coastal drive
Antrim Coast Road
A breathtaking coastal drive hugging cliffs and beaches from Larne past the Glens of Antrim toward the Causeway.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomNorthern Ireland
Cushendall
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Cushendall
Cushendall works well as a base: 20 minutes from Carnlough, 2km from Causeway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road).
Cushendall is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, with about 1,200 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Carnlough, about 11 km away.
Cushendall (from Irish Cois Abhann Dalla, meaning 'foot of the River Dall') is a coastal village and townland (of 153 acres) in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located in the historic barony of Glenarm Lower and the civil parish of Layd, and is part of Causeway Coast and Glens district.
Located on the A2 coastRead more
road between Glenariff and Cushendun, Cushendall is in the Antrim Coast and Glens, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It lies in the shadow of the table topped Lurigethan Mountain and at the meeting point of three of the Glens of Antrim: Glenaan, Glenballyemon and Glencorp. This part of the Northern Irish coastline is separated from Scotland by the North Channel, with the Mull of Kintyre about 16 miles away. In the 2021 census, Cushendall had a population of 1,180 people.
Much of the historic character of the 19th-century settlement on the north bank of the River Dall remains, including the mostly-intact Irish Georgian buildings of the town's four original streets. In 1973, it was the second village in Northern Ireland to be designated as a Conservation Area. Since 1990, Cushendall has hosted the Heart Of The Glens festival every August. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a father of Canadian Confederation, spent his childhood in Cushendall when his father, who worked for the Coast Guard Service, was posted there.
Where to Stay in Cushendall
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Cushendall.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Cushendall.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Cushendall?
Within an hour or so of Cushendall: Antrim Coast Road (1 km), Causeway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road) (2 km), Cushendun Caves (the shadow birth) (5 km), Glenariff Forest Park (8 km).
Are there any good drives near Cushendall?
The nearest famous roads are Causeway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road), Torr Head Coast Road and Torr Head Scenic Route.
Where is Cushendall?
Cushendall is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, about 11 km from Carnlough.
Road trip
Drive to Cushendall
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Cushendall. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,226
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Northern Ireland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.0803, -6.0629
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 Cushendall
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Causeway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road)
A cliff-edge road cut in the 1830s between Larne and Ballycastle, running under the Glens of Antrim with the Scottish coast in view.
2 km · about 5 min drive
film location
Cushendun Caves (the shadow birth)
The 400-million-year-old caves on the Antrim coast are where Melisandre gives birth to the shadow assassin.
5 km · about 10 min drive
waterfall
Glenariff Forest Park
The 'Queen of the Glens', with a boardwalk waterfall trail through a wooded gorge above the Antrim coast.
8 km · about 15 min drive
coastal drive
Torr Head Scenic Route
White-knuckle single-track coastal road off the main Causeway route between Ballycastle and Cushendun, clinging to steep headlands at Torr Head where Scotland's Mull of Kintyre looms just 12 miles across the sea.
13 km · about 25 min drive
coastal drive
Torr Head Coast Road
A steep single-track detour off the Causeway Coastal Route in Antrim, with views across to the Mull of Kintyre.
13 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Murlough Bay
A secluded bay below Fair Head reached by a very steep narrow road, looking across to Rathlin and the Mull of Kintyre.
15 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Murlough Bay (Slaver's Bay and the Stormlands)
The remote bay reached by a steep single-track road served as Slaver's Bay and Renly Baratheon's camp.
15 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Cushendall
- Right hereAntrim Coast RoadA breathtaking coastal drive hugging cliffs and beaches from Larne past the Glens of Antrim toward the Causeway.
- Right hereCauseway Coastal Route (A2 Antrim Coast Road)A cliff-edge road cut in the 1830s between Larne and Ballycastle, running under the Glens of Antrim with the Scottish coast in view.
- Right hereTorr Head Scenic RouteWhite-knuckle single-track coastal road off the main Causeway route between Ballycastle and Cushendun, clinging to steep headlands at Torr Head where Scotland's Mull of Kintyre looms just 12 miles across the sea.
- Right hereTorr Head Coast RoadA steep single-track detour off the Causeway Coastal Route in Antrim, with views across to the Mull of Kintyre.
- Right hereMurlough BayA secluded bay below Fair Head reached by a very steep narrow road, looking across to Rathlin and the Mull of Kintyre.
- 17 kmFair HeadA 190m dolerite cliff above Ballycastle, one of Europe's great traditional climbing crags, with views to Scotland.
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 Cushendall.
Plan a trip around Cushendall
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Cushendall.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.