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Front cover: puffin by Steve Round (rspb-images.com) Round Steve by puffin cover: Front

scenery tranquility location our rarest mammals, the Irish hare. hare. Irish the mammals, rarest our

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5 207076, Wales & England in charity registered a is RSPB The of one for peeled eyes your Keep coastal coastal peace and and peace the lighthouse lighthouse the

by rugged rugged by the island’s island’s the the drama of of drama the

as they ride the sea breeze. breeze. sea the ride they as

Be wowed wowed Be Enjoy Enjoy Be drawn to to drawn Be

4 choughs of call “chow” the for Listen

city seabird largest

Helping to give nature a home a nature give to Helping great photo opportunities. photo great

3

bring waves big and weather Stormy

Discover Northern Ireland’s Ireland’s Northern Discover charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. home. a nature give to everyone inspiring charity,

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation conservation nature largest country’s the is RSPB The

walk along the Roonivoolin trail. trail. Roonivoolin the along walk

2 bracing a with away cobwebs the Blow rspb.org.uk/rathlinisland

or 028 9049 1547 (mid September to March) to September (mid 1547 9049 028 or 1 Enjoy Rathlin at its most tranquil. most its at Rathlin Enjoy

Tel: 028 2076 0062 (March to mid September) mid to (March 0062 2076 028 Tel:

during the chillier months. chillier the during

Rathlin Island, Ballycastle, County Antrim, BT54 6RT BT54 Antrim, County Ballycastle, Island, Rathlin

RSPB Rathlin Island Rathlin RSPB miss to not things Five

Autumn/winter

and other concessions. other and

children for £2.50 and adults for £5 of charge a

is there non-members For members. RSPB for

free is Centre Seabird Light West the to Admission

elusive corncrake. elusive

Admission charges Admission

ravens. Listen for the ‘crex-crex’ call of the the of call ‘crex-crex’ the for Listen ravens.

5

Scan the sky for buzzards, peregrines and and peregrines buzzards, for sky the Scan

all year round. year all

available is trails other the and Roonivoolin to and Mill Bay. Mill and

4

Access closing. before hour one is admission Bay Church at basking seals Watch

11am-4pm and May to August 10am-5pm. Last Last 10am-5pm. August to May and 11am-4pm

along the Roonivoolin trail. Roonivoolin the along to 16 September 2018. March, April and September September and April March, 2018. September 16 to

spotted-orchids, heath including The West Light Seabird Centre is open daily 24 March March 24 daily open is Centre Seabird Light West The

3 Opening times Opening

Look out for beautiful wildflowers, wildflowers, beautiful for out Look and Nature Reserve Nature and

good day you can see all the way to Donegal! Donegal! to way the all see can you day good

Centre Centre for hire. hire. for

2

Enjoy a picnic at Knockans viewpoint – on a a on – viewpoint Knockans at picnic a Enjoy

to the Seabird Centre, as well as bicycles available available bicycles as well as Centre, Seabird the to

privately operated buses running from Church Bay Bay Church from running buses operated privately

West Light Seabird Centre. Seabird Light West

Once on the island, there are are there island, the on Once bike: and bus By

Light Seabird Seabird Light chicks precariously on the cliff edges at the the at edges cliff the on precariously chicks

seabird city as thousands of birds raise their their raise birds of thousands as city seabird

visit rathlinballycastleferry.com visit

1

Experience the hustle and bustle of Rathlin’s Rathlin’s of bustle and hustle the Experience

