Discover Carnlough through its coastline and the history of limestone exports: the beach and harbour shape the village, while a path along the old limestone railway and trips on Carnlough Bay offer further perspectives. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether coastal time, local history or activities on the water should be your main focus.
Beach and Harbour
Carnlough Beach is about 1.5 kilometres long and runs along a natural, horseshoe-shaped bay with soft sand and pebbles. The shelter provided by Carnlough Bay typically makes the water calm, making it suitable for paddling and swimming. Beach conditions can vary. Restaurants, accommodation and toilets are within easy walking distance of the beach; the availability of individual businesses may change.
Carnlough Harbour is a sheltered, compact harbour at the foot of Glencoy, one of the nine Glens of Antrim, and forms the centre of the village. It is used by excursion boats and small fishing boats; there are also opportunities for sea fishing. The harbour was originally built by local landowner Phil Gibbons. The Marchioness of Londonderry later expanded it to support Carnlough’s growing limestone exports.
Local History and Landscape
The Carnlough Heritage Hub opened in April 2018 in the former town hall. Its exhibition covers Carnlough’s harbour and maritime connections, as well as the area’s landscape, geology, wildlife and natural resources. The hub serves as a visitor orientation point in the heart of the village. This broadens the focus beyond maritime themes to include the area’s natural resources and geology.
The Gortin Quarry Walk follows the route of an old limestone railway to the now-disused Gortin Quarry. A viewpoint at the quarry offers a view of Carnlough Bay. The walk thus focuses on a former railway line and an abandoned quarry, while the harbour’s history tells of its expansion to support limestone exports.
Trips on Carnlough Bay
Carnlough Bay Boat Tours offers regular, short 30-minute trips across Carnlough Bay to Black Rock. Trips are weather-dependent; check the timetable in advance. Passengers may spot dolphins, seals, porpoises and various seabirds on the trips, but sightings are not guaranteed. Longer charters are available on request and with advance booking. The options therefore differ both in duration and planning: the short trips have a specified duration, while longer charters must be arranged in advance.
Practical Information
Directions to the Cranny Falls Walk take you via the A2, the Antrim Coast Road; parking is available in Carnlough village. Local parking conditions can change, so it is worth checking in advance. Together with the coastal and harbour themes, this offers a choice of different focuses for your stay, without the beach, village history, walking trail and boat trip all offering the same kind of experience.
Discover more destinations: Ballymoney, Crumlin, Dunadry, Larne, Antrim, Templepatrick, Newtownabbey, Cushendall
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