The Gobbins Cliff Walk: The Most Dramatic Walk In Europe

The Gobbins Cliff Path Walk is one of Northern Ireland’s most unique attractions.

It first opened in 1902 and it was originally aimed at Edwardian thrill-seekers that wanted to experience a chunk of Ireland’s most dramatic coastline up close.

Located along the Causeway Coastal Route, visitors to the Gobbins must conquer a 3-mile/5km trail with steep inclines and declines that are said to be the equivalent of climbing 50 flights of steps.

In the guide below, you’ll find info on everything fro ticket prices to how The Gobbins Path all came about. Enjoy!

Some quick need-to-knows before visiting The Gobbins Cliff Path

There are several important need-to-knows abut The Gobbins Walkway that are well worth reading in advance, to avoid disappointment. 

1. Location

You’ll find The Gobbins Visitor Centre in Islandmagee on the Causeway Coastal Route. It’s a 40-minute drive from Belfast, a 15-minute drive from Carrickfergus and a 20-minute drive from Larne.

2. Opening hours

The Gobbins Walk is open from 08:30 to 17:00 daily (make sure to book in advance and arrive 15 minutes before your tour). You’ll find parking at the Visitor Centre.

3. Admission / ticket prices

The Gobbins admission fee is £21.50 for an adult, £15.50 for kids under 16, OAPs (65+) and students. There’s also a family ticket (2 adults and 3 kids) for £48.

4. Decent fitness needed

The Gobbins Walk is a long hard slog and moderate fitness and good mobility levels are needed. The path stretches for 3 miles/5km and is the equivalent of going up and down 50 flights of stairs.

5. Height restrictions

For safety purposes, anyone below 4 foot in height can’t enter The Gobbins Cliff Path. According to their website, kids can’t be carried.

How the Gobbins Cliff Walk came about

The Gobbins Cliff Walk was originally aimed at Edwardian thrill-seekers that wanted to experience a chunk of Ireland’s most dramatic coastline up close.

It was the vision of Berkeley Deane Wise, the Chief Engineer of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company, who wanted to use the recently expanded railway line to attract visitors to this little corner of Ireland.

The early days

Work on The Gobbins Cliff Path began in 1901 and it was in mid 1902 that a pathway from the village of Ballystrugger to the base of the Gobbins first opened.

Berkeley Deane Wise had a vision of adding tunnells and bridges that took visitors along the cliff, but it proved to be an immense challenge.

An overnight success

The parts were constructed in Belfast and the team managed to get them up along the Antrim Coast on rafts, before winching them in place.

The Gobbins Walk became an overnight success and visitors from Ireland and the UK travelled to experience the unique attraction.

Success, demise and rebirth

A suspension bridge was added in 1908 to take visitors to the mouth of the Seven Sisters Caves. Alas, this was the last addition as Wise passed away a year later.

The Gobbins Walk thrived for 30 years. It was then shut during the Second World War and, although it was reopened in 1950, landslides and safety issues resulted in it’s closure.

It remained closed for 50 years until 15 new bridges and 6 elevated paths were introduced, each meeting modern safety requirements. It reopened again in 2016.

The most unique sections on the Gobbins Tour

Over the course of The Gobbins Tour you’ll be taken on a trek along an often narrow and uneven path that wraps around some of Antrim’s beautifully craggy basalt cliffs.

Visitors will ramble across spectacular bridges, up and down rugged staircases carved into the cliff face and into caves that were once home to smugglers and privateers.

1. The tunnel

There’s one main tunnel at The Gobbins Walkway. This dark and slightly eerie passageway was carved through a basalt outcrop.

It’ll take you below sea level and you’ll be able to hear the thunder of the sea crashing against the walls as you walk through it.

2. The swinging bridge

This is the suspension bridge that takes you across a deep inlet that, over time, carved out a cave in the cliff face.

The bridge was constructed from high-tension cables, and provides a nice stable platform as you soak up the coastal views.

3. The clifftop viewpoint

It’s from the clifftop viewpoint that you’re treated to glorious views of the Seven Sisters caves along with the Kraken Cave and Heddles Port.

Places to visit nearby

One of the beauties of The Gobbins Walk is that it’s a short spin away from some of the best things to do in Antrim.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from The Gobbins Cliff Walk:

• Blackhead Lighthouse (5-minute drive)
• Carrickfergus Castle (15-minute drive)
• Belfast City – home to Divis and Black Mountain, Belfast Cathedral Quarter and more (25-minute drive)

Frequently asked questions 

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is The Gobbins free?’ to ‘How long is The Gobbins Walk?’.

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.