Solo Trip to Rathlin Island

A solo journey across Rathlin Island's cliffs, puffins, and coastal trails. Discovering wildflowers, seabirds, and the spirit of the island.

Since the weather forecast has shown some sun for the first time in a millennia, I decided to take a solo trip to Rathlin Island, a small island off the coast of Northern Ireland. The island is known for its stunning landscapes, wildlife, and rich history. I have been wanting to go for a very long time and I finally got the chance. It was very worth it!

Puffin season was almost over as its mid-July, so I really wanted to see them before they left for the year. I have taken birding up this year, and I love it, so Rathlin will allow me to see some new birds and also get some great photos.

🗺️ Quick Links

• Ferry & Getting There
• RSPB Bird Centre
• Lunch & Visitor Centre
• Roonivoolin Trail
• McCuaig’s Bar
• East Lighthouse Trail
• Final Thoughts

🚢 Journey to Rathlin Island

Firstly I parked at the harbour car park in Ballycastle, it is very cheap to park there, only £5 for the whole day. I arrived at around 08.45, the first ferry was at 09.30, and I wanted to be sure I had enough time to get there and not miss it.

I pre-booked the ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island a few days in advance here: Rathlin Island Ferry. I got the Kintra II, which is a faster but smaller boat than the Spirit of Rathlin which allows cars.

The ferry ride was pretty quick and the sea was very calm, which was great as I was really worried about getting seasick. I would actually say I was thriving on the boat, enjoying the fresh sea air and the views of the coastline. I was up at the front of the boat, taking in the sights and snapping photos.

🏞️ RSPB West Light Seabird Centre

Once I arrived at Rathlin Island, I headed straight to the RSPB West Light Seabird Centre. The centre is located on the west side of the island and is a great spot for birdwatching, especially during the puffin season.

There are buses that pick you up straight from the ferry terminal and take you there. I got the bus that was not the Puffin Bus, as the male driver seems to have bad reviews online. The bus trip with the lady was very pleasant, she was very friendly and had played a commentary about the island and its history on the way there.

The centre itself is small but very informative. It has a small café, a gift shop, and an observation deck where you can see the puffins up close. I spent a good hour there, taking photos and enjoying the views. To get down to the observation deck, there are a lot of steps, so be prepared for that. It was quite a workout getting back up again.

The RSPB staff were very helpful and knowledgeable about the birds and the island's history.

The cliffs were alive with seabirds:

• Puffins
• Razorbills
• Guillemots
• Kittiwakes

The puffins were definitely the highlight of the visit, they are such cute little birds with their colourful beaks. They also have a leucistic razorbill there, which is a rare sight. They call it the cappuccino razorbill because of its brown colouration. Also there was some chicks of multiple of those birds, which were so cute. They were like wee balls of fluff nestled on the cliffs.

The gift shop had a great selection of bird related souvenirs, including puffin plushies, mugs, and books. I picked up a few things to remember my visit. The main grabs were a puffin badge for my growing collection, and some Northern Ireland specific book on wildflowers and birds.

I got the bus back to the harbour and I was getting pretty hungry (maybe due to all the lunges up the steps from above).

☕ Lunch

I ended up going to a small cafe called The Lazybird Cafe, which is located near the harbour. They did not have much food on as I was so early, but I was able to get a fresh sausage roll and a latte. The sausage roll was great, I needed the fuel for the day ahead. The cafe is very local and has a nice atmosphere, the staff were very friendly and welcoming.

ℹ️ Visitor Center

After lunch, I walked along the harbour and ended up at the Visitor Centre. It was small but it has lots of information and a museum about the island's history. I would recommend going here if you want to learn more about the island and its history. But also if you need help with the trails, as they have a map of the island and can give you advice on where to go.

The staff member there (I don't know his name) was amazing, he had so much knowledge about the island and we had a good wee chat about the islands Neolithic history, sunken vessels, and just general Rathlin life. He also let me see and feel some hand carved pieces of flint that a guy had found and carved just last year. This could be something I go try out myself, as it seems fun and I could be the next Neolithic flint carver.

