famous road
The Dark Hedges
An eerie tunnel of intertwined beech trees made world-famous as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones.
11 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern Ireland
Ballymoney
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Ballymoney
Ballymoney works well as a base: 15 minutes from Dunloy, 11km from The Dark Hedges.
Ballymoney is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, with about 9,600 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Dunloy, about 9 km away.
Ballymoney (Irish: Baile Monaidh [ˌbˠalʲə ˈmˠɔnˠə], meaning 'townland of the moor') is a market town and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. The civil parish of Ballymoney is situated in the historic baronies of Dunluce Upper and Kilconway inRead more
County Antrim, as well as the barony of North East Liberties of Coleraine in County Londonderry. It had a population of 11,048 people at the 2021 census.
The town was established by Scottish settlers following the Tudor Conquest of Ulster at the beginning of the 17th. century. In the 18th. century, townspeople were drawn to the dissident Volunteer and United Irish movements. In the 19th. century, they supported tenant farmers in their agitation for tenant right and land ownership. On the question of Irish self-government and unity, the town, reflecting its Protestant majority, has been staunchly unionist.
The town hosts the Ballymoney Drama Festival, the oldest drama festival in Ireland, which was founded in 1933. The town also hosts the Ballymoney Show, one of the oldest agricultural shows in Northern Ireland, founded in 1902.
Where to Stay in Ballymoney
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ballymoney?
Within an hour or so of Ballymoney: The Dark Hedges (11 km), The Dark Hedges (the Kingsroad) (11 km), Bushmills Distillery (15 km), Dunluce Castle (16 km).
Are there any good drives near Ballymoney?
The nearest famous roads are The Dark Hedges, Causeway Coastal Route and Antrim Coast Road.
Where is Ballymoney?
Ballymoney is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, about 9 km from Dunloy.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 9,625
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Northern Ireland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.0708, -6.5101
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Ballymoney
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
The Dark Hedges (the Kingsroad)
The 18th-century beech avenue near Armoy played the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones and is one of Northern Ireland's most photographed spots.
11 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Bushmills Distillery
The world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, producing Irish whiskey since 1608 on the Antrim coast near the Giant's Causeway.
15 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Dunluce Castle
Dramatic ruined medieval castle perched on the edge of a basalt cliff with a cave underneath, partly inspired Castle Greyjoy in Game of Thrones.
16 km · about 20 min drive
museum
Giant's Causeway Visitor Experience
Award-winning visitor centre interpreting the geology and legends of the Giant's Causeway through immersive exhibitions.
18 km · about 20 min drive
restaurant
Harry's Shack
Driftwood-styled National Trust beach hut turned serious seafood restaurant on the sand of Portstewart Strand, plating fish from local boats yards from the surf. Open year-round; you can park on the beach itself.
18 km · about 20 min drive
coastal drive
Causeway Coastal Route
Northern Ireland's stunning coastal drive from Belfast to Derry passing the Giant's Causeway and dramatic Antrim cliffs.
19 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Giant's Causeway
Extraordinary formation of roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns created by an ancient volcanic eruption.
19 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Ballymoney
- Right hereThe Dark HedgesAn eerie tunnel of intertwined beech trees made world-famous as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones.
- 19 kmCauseway Coastal RouteNorthern Ireland's stunning coastal drive from Belfast to Derry passing the Giant's Causeway and dramatic Antrim cliffs.
- 25 kmGortmore Viewpoint (Manannán Mac Lir)A viewpoint on Binevenagh above the Bishop's Road with a sculpture of the sea god Manannán Mac Lir looking out to Donegal.
- 26 kmBinevenaghA basalt escarpment above Limavady with a small lake on top, used as the Dothraki grasslands in Game of Thrones.
- 28 kmFair HeadA 190m dolerite cliff above Ballycastle, one of Europe's great traditional climbing crags, with views to Scotland.
- 29 kmAntrim Coast RoadA breathtaking coastal drive hugging cliffs and beaches from Larne past the Glens of Antrim toward the Causeway.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Ballymoney.
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