Dunluce Castle

Dunluce castle is situated on a craggy outcrop on the treacherous Antrim coast of Northern Ireland. It is about 3 miles from the Giant's Causeway and Bushmill's. If you are in the area it is quite possible to visit all three sites and raise a glass at Bushmill's as well. It is the ruins of a medieval castle and the seat of the McDonnell clan. Prior to the castle being built, Dunluce was an early Christian and Viking fortress before the McDonnell clan took possession. It became the base of Sorley Boy McDonnell.

The ruins are well signed but imagination is still required. There is also a printed guide upon entering which is helpful. Tickets can be purchase at the castle and online and if memory serves me cost 5.25 pounds. Children under 4 were free. The tower was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing were observed. The castle was featured in "The Game of Thrones" with the aid of a lot of CGI. It was the House of Greyjoy, who ruled the Iron Islands. I really think the effort at complete restoration would pay financial dividends.

Although we did not enter Dunluce Castle (it seemed quite a lot of money to walk around the shell of a castle), we spent a while enjoying the view of the ocean and the castle. It is beautifully located on the coast. This is a nice extra stop if you are in the area of Giant's Causeway. It is much less crowded and gives you a good idea of what the past was like.

The four of us came on a cruise ship for the day in July and we got "Paddy Campbell's Black Cab tour" (highly recommended!). We stopped at Dunluce castle but didn't have time to go inside and walk around. It didn't take long, just enough time for some photos and to walk around the area a bit. Beautiful area and the shell of the castle is interesting to see even from outside.

At £5.50 an adult, entrance to Dunluce Castle is a waste of money. There are plenty of absolutely spectacular walks and places to visit on the North Coast which cost nothing. This isn’t worth it.

I loved this medieval castle ruins which is full of atmosphere. Built by the McDonnell clan, it overlooks the sea with stunning views in the background. The castle itself is much larger than I expected and is breathtaking in its splendor. I would thoroughly recommend a visit to all those who love history as much as I do.

Although this is in runs, there are tickets needed to enter compared to Kinbane which can be accessed after hours. This is much larger than Kinbane, so give yourself a few hours to visit it during the operational hours. We were unfortunately only able to visit after hours due to a flat tire on our way, and access after hours isn't possible as it is fenced off. But, the castle is right near the parking lot, and relatively flat so it is easily viewable without much effort in hiking.

Great views and very informative. A fine example of Irish castles. Friendly staff. There is a fee which isn't too exorbitant and you are supplied with an information booklet to keep you appraised of the various areas of interest within the walls.

My friends and I stopped at Dunluce Castle on our way to Portrush. We walked around the ruins taking in the breathtaking scenery of the water and the cliffs. Looking around at the structure, it's easy to start imagining what the castle must have been like in its day. Part of the castle can only be entered via entrance fee. We saw enough of its majesty and the surrounding natural beauty without feeling the need to pay. Our total time there was probably between 30-45 minutes. It was an amazing view. Highly recommend a stop.

Visiting Dunluce Castle is a unique experience and not to be missed when driving Northern Ireland's wild Atlantic coast. It has centuries of history full of knights, ladies, and battles along with stunning views, hidden passageways, and its own flower of Dunluce, the meadow cranesbill. Let Graeme and his colleagues bring the ancient rock ruins to life with their tales of life, love, and loss at this beautiful place. Thanks to all who made our family visit so very special.

Excellent view of castle and village life. They offer free 1-hour tours twice a day. Be sure to take one so you can appreciate the architecture. The point of the tour is to see how the castle changed over time according to what family owned it. High points for me were learning they had glass windows, had baking ovens and two-story fireplaces for cooking. From a distance you think the castle is not that big, but once there, it is huge. The stonework is extraordinary!