Ballycastle to Glenarm

The Ballycastle to Glenarm hike is 51.63 km long, so most hikers complete it as a 2 to 3 day trip rather than a single-day walk. With 859 m of total ascent and an easy overall grading, the route is more about covering distance along the Antrim coast than tackling sustained steep climbing.

Ballycastle to Glenarm is set up as a multi-day hike. At 51.63 km from start to finish, it is a comfortable overnight route for many walkers, though strong hikers can cover it in a long single day if daylight, transport, and pacing are carefully planned.

The hike runs between the coastal town of Ballycastle and the village of Glenarm in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. That point-to-point format means transport planning matters, because the route does not loop back to the starting trailhead.

The Ballycastle to Glenarm hike is graded easy, which usually means the terrain is manageable for regular walkers with basic fitness. The main challenge is the overall length of 51.63 km, while the total elevation gain of 859 m is relatively moderate for a route of that distance.

The Ballycastle to Glenarm hike has 859 m of total elevation gain over 51.63 km. Spread across a long route, that amount of climbing is fairly modest, which helps explain why the trail is rated easy despite being a multi-day walk.

Public transport is available at both ends, which helps with a point-to-point walk. Ballycastle is served by Translink buses on the north coast, and Glenarm sits on the Causeway Coastal Route with bus links toward Larne and Ballymena, making it practical to arrange a return journey without a car.