local operator wildlife guidance covering seals, harbour porpoise, dolphins and occasional spring plankton-feeding basking sharks.

PADI: Aquaholics Dive Centre - PADI listing supporting local training, guided diving and service for multiple certification levels.

Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club: Rathlin Island guide - Club guide independently corroborating that Rathlin offers excellent but highly tidal diving.

Visit Causeway Coast & Glens: Scuba diving and free diving - Official tourism listing for local scuba and freediving experiences.

Freedive Northern Ireland - Local specialist operator offering freediving courses, guided discovery experiences, safaris and cave snorkelling from the north coast.

National Trust: Giant's Causeway - Official visitor guidance on trails, accessibility, transport, parking and optional Visitor Experience admission.

National Trust: Carrick-a-Rede - Official guidance on the coastal walk, essential bridge booking, terrain, wildlife and visitor admission.

Visit Causeway Coast & Glens: Walking routes on Rathlin Island - Official listing of seven signed walks beginning at Church Bay.

Discover Northern Ireland: Dunluce Castle - Official tourism listing for the cliff-edge historic site near Portrush and Bushmills.

Old Bushmills Distillery - Official visitor information for guided distillery tours and age restrictions.

Discover Northern Ireland: Getting here - Official overview of Northern Ireland's three airports and ferry access.

Dublin Airport: Flight schedules, map and airlines - Official airport source supporting Dublin as a broad international gateway for an onward cross-border road journey.

Immigration Service Delivery Ireland: Visit Ireland travel path - Official Republic of Ireland source for nationality-based Irish visa and entry requirements when using Dublin Airport.

Immigration Service Delivery Ireland: Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme - Official clarification that a UK ETA is not an Irish visa and cannot by itself be used under the Irish short-stay visa waiver.

Belfast International Airport: Where we fly - Official airport route overview for Belfast International Airport.

Belfast City Airport: Airlines and routes - Official current airline and route listing for Belfast City Airport.

City of Derry Airport: Destinations - Official route and seasonal schedule overview for the north-west airport.

Translink journey planner and timetables - Official Northern Ireland rail and bus planning source for Belfast, Coleraine, Portrush, Ballycastle and the Causeway Rambler.

GOV.UK: Electronic Travel Authorisation - Official current eligibility overview and GBP 20 application fee.

UK Home Office: ETA factsheet, April 2026 - Official 2026 factsheet confirming the GBP 20 fee, multiple journeys, stays up to 6 months and validity for 2 years or until passport expiry.

GOV.UK: When an ETA is not required - Official exemptions for British and Irish citizens, UK permission holders and qualifying residents of Ireland.

GOV.UK: Standard Visitor - Official passport, visa, permitted-activity and usual six-month visitor guidance.

HM Coastguard - Official emergency advice to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Northern Health and Social Care Trust: Causeway Hospital - Official hospital information for the emergency department and switchboard in Coleraine.

DAN Europe: Diving emergency assistance - Official 24-hour diving medical emergency contact and response guidance.

Destination hero photo by K. Mitch Hodge - Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@kmitchhodge