Rathlin Island

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Rathlin Island, Ballycastle BT54 6SB

Grid ref: NR282092

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

Whilst hugely important for breeding seabirds, including puffin, guillemot, kittiwake, razorbill and fulmar, Rathlin Island is also home to Northern Ireland's only pair of breeding chough and more recently corncrake. Visitors can enjoy the West Light Seabird Centre and a cliff-top, off-road walking trail at nearby Roonivoolin.

Plan your visit

The Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre is open every day from 1 April - 13 September 2020.

1 – 30 April 2019: 11am - 4pm
1 May - 31 August 2019: 10am - 5pm
1 – 15 September 2019: 11am - 4pm

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

Ferry from Ballycastle, Co Antrim. Private Minibus service and bicycle hire available on the island. Walking trail guide available.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group visits (including cruise ships) welcome.

16 degrees, Cloudy

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 289Kb

Rathlin Island 2018 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

Fulmar

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

Guillemot

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

Kittiwake

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

Puffin

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

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.

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 and chough. There are also several lakes.

Conservation

Roonivoolin at the southernmost tip of the island, is important for wildlife, especially chough which feed there, but also lapwing, corncrake, snipe and Irish hare.

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 chough and corncrake is starting to pay off. The species have now 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 corncrake and chough 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.

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.

Marshside

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Rathlin Island