Its quite a trek just to get to Ballycastle to enjoy the ferry and the island but there's a but, but it's a good but, as these days if you go to visit the Dark Hedges (Game of Thrones) you are about 15 driving minutes away from Ballycastle.
This is where you can, as a song says, get dulce (delicious edible seaweed, real umami savouriness) and yellow man (like a failed honeycomb cinder style toffee and delicious).
My mother used to buy rock at the beach in Omeath in the Irish Republic; it was then yellow leg shaped and called Peggy's leg. I recall although a boiled confection it's tasted similar to yellow man.
The Rathlin ferry (or the one of two that we were on) is old, minimally staffed, functional with only the basics: a toilet and a place for baby change. It might hold 4/5 small cars at a squeeze but they do restrict vehicles usually only for island inhabitants or work vans.
Their other ferry is foot passengers only apparently smaller and faster.
Theres lots of parking around the harbour area.
It takes 40 minutes to traverse and rock over the sea and the views are stunning. You'll not get tea or coffee or food with the crossing itself great value for money.
Reservations are done on-line, it's easy and checked dockside (Adult £16 return) if you are an NI resident with an over 60 travel card it's free.
We sat outside going to Rathlin Island (population 75) and as the weather had turned inside on return. Glad we did it on a calmish day.
We might even return one day.
There was only one disappointment for me as Wysner's of Ballycastle is closed. The late Mr W was German. He made wonderful sausages and added Bushmills whiskey to his black pudding and they sure don't make them like that anymore. read more
