12 Of The Best Hotels In Ballycastle That Make A Great Base For An Adventure

If you’re in search of the best hotels in Ballycastle, you’ve landed in the right place.

There’s plenty of things to do in Ballycastle and there’s an endless number of places to visit nearby, which make this town a great base to explore from.

Luckily, there’s some excellent Ballycastle accommodation on offer, with a little bit of something to suit most budgets.

In the guide below, you’ll find a clatter of guesthouses and hotels in Ballycastle, from popular spots, like the Salthouse, to some hidden gems!

Our favourite hotels in Ballycastle

In the first section of this guide you’ll find our favourite Ballycastle accommodation, from the brilliant Marine Hotel to Glass Island and more.

Note: As a Booking.com affiliate we may make a small commission if you book via a link below. You won’t pay extra, but it helps us pay the bills (cheers if you do – we greatly appreciate it).

1. The Salthouse Hotel

Located in on Dunamallaght Road, the Salthouse House Hotel offers 24 luxurious bedrooms and suites and six eco-friendly lodges. Rooms come with private bathrooms, comfortable beds, work desks, and flat-screen TV’s with apps such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Run by Nigel and Joann McGarrity, this eco-friendly property embraces sustainability and runs on solar and wind power.

Guests can enjoy a range of facilities such as a sun terrace and an impressive spa with two outdoor tubs, two seaweed baths, three treatment rooms, a steam room, and a sauna.

Pay a visit to the hotel’s bar and restaurant and enjoy freshly caught seafood, artisan cocktails, and stunning ocean views. This is one of our favourite hotels in Ballycastle for good reason.

Check prices + see more photos here

2. Marine Hotel

Welcome to the Marine Hotel, a fabulous 3-star hotel that offers spacious, bright, and tastefully decorated en-suite rooms with magnificent sea views.

The hotel boasts a fully licensed bar, two function rooms for business meetings, conferences and wedding celebrations, and a 24-hour front desk service.

The on-site restaurant has a fabulous seafood menu prepared by head chef Jack Mooney. Enjoy tea, coffee, snacks and views of the seafront and marina at the Front Bar.

Check prices + see more photos here

3. Glass Island

Glass Island is located just a short walk from Ballycastle Beach and minutes away from the harbour and its many shops, restaurants, and pubs.

The hotel boasts spacious and luxurious rooms with comfortable beds, seating areas, and en-suite bathrooms with aromatherapy products.

Guests can unwind with a refreshing drink at the shared lounge and read a book and soak up the sun in the secluded garden. Each morning, you can enjoy a continental or an à la carte breakfast at the on-site dining room.

Check prices + see more photos here

Ballycastle accommodation with outstanding reviews

Now that we have our favourite hotels in Ballycastle out of the way, it’s time to see what else this corner of Antrim has to offer.

Below, you’ll find some well-known Ballycastle accommodation, like Fair Head Glamping, to some often-missed places to stay.

1. Fair Head Glamping Pods

If you’re looking for unique places to stay in Ballycastle the Fair Head Glamping Pods are worth a look. Offering spectacular views of Fair Head and the ocean, these glamping pods are fully furnished, cosy, and have heating, running water, and electricity.

Each pod boasts a glazed entrance, shower room, seating area, and coffee/tea making facilities. The Pods are the perfect rural getaway for nature lovers who wish to enjoy spectacular scenery and tourist attractions.

The pods are a stone’s throw from the likes of Torr Head, Ballintoy Harbour and the glorious Murlough Bay.

Check prices + see more photos here

2. Spire View Townhouse

Located a 5-minute drive from Ballycastle Beach, Spire View Townhouse is a lovely little villa that offers comfortable three bedroom accommodation for up to 6 guests.

Expect to find an arcade room, playroom, and board games, as well as a tennis court at the property. This fabulous holiday home also boasts a lovely garden, BBQ facilities, and a fully-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave.

Guests staying at the Spire View Townhouse can hop on a ferry to Rathlin Island, spin along the Causeway Coastal Route or head off on one of many nearby walks.

Check prices + see more photos here

3. Corratavey Guest Accommodation

Located between Ballycastle seafront and Ballycastle town centre, Corratavey Guest Accommodation is situated inside a tastefully refurbished Victorian townhouse.

The property provides spacious en-suite rooms, free Wi-Fi, continental or a la carte breakfast, and luggage storage for guests. If you wish to prepare lunch or dinner and store groceries, there’s a shared, fully-equipped kitchen.

