The Gobbins is a dramatic cliff path along the coastline of Northern Ireland. From the trail, you can witness the stunning view of the sea crashing against the rocks and the nests of puffins and seagulls. With its rich heritage, The Gobbins is more than just a walking trail on the Giant’s Causeway Coastal Route; it is also a journey through time. In this article, you will discover the intriguing history of The Gobbins Path as a Victorian destination, along with practical tips to help you plan your visit today.
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The Gobbins Path: What to See
The Gobbins Path is a remarkable construction that hugs the cliffs along the Causeway Coast, allowing visitors to experience the rugged coastline up close.
First opened in 1902, the path was designed by Berkeley Deane Wise, a railway engineer, who intended to create a tourist attraction that could rival the Giant’s Causeway for both locals and tourists.
The original design featured several suspension bridges and tunnels carved into the rock face, providing a dramatic, immersive experience. It gained immense popularity during the Victorian era and after, but the original path closed to the public in the 1950s due to safety concerns and subsequently fell into disrepair.
Sixty years later, it went under renovation and reopened to the public in 2015. Walking along The Gobbins Path is an adventure even today, as the trail stretches for about 2 miles and includes a series of bridges, pathways, and tunnels that offer access to dramatic sea views, lush greenery, and unique wildlife.
Today, The Gobbins is home to a variety of fauna and flora, including seabirds such as puffins and seagulls, which nest at the end of the trail in this unique coastal ecosystem. If you’re very lucky, you could even spot some seals!
Safety and Accessibility
The Gobbins Path offers stunning views and thrilling experiences, but safety is the top priority. The trail can be challenging because of its steep sections, narrow paths, and sudden weather changes.
The path follows the original route for most of its length, except in areas where landslides have occurred. The metal bridges on the trail are new, replacing the old ones, but they maintain the same design. Overall, the path retains the structure it had in the early 1900s.
You can access to the path only booking a guided tour. This approach helps preserve the area’s unique ecosystem and is a safeguard for visitors.
The Gobbins Path: What to Expect From the Guided Tours
The Gobbins Cliff Path is not open to the public for self-guided exploration, so you’ll need to take a guided tour. Several tours are available daily, but I recommend booking in advance as they often sell out. I walked the trail with my friends Marina and Lucia during our trip along the Giant’s Causeway Coastal Route.
Start of the Tour
The tour begins at the Gobbins Visitor Centre, where you will meet your guide a few minutes before your scheduled time. They will provide a safety briefing and give you a helmet.
The guide will also check your footwear to ensure it meets the requirements—proper hiking boots with thick soles, good grip, and ankle support are mandatory. You can rent hiking boots at the Visitor Centre if you don’t have suitable shoes.
After the briefing, you’ll board a minibus for a short ride to the start of the Gobbins Cliff Path. The bus will stop at a layby at the top of the cliff, from which you will walk about half a mile down a steep, narrow lane to reach the entrance.
Be prepared for the guide’s warning: climbing back up this lane at the end of the walk is the most strenuous part of the journey, and they are correct in their assessment!
Walking Along the Path
The walk is approximately 2 miles long and takes about 2.5 hours. During the walk, you will make stops every few minutes, allowing your guide to share the history of the path, details about the local nature, and interesting facts about this beautiful part of Northern Ireland.
A sample of the curiosities you can discover? In April 1912, visitors on the Gobbins Path witnessed the Titanic undergoing sea trials!
Best Views
Some sections of the walk involve narrow and uneven paths and steep steps. One of the highlights is an exciting descent down a set of steps into a dark cave.
Throughout the path, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Irish Sea, cliffs, and surrounding wildlife. Keep an eye out for birds, including puffins and seagulls. If you’re lucky, you could also spot some seals or dolphins in the sea.
Back to the Visitor Centre
The Gobbins operates as an out-and-back walk. It means you’ll return along the same path. Sometimes, you may encounter other groups on the trail, and your guide will pause on a bridge to allow them to pass.
Then the guide will ensure that no one is left behind and secure the gate behind you. Then, it’s time to tackle the steep climb back up to the bus, which is the most challenging part of the experience.
After completing the cliff path, you’ll return to the Visitor Centre by bus, where you can explore the gift shop, view the exhibition, or grab a bite to eat in the café—unless you’re on the last tour of the day, as we were!