He also told me a story about old canisters washing up and how they used to pull pranks by practically turning them into bombs, which I couldn't believe, but then I could because we are Irish. Imagine walking around and next minute your hear boom, due to a wee kid creating a bomb and fuse out of a canister. I suppose on such a small island, there is not much to do, so you have to make your own fun.

🕊️ Roonivoolin Trail

The Roonivoolin Trail is a 4 mile loop trail that takes you through some of the island's most beautiful landscapes. The trail starts at the Visitor Centre and takes you through fields, along cliffs, past lakes, and to the coast.

There was so much to see on this trail, and I basically had it all to myself. I saw lots of wildlife along the way, including:

• Seals
• Sheep
• Cows
• Wildflowers
• Butterflies
• Lots of different birds including Moorhens, Geese, Ravens, and much more.

I was so excited about the Ravens as I have never seen them before, they are such majestic birds and they are so big. The only thing I couldn't see was the Irish Golden Hare, which I was really hoping to see, but maybe next time!

The views of the coastline were stunning, and I took a lot of photos along the way. The trail is clear and scenic, though a bit steep in places, so don't be throwing yourself of the edge. I would recommend wearing good walking shoes and bringing plenty of water. Some maps are inaccurate as well due to not being able to walk the whole trail due to the cliffs being too dangerous. You can see the trails here.

Eventually you get to the Rue Point Lighthouse, which is a beautiful spot to take photos and enjoy the views, I got some Californian tourists to take a photo of me here, in return I took a photo of them. There is also old ruins here to explore, which was really interesting.

Tired and hungry, I made my way back to the harbour. The walk back was just as beautiful, and I took my time to enjoy the scenery and take more photos. At the harbour, I decided to call into McCuaig's Bar.

🍻 McCuaig's Bar

McCuaig's Bar is a traditional Irish pub that serves food and drinks. I had a pint of Magners and some fish and chips, which were both really tasty, I sat outside in the sun beside some people who were also enjoying the sun and having a few drinks. The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly, and I some good craic chatting with the locals.

🗺️ East Lighthouse Trail

I had some more time so I decided to do the East Lighthouse Trail.

The East Lighthouse Trail is a 2 mile loop trail that takes you to the East Lighthouse and back. Since I was just after food, this hike killed me, but it was worth it in the end. The walk is all up hill, but once you get there, you can see Scotland in the distance, and the lighthouse itself is very picturesque.

When I was about to take the trek back to the harbour, a girl got into her car and offered me a lift back, which I gladly accepted. She was living on the island and it turned out she was a bird conservationist who also knows about BTO and their events which I also attend. We had a great chat about biology in general, and she was so nice. I wish I got her name. Maybe I will see her again on some of the nature events I go to. (Yes, be cautious accepting lifts, but she felt trustworthy.) I joked about being kidnapped, but she said the island is too small 😂

😞 Time to Go

I had another wee walk about the harbour and got more nice photos (yes I have a tonne of photos), then I got the ferry back to Ballycastle.

The ferry ride back was also great, the sun was shining and the sea was calm. I stood at the front of the boat, I was getting splashed by the waves, taking in the fresh sea air, this was so invigorating after a long day of walking and exploring. I need to do this more often, and I cannot believe I was worried about getting sea sick.

🌅 Reflections

I loved this trip so much, the island is beautiful, the people are really friendly, and the abundance of wildlife is crazy. I really felt deeply connected to the island, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature and wildlife. The RSPB West Light Seabird Centre is a must visit, especially during puffin season, and the trails are a great way to explore the island's stunning landscapes.

This will be my first blog post of many, this is because Rathlin made me feel so inspired and I want to share my experiences with others. I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to Rathlin Island, and I encourage you to visit if you ever get the chance.

Rathlin reminded me that solo travel doesn’t mean being alone, just being open.

✅ For You

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🧭 Planning a visit to Rathlin? Got any tips or bird sightings to share? Find me on Social Media at the bottom of the page or share this post — I’d love to hear from fellow nature lovers!