In the evening, you can even come back and relax by a real turf fire (during the colder months). If you’re looking for homely Ballycastle accommodation with excellent reviews, check this place out.

Check prices + see more photos here

4. Carnately Lodge

Carnately Lodge is another of several places to stay in Ballycastle that boasts outstanding reviews online (at the time of typing).

Run by Natasha and David, Carnately Lodge is a lovely bed and breakfast property located ½ miles outside Ballycastle city centre.

Their home provides comfy en-suite bedrooms fitted with coffee making facilities and flat-screen TV’s, a small fitness centre with weights and treadmill, and a breakfast buffet.

If you’re looking for Ballycastle accommodation that’s one, good value and two, gets raved about in reviews, it’s well worth checking this place out.

Check prices + see more photos here

5. Glen Haven Bed and Breakfast

A modern holiday home, Glen Haven Bed and Breakfast in Ballycastle is the ideal base to explore nearby attractions, like the Glens of Antrim.

The property itself offers spacious rooms with comfy beds, private external bathrooms, and flat-screen TV’s. Unwind at the picturesque garden and enjoy a full traditional Irish cooked breakfast or a continental breakfast each morning.

The property is a 10-minute walk from the town centre where you will find a good selection of pubs and restaurants.

Check prices + see more photos here

Other great guesthouses and hotels in Ballycastle (and nearby)

The final section of our Ballycastle accommodation guide is filled with some other brilliant places to stay in the town and closeby.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from The Fullerton Arms (in nearby Ballintoy) to the fantastic Ardaghmore Bed and Breakfast.

1. The Fullerton Arms

A guesthouse, bar and restaurant, the Fullerton Arms is a family-run property located on the main street in Ballintoy village in county Antrim (not far from Ballintoy Harbour).

The rooms are bright and spacious and fitted with all the necessities needed for a comfortable stay. There is also a relaxing beer garden with BBQ facilities where guests can enjoy tasty seafood delicacies from the on-site restaurant.

If you wish to have a drink, the Fullerton Arms bar provides an expansive selection of gins, craft beers, and whiskeys. The bar hosts live music sessions every Saturday evening.

Check prices + see more photos here

2. Ardaghmore Bed and Breakfast

Situated inside a Victorian house, this family-run bed and breakfast with newly decorated interiors and period furniture offers comfortable 3-bedroom accommodation and magnificent views of Ballycastle Bay and Rathlin Island.

The property is located just a 2-minute walk from the ferry and the beach. There is a shared lounge and a garden where you can unwind with complimentary tea and coffee. 

In the morning, enjoy a traditional Irish cooked breakfast. This is one of the more popular places to stay in Ballycastle for good reason.

Check prices + see more photos here

3. J and J Guest House

Highly rated on Tripadvisor, J and J Guest House is a family home that offers bright and spacious en-suite rooms decorated to the highest standards.

Each morning, guests can enjoy a full Irish breakfast or continental breakfast that includes homemade bread, tea/coffee, cereal, fresh fruit, and yoghurt.

The property also offers a shared lounge. The town centre, where you will find many of the best restaurants in Ballycastle, is just a short walk away from the guest house.

Check prices + see more photos here

4. An Caislean Guest House

And last but by no means least in our Ballycastle accommodation guide is the brilliant An Caislean Guest House (reviews online are ridiculously good!).

Ideally situated between the seafront and the town centre on Quay Rd, An Caislean Guest House is a boutique spot that offers seven individually decorated family rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

It’s a short distance from pubs, restaurants and some of the best places to visit in Ballycastle. Check out the reviews at the link below.

Check prices + see more photos here

What Ballycastle hotels have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Ballycastle hotels from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best places to stay in Ballycastle

Since publishing our guide to the best Ballycastle attractions many years ago, we’ve have heaps (literally!) of questions asking about the best places to stay in Ballycastle.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best hotels in Ballycastle?

We’d argue that the best hotels in Ballycastle are The Salthouse, The Marine and Glass Island.

What are the most unique places to stay in Ballycastle?

If you’re after places to stay in Ballycastle that are a bit quirky, it’s well worth checking out Fair Head Glamping (see them above).

What Ballycastle accommodation is best for groups?

If you’re visiting with a group, one of the hotels in Ballycastle is arguably your best bet, as you can nab a three person room in many of them.