please prices, and times ferry on information

Rathlin West West Rathlin

For only. permit by Cars minutes. 40 and 25

great time for you to explore. to you for time great

between takes journey ferry The advance. in

book you recommend we and Ballycastle from

a and nature for time busy A

ferry by accessible is Island Rathlin boat: By

Spring/summer Nearest town: Ballycastle town: Nearest

hern Ireland hern rt No

How to get here get to How do to things Top Seals byJeroenStel(rspb-images.com) You don’t have to be an avid birdwatcher to Take part with us Events enjoy this. The sounds, Join us in spring and summer for a series of guided walks, boat trips or a photography session to learn the scenery... everything more about this fascinating place and the wildlife is just amazing . that calls it home. Vogue Williams, Get involved If you’d like to spend time on Rathlin as a visitor BBC NI / RTÉ Getaways engagement residential volunteer at the West Light Seabird Centre staying for a minimum of two-weeks contact [email protected] for information. Welcome For dates, prices and full details about all our events, ask a member of our team or Lying off Antrim’s Causeway visit rspb.org.uk/rathlinisland Coast, Rathlin Island has a rare, untamed beauty and is home to a spectacular array of wildlife. In this area… Even the ferry trip to the island is an unforgettable experience. Look out for gannets, gulls and Other local attractions: guillemots during your crossing. Keep your eyes Boathouse Museum, Rathlin Island peeled for seals and eider ducks too – they can Tel: 028 2076 2024 often be seen lazing around the harbour. This small visitor centre and museum, located In summer, puffins, razorbills, fulmars, guillemots in Church Bay, contains a wealth of fascinating and kittiwakes gather in their thousands to jostle artefacts, photographs and information about for position on the cliffs. Head to the West Rathlin’s history. Light Seabird Centre for close-up views of this spectacular seabird colony – the sight and sound Kebble National Nature Reserve, will take your breath away. Our team can help Rathlin Island you identify birds and provide binoculars and (Western end of Rathlin Island) telescopes. Don’t miss a tour of the ‘upside Look out for orchids and the bluey-purple flowers down’ lighthouse followed by refreshments back of the rare pyramidal bugle in late spring, and for at the visitor centre. wading birds during the summer months. At the south of the island, you’ll find the Fair Head and Murlough Bay, County Roonivoolin trail, where Irish hares often lollop Antrim (3 miles east of Ballycastle) across the fields. Peregrines and buzzards are Murlough Bay is a beautiful wooded site that also a regular sight. leads to Fair Head, one of Northern Ireland’s With spectacular scenery and an abundance of most dramatic headlands. Enjoy a stroll along wildlife, a visit to Rathlin Island is a wonderful the coastline and take in the beautiful views day out for the whole family. across to Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre. Hazel Watson / RSPB NI Rathlin Island Finding your way around

To discover what makes Rathlin Island such a special Roonivoolin trail West Light trail place for nature, start The Roonivoolin trail leads you on This four-mile trail will take you exploring today. a three-mile trip, from Church Bay to the West Light Seabird Centre, Look for Irish hares along towards the southern end of the home to Northern Ireland’s largest the Roonivoolin trail There are a total of seven island and back again. Allow at seabird colony. It takes about four trails criss-crossing the least three hours to enjoy it fully. hours to walk there and back Beautiful heath spotted-orchids Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) island, and full details can including a one-hour visit As you wander along the trail, keep a be found at walkni.com to the Seabird Centre. bloom in summer lookout for seals lounging in Mill Bay, Many of these routes and oystercatchers and ringed plovers On the way, look for Knockans will take you off-road, scurrying along the stony beaches. viewpoint, where you may spot Northern Ireland’s only pair of breeding so remember to wear Once you get to Roonivoolin (which choughs. Further along, you will pass comfortable walking means “point of the gulls”) stop to enjoy through Kebble Nature Reserve, which shoes and bring plenty the fantastic views, but don’t forget to is home to birds such as snipe and of water. look skywards – buzzards, choughs and grebes, as well as peregrine falcons. skylarks may well be flying overhead. Enjoy your day! This trail is along a paved road and is Dogs must be kept on a lead at all uphill on the outward journey. A private times. Keep your distance from bus operates between the harbour and loose livestock. the Seabird Centre.

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Islay 19 miles Reucallan Take in the sights and sounds of Northern Ireland’s largest West Light seabird colony. East Seabird Centre Listen for the “chow” Lighthouse call of choughs as they wheel high above Knockans viewpoint. Emigration Kinramer memorial wood

Kebble National Nature Reserve (DAERA) Knockans Dogs not permitted Church Bay West Light trail viewpoint and ferry port Mull of Bull point Harbour Kintyre 15 miles Boathouse Museum

Watch seals Donegal soaking up 20 miles the sun in the harbour Mill Bay or Mill Bay.

e Craigmacagan

Ferry to Ballycastl (25 - 40 minutes) Keep your eyes Key peeled for Irish hares lolloping in the fields along the Water Woodland Roonivoolin trail. Grassland Marshland Entrance gate

Roonivoolin trail

Picnic area Map © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence Roonivoolin Roonivoolin trail Toilet West Light trail

Viewpoint

Bus Stop

Entrance gate Ushet Tea/Coffee and vending available Port

Please note that while the main visitor centre at the West Light Seabird Centre is accessible, there are 98 steps down the cliffside to the viewing platform and a further 64 steps to bottom floor of the lighthouse. Please visit Rue rspb.org.uk/rathlinisland for more info. Point

RSPB NI is helping to give nature a home on Fair Head Rathlin Island by managing the Roonivoolin, 3 miles Knockans and Craigmacagan reserves and the West Light Seabird Centre.