The Gobbins Story
The Gobbins holds a special place in the history of Northern Ireland. Built during the Victorian era, the path was designed as a tourist attraction to showcase the beauty of the Antrim coastline. The civil engineer Berkeley Deane Wise imagined The Gobbins as a marvel of engineering and a testament to the era’s ambition.
The Golden Age
In the late 19th century, the Antrim region connected to major cities and towns through the Antrim Coast Road and the railway. This development encouraged people to take excursions around the area. However, it wasn’t until advancements in engineering that it became possible to enjoy the wild Irish coast by walking along the edges of its cliffs.
Berkeley Deane Wise, the Chief Engineer of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company, applied his expertise to this project, and the Gobbins Cliff Path opened to the public in 1902.
Once opened to the public, the Cliff Walk flourished as a popular tourist destination for many years. The Gobbins Path attracted numerous visitors from Britain and received rave reviews in newspapers, even in the USA and Australia!
The path became synonymous with adventure and exploration and also a family attraction. Our guide told us that Victorian families used to visit The Gobbins, bringing picnics to spend the day, with women dressed in uncomfortably long skirts!
Decline and Revival
During its peak in the early 20th century, The Gobbins was a popular destination, attracting thousands of visitors. However, it was costly to maintain and was temporarily closed during World War II.
By the mid-20th century, the path fell into disrepair and was ultimately closed to the public in the 1950s due to landslides along the route. The original bridges decayed and collapsed into the sea.
Despite this decline, interest in The Gobbins Path began to resurface at the turn of the 21st century. Restoration work started in 2014, and the path was reopened to the public in 2018, allowing a new generation of visitors to enjoy its beauty.
How to Plan Your Visit
The Gobbins is an absolute must-see destination along the Giant’s Causeway Coastal Route. I totally enjoyed the fantastic view of the sea crashing on the rocks and seeing the birds’ nests live. It was really very exciting.
I recommend planning your visit in advance by following these recommendations to fully enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. Tours start at the Gobbins Visitor Centre, located just north of the village of Ballystrudder, and usually last about 2 to 3 hours.
You should arrive at the Visitor Centre at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour for the safety briefing. The guide will inform you that if you have a heart condition or other health issues affecting your ability to walk, you should be cautious about participating.
Nevertheless, if you are in good health, it is an easy and fun walk even if you are not trained. The weather can be unpredictable along the coast, so I recommend wearing layers as well as hiking shoes.
There is no age limit for children, but there is a height requirement: children must be over 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall to participate. In my opinion, if your children usually walk at home (i.e. they never use the pram), they will likely enjoy the path starting from around ages 4 or 5.
It is essential to have both hands free during the walk, so bags and backpacks are not permitted. You should fit your water bottle and your camera in your pockets. Lockers are available at the Visitor Centre, where you can store your bags while you walk.
How Much Tickets Cost
I recommend booking in advance to ensure you have a spot on a tour. Additionally, if you buy your ticket at the counter, you’ll be charged an extra £0.50. If you didn’t book online, there is an iPad available at reception for walk-in visitors to make online reservations.
The ticket prices are £21.50 for adults and £15.50 for children under 16 years, and for people aged 65 and older. There is no age limit for children, but there is a height restriction to consider. Discounts are also available for groups and families.
How to Reach The Gobbins Path
The Gobbins is located in the village of Islandmagee in County Antrim and is easily accessible from the Giant’s Causeway Coastal Route and major towns and cities. Depending on traffic, it takes approximately 35 to 55 minutes to drive from Belfast. There is parking available right outside the Visitor Centre.
I recommend driving because public transport options like buses and trains do not stop nearby. Consider that, from the nearest public transport stop, you must walk at least 20 minutes to reach the Visitor Centre. However, you can check Translink for the best public transport options to reach The Gobbins Path.
The Gobbins
The Gobbins Visitor Centre
Middle Road, Islandmagee BT40 3SL
Attractions Nearby The Gobbins Coastal Path
After exploring The Gobbins, I suggest you to visit other attractions along the Giant’s Causeway Coastal Path. Nearby sites include the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its unique hexagonal basalt columns, and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which offers a thrilling experience connecting the mainland to a small island while providing stunning coastline views.
The Gobbins Path is an adventurous trail where natural beauty and history blend. As you walk this path, you can explore captivating stories and connect with the breathtaking Irish landscape, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see nesting marine birds. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments, and let me know if this article inspired you to visit The Gobbins Path!