Dunluce Castle

I visited this castle last Sunday, and the experience was quite simple. Inside, there isn’t much to see, mainly ruins and a small room with a few posters and random items on display. The interior itself is not very interesting. The castle is much more beautiful from the outside, and you don’t need to pay to enjoy that. The view of the sea is nice as well, but again, it’s something you can appreciate without buying a ticket. Overall, it’s worth seeing from the outside, but not necessary to pay for the interior visit.

Well worth a visit. Visited for the first time this week and was really impressed both by the structure and by the exhibit. Entry costs £6 and covers the small exhibition and the visit to the castle itself. Parking at the site is quite limited but there is some available.

Dunluce Castle (Dún Libhse in Irish, meaning ‘Fort of the Stronghold’ or ‘Fort of the Enclosure’) is one of the most dramatic and historically important sites on the north Antrim coast. Perched on a sheer basalt cliff and shaped by centuries of Gaelic, Norman, and Scottish influence, it’s a place that truly captures the imagination. However, the visitor experience doesn’t always live up to the significance of the site. In winter, several areas of the grounds are closed off due to heavy rain and mud, which limits how much of the castle you can actually explore. The pathways can become slippery, and some viewpoints are inaccessible for safety reasons. Facilities are also quite limited for a landmark of this importance. There’s no café or place to get a drink, the small shop isn’t particularly well stocked, and parking is very restricted — especially frustrating given Dunluce’s popularity and its role as one of Ireland’s most iconic ruins. For such a major heritage site, an upgrade of visitor facilities feels overdue. Better parking, improved paths, and more robust year‑round access would make a huge difference. Despite these issues, the castle itself remains breathtaking, and the history of Dún Libhse is reason enough to visit — but the infrastructure deserves to match the grandeur of the place.

Love castles, one of the best I've been to in Ireland. Such a beautiful area. We didn't do the tour of the castle because we didn't have time but we will next time. Definitely do it if you are there.

We lucked out enough to be there later in the afternoon on a gorgeous day. The staff at the gift shop/ticket shop were very friendly and helpful. The grounds were well cared for and the castle is just beautiful. You can really feel the history walking around it.

Extremely cool. Castle ruins right on the seaside with some amazing views of the water and rocks. We bussed out from Portrush. Only about a 15 minute ride. Well worth it.

One of my favorite experiences in Ireland! There isn't a lot to see but what is there is worth the visit. The views are amazing!

Doing some restoration work while we were there. Nice to see things being kept up. Beautiful views. Beautiful grounds to walk around.

When my mother and I were in Ireland back in March, we stopped by Dunluce castle and it was a fun experience. The castle is pretty open so you get to just walk around where the large rooms and whatnot is/used to be and that was really cool. The views from the adjacent hills and from within the castle were amazing. All of the employees that were working there were super nice, which adds to the experience. It was one of my favorite castles that we saw on our trip as it mostly remains untouched after all of these years. Highly recommend!

Dunluce Castle Ruins - A Whole Coastal Fairytale (Until the Tour Buses Showed Up ) So I drove out to Dunluce Castle early in the morning--like crack-of-dawn early--and thank God I did. I had about 20 minutes of pure peace to soak in the views, walk around the ruins, and have my little medieval main character moment before the tour buses rolled up and ruined the vibe . This place is seriously stunning though! The castle sits right on the edge of this dramatic cliff overlooking the ocean, like it's just posing for postcards. You can walk all around the ruins and look out through old stone windows with views that literally don't look real. I kept thinking, "Yep, this is where my royal throne would go... right here next to the sea spray." A little backstory: it's from the 1500s and has all the wild castle drama you'd expect--clan fights, shipwrecks, and the kitchen actually falling into the ocean during a storm. Imagine making dinner and the whole kitchen just slides off the cliff!!!! I would've quit on the spot There's also a staircase that leads down to the water (which was locked so I just peeked through), and a little barred window in the stone wall that perfectly frames the cliffs--it's giving medieval mood board energy. If you go: Get there EARLY. Like, before the tour buses come through and crowd it up. Wear layers because the wind is no joke. LIKE SERIOUSLY WINDY! And bring your camera--the lighting on those cliffs? Unreal. Honestly, it was one of my favorite stops. Even with the crowd later on, it was worth every second.

Dunluce Castle is a great visit in northern Ireland as it's the remains of the McQuillan clan from the 13th century and then eventually in the possession of the MacDonnell clan in the 16th century. You're basically surrounded by Irish history when you visit Dunluce. It's amazing to see what remains from so long ago as much of the walls are still intact. The rooms have been diminished, but it's clear to see what was once when you walk around the castle. And because it's located on the edge of the sea, it makes for a wonderful setting. I was told this was shown in Game of Thrones, so I guess it's popular because of that. But it should be more known as part of Ireland's history and a gem of northern Ireland because that's what it really is. If you're in northern Ireland, I highly recommend visiting Dunluce Castle and walking around the area, which won't take long. You'll get a better sense of what makes Ireland special with this wonderful site.

The grounds are closed after business hours, but you can see plenty from the parking lot and the road without trespassing. And I suggest that you do not trespass as they take that sort of thing seriously here. Standing at the edge of an outcropping overlooking the sea, the Castle dates back as far as the 13th century. It's stunning that the structure still stands. You might recognize it as a stand-in for Pyke of House Greyjoy on Pyke Island from Game of Thrones. Or perhaps from the artwork in the Led Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy. Regardless, it is beautiful and if you can make the time to visit during regular hours, you can see it much more up close. There is a free parking lot and a gate, so again, don't trespass! [Review 1849 of 2024 - 839 in United Kingdom - 22871 overall]

Dunluce was a surprise hit on our tour. It's like walking into a medieval castle, minus the ceiling and some walls :) They do a good job of showing what the castle and surrounding areas looked like back hundreds of years, so you're able to imagine visiting the castle in its original state. The views are mind blowing, and if you're able to climb the stairs to the lookout, you can get some really good photos. The gift shop is really small. But there are toilets on site if needed.

Beautiful and historic! With such a rich history, this is a must see. Breathtaking views and a majestic silence ripples throughout while gazing at the steep cliffs and lush landscape. Here lies a quick stop but a must stop.

Dunluce Castle ruins lie on the Antrim coast, which might rival Dingle. Well worth a stop to view - rain or shine. Large castle with seaside views. We enjoyed and recommend this visit.

I am not a watcher of Game of Thorns so was not prepared for that following. This castle is so much bigger than you would expect ... several rooms and they identified each. It is upkept and docents on site to answer questions

This was our favorite castle ruins of our trip! The seaside location is incredible with lots of history and areas to explore. Parking was easy, and we were greeted by a very friendly woman who chatted to us about the castle's history while taking the fee to enter. The self guided tour was helpful enough with a brochure and plaques and signs in various areas with more infotainment. There was a tour included in the price of admission, but unfortunately, we didn't have time for it. Many of the walls and window frames are still standing as well as much of the kitchen and a couple of little towers to climb. It was easy to drift off and imagine what living there must have been like, and how cold it must be in winter on the water like that! Great history about Queen Elizabeth I reign too. Our only regret was that we didn't plan enough time here or in the neighboring seaside towns, which looked so picturesque. It's definitely worth a stop, and don't rush it.

Beautiful ruins that show a side to history we don't typically see. Breathtaking and worth the visit!

If you are a Game Of Thrones viewer you may recognize this location as Castle Greyjoy. I looked at it, recalling the Greyjoy greeting, "What is dead cannot die." The rocky cliffs and the steep falls, echo this mantra. Although beautiful it can look rather menacing. This is not a space for the faint of heart. I could immediately see why this majestic place would be the ideal setting for the fictional Ironborn, House of Greyjoy. It does, in fact, have a rich history housing Earls, Clan Chiefs and other nobleman. If only walls could talk. We would probably hear stories rivaling Game of Thrones. Truth is often, stranger than fiction. We picked a perfect day for our visit to this medieval castle. It was originally built sometime in the 13th Century. Since then it has been updated, repaired and done over. It is no small wonder that parts of it have actually fallen into the sea. Still, after all those years, it is partially standing. Against the rocks, cliffs, and blue sea... It remains an absolute beauty.

We viewed the remains of the castle from across the way. It was a great view with the castle being situated next to the coast. The castle was featured in Game of Thrones as the House of Greyjoy.

As part of the Game of Thrones tour, the 17th-century ruins of Dunluce Castle, were used as the House of Greyjoy. Obviously, the show added missing elements (like a roof), to enhance the structure; nevertheless, its clearly recognizable when you tour the grounds. I found the experience interesting both from an historical and architectural point of view. And, now, sadly it's an uninhabited relic of time gone by. Worth the visit. Go here.

Five star for the experience of walking through history. This is my first review of actual places visited and not a restaurant. I need to go back through my pics and review some other places. There's a little center nearby that was very fast with great food. This dessert was awesome.

Dunluce castle is situated on a craggy outcrop on the treacherous Antrim coast of Northern Ireland. It is about 3 miles from the Giant's Causeway and Bushmill's. If you are in the area it is quite possible to visit all three sites and raise a glass at Bushmill's as well. It is the ruins of a medieval castle and the seat of the McDonnell clan. Prior to the castle being built, Dunluce was an early Christian and Viking fortress before the McDonnell clan took possession. It became the base of Sorley Boy McDonnell. The ruins are well signed but imagination is still required. There is also a printed guide upon entering which is helpful. Tickets can be purchase at the castle and online and if memory serves me cost 5.25 pounds. Children under 4 were free. The tower was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing were observed. The castle was featured in "The Game of Thrones" with the aid of a lot of CGI. It was the House of Greyjoy, who ruled the Iron Islands. I really think the effort at complete restoration would pay financial dividends.

A friend recommended this to us as one of her favorite castles in Ireland. Since it was close to the Giant's Causeway, we decided to stop by. We got there early, before it opened, so we decided not to go inside. It costs 5 pounds to get in. From the parking lot, if you walk down the road, you can get way better views of the castle. I thought it was a really cool castle to see just from the outside. It's less preserved than some of the other castles. The scenery of the coast around the castle is also gorgeous. I think this is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area!

The dramatic Dunluce Castle is perched on an cliff on the Antrim coast line, and the ruins are absolutely fantastic and well worth a visit for its beauty and majesty. It's not a conserved castle or anything like that - it's actually in ruins, but as an example of medieval architecture, this castle stands tall! Our guide told us about how the castle kitchens fell into the sea one night, and also that it was the inspiration for "Cair Paravel" from CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series. There also a Scottish historical link as one of the earliest families who lived here, their daughter became the second wife of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. The castle has also gained more modern notoriety as its the House of Greyjoy from Game of Thrones. I didn't actually visit the castle as that wasn't part of our tour, but it's on the list! Yelp 135 / 2019

Old deserted castle. We just took pictures from the roadway but it was cool looking.

Although in ruins, Dunluce Castle provides a spectacular view looking out along the North Atlantic Ocean. Richard de Burgh, the 2nd earl of Ulster, built the first castle on the property in the 13th century. The 1973 Led Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy featured the castle on the inner gatefold.

I wasn't sure of what to expect visiting the ruins of a medieval castle as I had visited so many during my lifetime. However, this 'ruins' was set out beautifully, and, safely for tourists. I was surprised at the windows which seemed more modern than expected but the whole area was wonderfully maintained and worth the entrance fee as it was obvious that money is well spent. The custodians are well educated in the history and architecture of the building and willing to answer any questions that we 'thick' tourists ask. A great few hours spent wandering around.

As part of our tour of the area, our guide brought us to this very scenic area. The views of the area are well worth the area, particularly if you enjoy photography. I would like to have learned a little more of the history of the place, I am sure there is a good story there.

Absolutely beautiful site to visit. This is the type of place you dream of visiting. Stunning castle ruins on a cliff with a lot to explore. If you can get here on a nice day it is stunning, but be prepared for the winds. Make sure to explore the entire grounds as some of the best to see isn't within the castle ruins. If you are traveling to Ireland/North Ireland this is a definite must stop.

Amazing Views!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Dunluce. The views were absolutely jaw-dropping!! Walking around in the ruins really makes you appreciate how much work must've went into building this. I woud love to have seen it in it's "Hey Day".

Dunluce is a 13th century castle in Antrim , Northern Ireland .It is 10 minutes drive From the sea side town Porthrush . You could spend hours there, viewing and soaking up the atmosphere and exploring the castle grounds . Note: There is a really cool cavern within the grounds of the castle which leads out to the sea .It is at the bottom of the long stairwell. A simply Astonishing place with Astonishing views

Agree with Adam M, that is incredible and that the area itself is just as much an attraction. I think when we were there we heard something about how part of what would have been the kitchen was swept away during a big storm. For some reason, that image has stuck in my mind and I can't imagine being perched on this little cliff on the edge of the sea during the winter in Antrim. One of the best castles in Ireland in its original state.

Amazing castle ruins and property perched on the coast. Just the view will blow you away! An easy drive just minutes from the giants causeway and so worth the stop.

Awesome castle ruins! Spent a good amount of time walking around taking pictures here. Though some of that time was waiting for people to move out of my way, it wasn't overly crowded. This castle is set up high with a beautiful view of the cliffs and ocean. €5 to get in. Small parking lot. Small gift shop. Great staff. Not far from the giants causeway. I highly recommend this castle.

There are several castles in Ireland I like to visit. Bunratty and Cashel to name a few, but none other has the natural beauty like that of Dunluce. Perched on the northern cliffs of Ireland, Dunluce takes your breath away. Enjoy learning about the history of this area of Ireland with their well done visitor's center, listen to the waves crash, and of course, stare and wonder at the Irish Sea. This is a "must see" and should be on everyone's bucket list if they visit Ireland!

The sheer beauty of the ruins and the surrounding area is enough to knock you on your keister. We spent hours walking thru every bit of the castle and admiring it from different view points. I was surprised how cheap the admission was considering that it all goes to the preservation of the ruins. Read the various templates set around the castle and they'll tell you exactly how and what happened when the kitchen went crashing into the sea. We were there in the off-season and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We loved it. As Andy P. makes mention...it IS Northern Ireland. A totally different country from the Republic of Ireland. Many of the residents are extremely proud to be Northern Irish, so it's very rude to try to insist the country be "just like Ireland". They only accept Sterling because they are part of the United Kingdom. I know many people already know this, but I saw it happen on my trip and I could see they don't take kindly to that kind of treatment.

Absolutely stunning. The original castle was built in the 13th century by the Earl of Ulster and was updated by each subsequent owner in line with technological advances but the existing remains have stood for over 300 years. If you are into castles then not many will top this for setting and surrounding beauty, definitely worth seeing. There is also the added novelty of driving to/from Bushmills which involves following the road as it splits to go around a hill which is pretty cool in itself!

Nice old castle in ruins sitting there on the northern coast. We arrived prior to their opening for the day and had a chance to take some good photos, minus the crowd.

Beautiful history behind to this castle! This location was not on our agenda but we made it work and decided to make a stop. Boy was this worth stopping by on your coastal ride. The coastal view was amazing and it stretched out for miles.

Katy - it's not in it's original state - it's a ruin. LOL and just kidding. I had seen lots of photos and Katy is right - there was a large portion that fell into the sea during a festival or party long ago. It was nice and the views were impressive but really most of the "castle" is gone. Now you pay to walk through a large section of partial walls on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Also - the lady at the reception counter refused to take our euros. We stayed in the Republic of Ireland (free Ireland) so we had euros and dollars. She impolitely informed us that this was NORTHERN IRELAND and they used sterling not euros. We laughed about it but it irked me to have to use a credit card instead of paying the euros that are accepted everywhere else in Europe (or maybe just in the EU).

Another ruin, another day with a pile of stones. I don't know what it is, as I could look at Lowry's art all day. I could read John Steinbeck's work over and over but I'm becoming stone cold to stone ruins, whether it's a ruined castle, or the small pile of rubble in Co Down that represents the Rathfriland based Brontè homestead before Mr Brontè senior headed off to preach in the West Riding of Yorkshire, wed and have some famous children, all seven of whom he outlived. Now, I'm sure there are people who are impressed with these old ruined places. There are those who learn a lot from seeing what's left from another life, another world; and let's face it nine-tenths of all those who have lived are now dead so there's lots of remnants of past lives to see. But a pile of stones is a pile of stones. I no longer feel empathy when I once did. Give me a proper castle like Kilkenny or some of the great castles in Wales that have more bricks than holes and actual roofs. So I got fed up here rather quickly and made my way to the little café just outside the site. If I passed by here again I'd grab a good coffee from the café and look into the ruins for five minutes, provided it was a warm, dry day but I wouldn't go in again. The real estate location of the castle is impressive and the views of the coast and the sea from here are great.

Loved it. I cannot imagine a more striking setting for a castle. The rocky environment looks hostile and foreboding, and I couldn't help but wondering how its former inhabitants dealt with wind chill. A very cool place to visit.

Unfortunately we were late getting there so didn't get to go in but just wandering about the outskirts was well worth the drive...I stood there and closed my eyes imagining what it was like hundreds of years ago...