Introduction
Portrush is the main town on the north Antrim coast and the practical base for exploring the Causeway Coast. It has a genuinely good beach in White Rocks, the most dramatically sited castle ruin in Northern Ireland at Dunluce, and the Ramore group of restaurants, which have been doing serious coastal food for long enough that they no longer need to try. The town itself has the slightly uneven character of all seaside resorts, but in summer it has real energy and in the shoulder seasons it's quiet enough to feel like somewhere that belongs to you.
The surrounding coastline is the draw. White Rocks stretches east towards the Giant's Causeway with basalt caves and limestone arches along its length. Dunluce Castle sits on its sea stack a few kilometres further along, requiring its own stop. Beyond that, the Causeway itself is extraordinary and busy. The strategy is to drive the coast road slowly, stop often, and book Ramore before you leave home.
Getting There
The train from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Portrush takes about 1 hour 15 minutes with a change at Coleraine, and runs several times daily. If you're driving, the Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast is one of the most scenic drives in the British Isles and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. Coaches run from Belfast's Europa Bus Centre. The town is compact and walkable, but a car is useful for reaching the beaches and castle along the coast.
Neighbourhoods to Know
Portrush Town centres on the main promenade and harbour, with the Ramore restaurant cluster, the town's cafes and chip shops, and the railway station.
White Rocks is the stretch of beach and coast east of town, accessed via the coastal road. The car park is signposted. Walk west from there for the caves, or east for the cliff path.
Causeway Coast is less a neighbourhood than the whole corridor east towards Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway, taking in Dunluce Castle on the way. Allow a full day to do it properly.
