Ballintoy Boat Tours

Ballintoy Boat Tours runs small-group coastal trips from Ballintoy Harbour, just a few miles along the North Coast from Ballycastle. The operator welcomes dogs on board, so you can bring your four-paws along for the rope-bridge sightseeing experience without the usual boat-or-dog dilemma. Trips run April to September—weekends all day and weekday evenings in season—and are weather dependent, so check ahead before you set off.

The boats carry a maximum of five passengers and online booking is advised to secure your spot. There's on-site parking at the harbour, which takes one job off the list when you're juggling leads and tickets.

This is a proper coastal day out for dog owners who want to see Carrick-a-Rede from the water without leaving anyone behind. Standard trip rules apply and the usual boat-safety sense goes without saying, but the explicit dog-friendly policy makes this one of the easier North Coast attractions to fit around a touring day with your dog.