When there's a major event on around the Causeway Coast such as the North West 200 or the International Air Show, car parking spaces can be at a premium! And when there's a spell of great weather, it seems like most of Northern Ireland heads to the north coast - making car parking a little tricky! The Borough has thousands of car parking spaces so just plan your journey in advance - check out which car parks are free and which are paid-for, HOWEVER, one mistake that we constantly see visitors making is parking on beaches and on sand when advised not to! This can be a very costly mistake as cars easily get bogged down in the sand or worse still stuck fast as the tide comes in.When there's a major event on around the Causeway Coast such as the North West 200 or the International Air Show, car parking spaces can be at a premium! And when there's a spell of great weather, it seems like most of Northern Ireland heads to the north coast - making car parking a little tricky! The Borough has thousands of car parking spaces so just plan your journey in advance - check out which car parks are free and which are paid-for, HOWEVER, one mistake that we constantly see visitors making is parking on beaches and on sand when advised not to! This can be a very costly mistake as cars easily get bogged down in the sand or worse still stuck fast as the tide comes in.
When there's a major event on around the Causeway Coast such as the North West 200 or the International Air Show, car parking spaces can be at a premium! And when there's a spell of great weather, it seems like most of Northern Ireland heads to the north coast - making car parking a little tricky! The Borough has thousands of car parking spaces so just plan your journey in advance - check out which car parks are free and which are paid-for, HOWEVER, one mistake that we constantly see visitors making is parking on beaches and on sand when advised not to! This can be a very costly mistake as cars easily get bogged down in the sand or worse still stuck fast as the tide comes in.

Mistakes I see tourists make when they visit Causeway Coast & Glens

By The Newsroom
Published 16th Apr 2025, 12:52 BST
There’s no doubt about the popularity of the Causeway Coast for tourists – whether it’s a day trip to the seaside or a longer stay by international visitors.

Jaw-dropping scenery, myths and legends, World Heritage sites, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, blue flag beaches, world class golf courses and top notch local cuisine – it’s understandable why tourists flock here in their tens of thousands each year.

But every day I see tourists making mistakes with their planning (or lack of planning!) which means they may be missing out on some real treats!

Here’s a few tips on making the most of the Causeway Coast and Glens area...

The Causeway Coast has a huge offering of attractions which bring in thousands of visitors each year. Of course, something good is worth paying for but one mistake that tourists regularly make is to miss out on the incredible attractions in the area which are FREE OF CHARGE! Take Magheracross Viewing Point for example - situated between Portrush and Dunluce Castle, this stunning viewing point (and its car park) won't cost you a penny but WILL afford you some breath-taking views of the north coast, Donegal, Rathlin and even Scotland. Other fantastic free attractions include the Coastal Zone in Portrush - discovery pools and tanks along with displays and activities give visitors the chance to learn more about Northern Ireland’s marine and coastal wildlife and heritage. And there's the stunning Roe Valley Country Park in Limavady - home to the legendary Dog Leap which gave the town its name.

5. FREE ATTRACTIONS

The Causeway Coast has a huge offering of attractions which bring in thousands of visitors each year. Of course, something good is worth paying for but one mistake that tourists regularly make is to miss out on the incredible attractions in the area which are FREE OF CHARGE! Take Magheracross Viewing Point for example - situated between Portrush and Dunluce Castle, this stunning viewing point (and its car park) won't cost you a penny but WILL afford you some breath-taking views of the north coast, Donegal, Rathlin and even Scotland. Other fantastic free attractions include the Coastal Zone in Portrush - discovery pools and tanks along with displays and activities give visitors the chance to learn more about Northern Ireland’s marine and coastal wildlife and heritage. And there's the stunning Roe Valley Country Park in Limavady - home to the legendary Dog Leap which gave the town its name. Photo: CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS COUNCIL

We all know that thousands of people flock to the seaside resort of Ballycastle for the annual Lammas Fair but visitors may mistakenly think this is the only thing the town has to offer - and they would be wrong! Named as the Best Place to Live in Northern Ireland in 2022 by the Sunday Times and one of the Best Places to Live by the Sea in 2024, Ballycastle has plenty to offer outside of the annual August fair: walk the beach to Pan's Rocks, visit Bonamargy Friary, visit The Dark Hedges, take a boat tour to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Rathlin or Jura, visit Rathlin Island, visit a pub and enjoy live music, play golf.

6. MORE THAN JUST THE LAMMAS FAIR

We all know that thousands of people flock to the seaside resort of Ballycastle for the annual Lammas Fair but visitors may mistakenly think this is the only thing the town has to offer - and they would be wrong! Named as the Best Place to Live in Northern Ireland in 2022 by the Sunday Times and one of the Best Places to Live by the Sea in 2024, Ballycastle has plenty to offer outside of the annual August fair: walk the beach to Pan's Rocks, visit Bonamargy Friary, visit The Dark Hedges, take a boat tour to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Rathlin or Jura, visit Rathlin Island, visit a pub and enjoy live music, play golf. Photo: NI WORLD

A frequent mistake made by many tourists is thinking that the Causeway Coast is just the Giant's Causeway. Now, the World Heritage site of the famous basalt columns IS an incredible feat of nature and a 'must see' part of any itinerary. However, many visitors forget that the Causeway Coast has much more to offer. The Borough of Causeway Coast and Glens is made up of four legacy councils - Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Ballycastle. The area spans from Greysteel to the Glens of Antrim - so, get out there and get exploring!

7. SO MUCH TO DO

A frequent mistake made by many tourists is thinking that the Causeway Coast is just the Giant's Causeway. Now, the World Heritage site of the famous basalt columns IS an incredible feat of nature and a 'must see' part of any itinerary. However, many visitors forget that the Causeway Coast has much more to offer. The Borough of Causeway Coast and Glens is made up of four legacy councils - Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Ballycastle. The area spans from Greysteel to the Glens of Antrim - so, get out there and get exploring! Photo: CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS COUNCIL

Mention the words 'Port Sunday' to a north coast resident and they know that means leaving the car in the garage and walking to their destination to avoid the lines of (mainly) young drivers making their weekly circuit of the two Ports (Portrush and Portstewart) on a Sunday evening. Visitors regularly make the mistake of going for a leisurely drive and ending up in a miles-long traffic jam of cars. A word to the wise, fancy an ice cream on a Sunday evening? Get your walking shoes on, enjoy the views and avoid the queues!

8. PORT SUNDAY

Mention the words 'Port Sunday' to a north coast resident and they know that means leaving the car in the garage and walking to their destination to avoid the lines of (mainly) young drivers making their weekly circuit of the two Ports (Portrush and Portstewart) on a Sunday evening. Visitors regularly make the mistake of going for a leisurely drive and ending up in a miles-long traffic jam of cars. A word to the wise, fancy an ice cream on a Sunday evening? Get your walking shoes on, enjoy the views and avoid the queues! Photo: NI WORLD

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