Castles · Northern Ireland
Dunluce Castle
In or near Bushmills.
Dunluce Castle — on north Irish coast.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Bushmills · 3.2 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Dunluce Castle, the nearest railway station is Bushmills, located 3.2 km away. Entry is paid, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is BT57 8UY.
About
Dunluce Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Owned by Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster. Managed by Department for Communities. Wikidata describes it as: "on north Irish coast". Coordinates: 55.2114°, -6.5792°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Dunluce Castle is a historic ruin located on the dramatic cliffs of County Antrim, with origins dating back to the 1500s. Visitors can explore the castle's archaeological exhibits and learn about its tumultuous history, including tales of the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans. The site also offers stunning coastal views and the remnants of the nearby Dunluce Town.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Dunluce Castle (; from Irish Dún Libhse) is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland, the seat of Clan MacQuillan. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim (between Portballintrae and Portrush), and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland. The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on either side, which may have been an important factor to the early Christians and Vikings who were drawn to this place where an early Irish fort once stood.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
In the 13th century, Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, built the first castle at Dunluce. It was first documented to be in the hands of the McQuillan family in 1513. The earliest features of the castle are two large drum towers about 9 m in diameter on the eastern side, both relics of a stronghold built here by the McQuillans after they became lords of the Route. The McQuillans were the Lords of Route from the late 13th century until they were displaced by the MacDonnell after losing two major battles against them during the mid- and late-16th century. Later Dunluce Castle became the home of the chief of the Clan MacDonnell of Antrim and the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg from Scotland.…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.2114, -6.5792
- District
- Causeway Coast and Glens
- Postcode
- BT57 8UY
- Parliamentary constituency
- East Londonderry
- Established
- 1200
- Nearest railway station
- Bushmills — 3.2 km
- Opening
- Feb-Nov 09:30-17:00; Dec-Jan 09:30-16:00
- Official site
- discovernorthernireland.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q1266167 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Dunluce Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Dunluce3.JPG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in these 2 guides
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Dunluce Castle?
- Dunluce Castle is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (postcode BT57 8UY).
- What is Dunluce Castle?
- Dunluce Castle — on north Irish coast.
- How do I get to Dunluce Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Bushmills, about 3.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode BT57 8UY.
- When was Dunluce Castle built?
- Built or established in 1200.
- Who owns Dunluce Castle?
- Dunluce Castle is owned by Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and operated by Department for Communities.
- Is Dunluce Castle a listed building?
- Dunluce Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Does Dunluce Castle charge admission?
- Dunluce Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Dunluce Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Bushmills, about 3.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BT57 8UY.