Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland - United Kingdom
Rathlin Island: Puffin magic
Amidst the rugged landscape of this beautiful island, let your mind wander and discover a tranquillity and beauty that is so unexpected.
Northern Ireland’s most northern point is accessible by ferry from the historic town of Ballycastle. The scenic voyage across the Sea of Moyle reveals the island’s rolling green hills cut short by sheer cliffs. The ferry service operates multiple times daily and all year round.
Upon arrival at the harbour is a quaint village. A short walk from the harbour is the Boathouse Visitor Centre, where visitors can discover some of the history, learn about present day island life and see some artefacts from shipwrecks around the island. Scattered around the island are 150 friendly residents who take great pride in their island home.
The West Light Seabird Centre is the island’s major draw card, with minibuses shuttling visitors to and from the harbour. The Centre’s viewing platform offers views of seabirds jostling for space as they congregate in their thousands to breed during the warmer months. On hand to assist are staff and volunteers with binoculars and telescopes to zone in on noisy razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars.
But the real stars of the show are the comical antics of the resident puffins. Hours can pass watching the puffin parents return from fishing forays with sandeels hanging from their colourful beaks. At all times there’s at least one parent guarding the burrow to their young hatchlings.
The lighthouse situated at the heart of the colony is a spectacular feat of engineering, clinging to the cliff face with the red lantern at its foot. It offers visitors a chance to explore this unique, yet fully operational ‘upside-down’ lighthouse, its history, its people and the role of Irish Lights in maritime safety today.
With nearly 30 kilometres of various hiking trails, the island offers a great opportunity for a short walking break. Some of these trails lead past seals basking or at play along the shore line. Taking in the south of the island with stunning views of dramatic sea cliffs is the circular Kebble Cliff Walk. The trail passes Bull Point, near to where Richard Branson crash landed his hot air balloon in 1987, on his record breaking transatlantic flight.
Many tales of myth and mystery surround Rathlin Island, from vikings raids to a famine that ravaged the island. One of the most famous tales relates to Bruce’s Cave, a named derived from King Robert 1 of Scotland. It was here that he was said to have watched a spider persevering again and again to bridge a gap with its web. Eventually it succeeded. Taking heart from the spider's efforts, he returned to Scotland and eventually regained his crown.
The island has a range of accommodation to suit different needs, a pub, restaurant, community shop and gift shop, offering Rathlin produced crafts. ‘Breakwater Studio’ features the work of local artist Yvonne Braithwaite.
An island adrift between kingdoms, myth and legend sets firmly on a lifetime experience.
