RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our History
    • What we do
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Our History

      Our History

      Discover how a campaign against feathers in fashion sparked a global force to save nature with more than a million members

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Policy and Insight
    • Policy and Insight: England and Westminster
    • Casework
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds and wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • What is the Red List for UK birds?
    • Nature's Calendar
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Birds and Wildlife Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Bird migration

      Bird migration

      Migrating birds have travelled thousands of miles just to get here. Find out why.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get Involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Nature on Your Doorstep
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • #MyClimateAction
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Campaigning in Scotland
    • Campaigning in Wales
    • Campaigning in England
    • Campaigning in Northern Ireland
    • The nature and climate emergency
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Top activities to do
    • Nature on Your Doorstep

      Nature on Your Doorstep

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z Events Find a reserve
      Top reserves this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • Robin Robin
    • Cameron's Cottage
    • Your Support
    • About Cameron's cottage
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • Nature is stronger with you on its side. Become a Life Fellow today.
    • Renew your membership
    • Donate
    • Philanthropy & Major Gifts
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • In Memory Donations
    • Plant a celebration tree
    • In Memory Booklet
    • Leave a gift to nature in your Will
    • Why Include a Gift to Nature in Your Will
    • How to Include us in Your Will
    • Information for executors & solicitors
    • Download your free guide
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island

The Rathlin Seabird Centre is open from 15 April - 20 September, 9:30am - 5pm (last entry 4pm.) The West Lighthouse will be closed for essential maintenance but will reopen later in the season. Our Rathlin island walks and trails, including the new Craigmacagan walking trail remain open all year round.
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Rathlin Island, Ballycastle BT54 6SB
Grid ref
NR282092
What3Words
transcribes.strutted.nitrate
Covid-19 updates for RSPB nature reserves

Experience unrivalled views of Northern Ireland's largest seabird colony which includes puffins, guillemots and razorbills at the Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre and explore the century old 'upside down' lighthouse. You can also discover the breath-taking landscapes and wildlife along the Roonivoolin and Craigmacagan Walking Trails.

 

Plan your visit

Opening times

  • Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre: 
    Open 15 April - 20 September 2022, 9.30am-5pm (last entry 4 pm)

  • Craigmacagan and Roonivoolin walking trails: Daily

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
£5
Children
£2.50
Free entrance for first child
Free entrance for under 5s
Student
£3.50
Free entrance for carers
Yes
Other discounts

Free entry for island residents.

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Refreshments
  • Picnic area
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails
  • Educational facilities

Accessibility

How to get here

By bike

Follow signed Sustrans route (route 93) from Rathlin harbour, approximately four miles away. 

Other ways to get there

Rathlin Island Ferry service operates from Ballycastle, Co Antrim. Once on the island, there are privately operated buses running from Church Bay to the Seabird Centre, bus fare charges apply. There is an RSPB walking trail guide available to download with directions to the West Light, Craigmacagan, Knockans and Roonivoolin trails.

Get directions from Google Maps
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group booking information

Group visits (including cruise ships) welcome.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 289Kb

Rathlin Island 2018 Guide

RSPB Walking trail guide. PDF, 184Kb

RSPB Walking trail guide

Contact Rathlin Island

  • RSPB Rathlin Island, Ballycastle BT54 6SB
  • 028 2076 0062 (in season) or 028 9049 1547 (off season)

What will you see?

Our star species

    Flying adult Fulmar illustration

    Fulmar

    Watch for their trademark stiff-winged flight around the cliffs.

    Guillemot illustration

    Guillemot

    Guillemots look ungainly when they shuffle around on their nesting ledges but underwater they are agile

    kittiwake adult

    Kittiwake

    Visit Rathlin in spring and summer and your ears will be filled with the unmistakable 'kitti-wake' calls.

    Puffin, adult in summer plumage

    Puffin

    Enjoy the comical antics of puffins in spring and early summer.

    Razorbill, summer plumage

    Razorbill

    Typically spend all of their time in the sea, only coming to land to breed between March and July.

Nature spectacles

Arrival of seabirds April/May. Departure of seabirds - early July.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

From mid-April seabirds - guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, puffins, fulmars, shags and gannets. May is by far the best time to visit Rathlin  to come and see the birds thronging about the cliffs in anticipation of getting the best nest sites, Spot the first chicks - hatching on bare ledges in full view of visitors.

Seabirds - guillemots, razorbills and puffins, until early August. Kittiwakes, fulmars, shags and gannets until the end of August.

Large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter.

Keep on the lookout for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

About Rathlin Island

Habitat

Rathlin Island is comprised mainly of rugged cliffs, unimproved grassland managed for corncrake. There are also several lakes.

Conservation

Roonivoolin at the southernmost tip of the island, is important for wildlife including lapwings, corncrake, snipe and Irish hares.

Over the past 40 years, changes to farming practices has resulted in drastic declines for all of these species. Our work aimed at creating ideal habitat for corncrake is starting to pay off. This species have now regularly returned to breed following a 20-year absence.

Our supporters at Rathlin Island are:

  • Northern Ireland Environment Agency
  • Department of Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
  • Commissioners of Irish Lights
  • Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust

Site information

Rathlin boasts Northern Ireland's largest seabird colony and panoramic coastal views.
At the Seabird Centre, you will enjoy close-up views of Northern Ireland's biggest seabird colony, with puffins and other seabirds congregating in their thousands to breed from late April to July. We have also been working to create ideal habitat for corncrakes at Church Bay, Craigmacagan, Knockans and Roonivoolin reserves.

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Children's binoculars are available and there is child-friendly assisted telescope viewing. Children's colouring is also available.

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/rathlinisland

Leisure activities

From the visitor centre it is a short scenic walk and 98 steps down to the viewing platform, with binoculars and telescopes available. As part of Irish Lights’ Great Lighthouses of Ireland trail, visitors can also explore the unique ‘upside down’ lighthouse, learning about its history and the people who lived and worked there. There are a further 64 steps to the bottom of the lighthouse tower

Occasionally  you can enjoy watching islanders racing hand-crafted model sailing boats around Ushet Lough, a traditional sport combining skill and tactics in friendly competition.

Share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

You might also be interested in

Konik ponies

Belfast's Window on Wildlife

Belfast's Window on Wildlife (WOW) is home to more than 100 species of birds and other wildlife to be found here.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Sealife Guardians

Help fund the urgent work needed to protect our wonderful sealife. Your donation will make a huge difference.
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Join us - legacy

Become an RSPB member by signing up here.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Email

Partnering with

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International.

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy