Hamilton's Seat Viewpoint – Shepherds' Steps loop from Ballintoy

Hiking trails & Routes

Hamilton's Seat Viewpoint – Shepherds' Steps loop from Ballintoy

Hard

4.9

(43)

273

hikers

Hamilton's Seat Viewpoint – Shepherds' Steps loop from Ballintoy

07:19

26.9km

390m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 22, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Causeway Coast AONB

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.33 km

White Park Bay

Beach

3.95 km

View of Whitepark Bay from the Cave

Highlight • Natural

Very impressive hike, a nice change of pace.

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6.69 km

Dunseverick Castle Ruins

Highlight • Viewpoint

The castle was used as a fort and observation post and was attacked by Viking raiders in 870AD. It was one of the five great royal highways, or slighe of ancient Ireland.

The area today is famous for one of the best cliff path walks anywhere in Ireland from Dunseverick Harbour along the shore path, and passed the castle ruins, this will lead you to Hamiltons seat and Benbane Head, the most northern part of Northern Ireland's mainland.

Tip by

7.31 km

View of Port Moon Bothy

Highlight • Mountain Hut

At the base of the cliffs there’s a fisherman's cottage. This was used as a base in the past to net salmon but came to an end in 2002 with the gradual dwindling in salmon stock.

Tip by

7.77 km

Port Moon

Highlight • Natural

Beautiful natural harbour with a small house (probably fishermen's) that can be seen from above passing on the Causeway Coast Way.
Used for centuries for the abundance of crabs, cod and salmon to be caught during the migration to the Bush River in the breeding season.

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10.3 km

Hamilton's Seat Viewpoint

Highlight • Natural Monument

This is a magnificent viewpoint on the Causeway Coast that looks out across Port na Tober. The terraced cliffs are a delight to behold, millions of years of geology writ large for all to see. You can take the weight off your feet by relaxing on the bench here, which also displays an illustrated map of the trail.

Tip by

13.0 km

Shepherds' Steps

Highlight • Trail

Quick climb from the beach up to the headland (or vice versa).

Tip by

16.1 km

Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast Clifftop Walk

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The raw elemental beauty of the Causeway Coastal Route captures the thrill of adventure in Northern Ireland. Maybe it's the sheer vastness and beauty of the landscape. Perhaps it is the mythical stories formed and inspired by the dramatic coastline.

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26.9 km

Ballintoy Harbour

Highlight • Beach

Ballintoy is wonderfully picturesque, with its sea stacks, islands and pretty harbour. It has been used as a filming location for HBO's Game of Thrones, featuring as the island of Pyke, home of the Greyjoy family. The coastal walking here is excellent, with Carrick-a-Rede to the east and Whitepark Bay Beach and the Giant's Causeway to the west. There are a number of small shops, restaurants and places to stay in the village.

Tip by

26.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

18.9 km

3.75 km

3.41 km

827 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

11.4 km

7.00 km

4.25 km

3.10 km

760 m

479 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (100 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Sunday 18 October

13°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 26.0 km/h

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Comments

September 12, 2023,Causeway Coastel Way from Ballintoy to Giants Causeway

We parked our Car in Bushmills on a free parking space at the old railway station. Took the bus (no 402) to the Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge (you can only pay with pounds on board). To go to the bridge it costs 14 Pounds per person and would be an extra loop of 4 km.
We drove from the …

October 4, 2023,Giant’s Causeway Cliff Path – Wandern in Nordirland ☘️

Puh, ich denke, ich muss mich erstmal ein wenig sammeln, bevor ich beginne, diese Wanderung irgendwie in Worte zu fassen. Ok, tief einatmen… und auuuuusatmen…

Diese Küstenwanderung ist ohne Übertreibung die allerschönste, die ich bisher in meinem Leben gemacht habe! Die Causeway Coast von Nordirland ist nämlich nicht nur wegen des Naturwunders und der UNESCO-Welterbestätte Giant’s Causeway eine Reise wert. …

May 2, 2024,Etappe 2: Ballintoy - Portballintrae

After a wonderful night at a B&B in Ballintoy, the journey continues along the coast on an incredibly beautiful coastal path. The Amphitheatre, also known as Port Reostan, is one of the most magnificent sights along the Causeway Coast. Its dramatic and picturesque rock formations resemble an amphitheater and attract many visitors every year. The path through the "break" in …

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