Ballintoy is a small village (around 200 people) on the Causeway Coastal Route between the Giant’s Causeway and Ballycastle — from the Irish Baile an Tuaigh, “the northern townland.” The working harbour is less than a mile from the village, down a steep winding road past the white Ballintoy Parish Church. Parking’s available but can fill up in summer; the Ballintoy Harbour Café does homemade Irish food and coffee.
On screen
Ballintoy Harbour played Lordsport, the main port of Pyke on the Iron Islands, across several Game of Thrones seasons — Theon’s homecoming and re-introduction to Yara (Season 2), his baptism in the name of the Drowned God on the beach, and Balon Greyjoy’s funeral and Euron’s crowning in Season 6. The neighbouring “Secret Beach” also appears in the series, including Bran and Tyrion’s landing scene.
The beach and harbour
Ballintoy Beach has soft sand, clear water, and rock pools — sheltered and good for families, though it does get busy in summer. There are small sea caves worth a wander around the harbour walls (shallow, not connected by tunnels, but a nice stop). Kayak tours run from Ballycastle and take in this stretch of coast.
Whitepark Bay and Portbraddon
A short walk from Ballintoy (via Portbraddon) is Whitepark Bay — a 3-mile curve of white sand backed by limestone cliffs, protected by the National Trust for its wildlife: nine orchid species, 17 butterfly species (April–September), and nesting fulmars on the cliffs (related to albatrosses, spending most of the year out at sea). The Trust also tracks conservation-priority birds here, including meadow pipit, song thrush, and skylark.
Portbraddon, right on the bay’s western edge, is a tiny hamlet with what’s said to be Ireland’s smallest church. There’s no parking here, so it’s a stop rather than a destination unless you’re staying in one of the local self-catering cottages.
