The Dog Friendly Map
®
Days Out Are For Dogs Too
Dog-Friendly Ballycastle
Last Updated:
17 Sept 2026
Ballycastle is a compact, walkable coastal town centred on its diamond-shaped layout, offering a traditional Northern Irish base on the Causeway Coast with a 1.2-kilometre sandy beach and views across to Rathlin Island. The town combines harbour access, a promenade and straightforward outdoor walking with a welcoming selection of pubs, cafés and independent shops radiating from the central Diamond. Woodland paths, coastal trails and the beach lie within easy reach for accessible seaside exploration.
Explore dog-friendly Ballycastle
Days Out
Pubs and Bars
.png)
Shops
.png)
Cafes / Restaurants
.png)
Dog Fields for Hire
.png)
Garden Centres
.png)
Dog Washes
.png)
Top Dog-Friendly Picks
Short on time? Start with these three Ballycastle favourites: a central pub and restaurant, a working farm café and a coastal sightseeing trip.
Anzac is a busy Market Street pub where dogs are welcome inside the bar and restaurant. You can settle in with your dog at the table for a pint, a meal or both. The kitchen runs Wednesday to Sunday and there's no fuss about your dog joining you while you eat.
Broughgammon Farm Café welcomes dogs inside for breakfast, lunch or coffee, so you can settle in at the table after a muddy morning walk. Open Friday to Sunday, this working farm café serves food in a relaxed rural setting that doubles as a visitor attraction with farm tours and workshops.
Kintra Boat Tours welcomes well-behaved dogs onboard on a lead for coastal sightseeing trips from Ballycastle harbour. The vessel offers both indoor seating and outdoor deck space, so you can choose the best spot for your dog. Tours take in Carrick-a-Rede, cliffs, caves and waterfalls.
Ballycastle at a glance
Outdoor Access
Best Parking
Rainy Day Potential
Best For...
Nearby Dog-Friendly Towns
Exploring further? These nearby dog-friendly towns are a short drive away and just as useful when dogs need to be welcome inside.
Easy dog-friendly plans
Quick visit
Town Centre Heritage and Harbour Walk
1–3 hours · Best for first-time visitors wanting local flavour
Half-day plan
Coastal Boat Trip and Farm Café
2–4 hours · Best for maritime adventure with clifftop scenery
Longer wander
Rathlin Island Day Trip
3–5 hours · Best for island exploration and seabird scenery
Is Ballycastle a good place to visit with a dog?
+
Yes, Ballycastle is a good place to visit with a dog. The town offers 13 dog-friendly pubs, two cafes where dogs are welcome inside, and easy access to coastal walks and heritage sites. Rove Coffee House on Castle Street and Broughgammon Farm Café provide relaxed indoor stops, while nearby attractions such as the Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede and Rathlin Island ferry trips all welcome dogs on lead. The compact town centre and seafront location make it straightforward to combine indoor and outdoor plans without splitting the group.
Can I take my dog inside pubs and cafes in Ballycastle?
+
Yes, every pub and cafe shown on The Dog Friendly Map is included because dogs are welcome inside. In Ballycastle that means 13 pubs—including The Central Bar, Marine Hotel Ballycastle and O'Connor's Bar—and two cafes: Rove Coffee House on Castle Street and Broughgammon Farm Café. You can settle in for food and drinks with your dog at the table, so nobody needs to volunteer for pavement duty while the rest of the group eats.
What can I do with my dog in Ballycastle on a rainy day?
+
On a rainy day in Ballycastle you can take your dog inside any of the town's 13 pubs or two cafes for food and shelter. Rove Coffee House on Castle Street serves coffee and light bites with dogs welcome inside, while The Central Bar and Marine Hotel Ballycastle both offer full menus in relaxed indoor settings. Creative Gardens Bushmills, around eight miles away, welcomes dogs inside the retail shop and plant hall, giving you a dry browsing option if you need a change of scene.
What dog-friendly family days out are there near Ballycastle?
+
The Giant's Causeway is the standout family day out near Ballycastle where dogs on leads are welcome throughout, including the Visitor Centre, exhibition, café and guided tours. Carrick-a-Rede welcomes dogs on the coastal route and in the Weighbridge Tearoom, though not on the rope bridge itself. Glenarm Castle & Garden offers walled gardens, woodland walks and a dedicated Dog Park with bookable off-lead sessions—a rare feature at a heritage attraction. All three sites combine outdoor exploration with facilities that work for children and dogs together.
Is Ballycastle easy to explore on foot with a dog?
+
Yes, Ballycastle is easy to explore on foot with a dog. The compact town centre clusters around Castle Street and the Diamond, with the seafront a short walk away and most dog-friendly pubs and cafes within a few minutes of each other. Rove Coffee House, The House of McDonnell and Marine Hotel Ballycastle are all centrally located, so you can plan a walking route that takes in refreshment stops without needing the car. The harbour and coastal paths extend your options if you want a longer loop.
Want us to do the planning for you?
Tell us where you’re going, who’s coming and what matters to you.
We’ll build you a personalised dog-friendly map with places chosen for your trip — from pubs and cafés to days out, easy parking, wet-weather options and more.
Every indoor welcome is checked, so you won’t arrive to find the dog has to stay outside.
Your personalised map: £14.99