Known for its diverse landscapes and stunning scenery, it’s unsurprising that there’s plenty of wildlife in Northern Ireland to appreciate during a holiday there. From colourful puffins to playful seals, you’re sure to enjoy spotting some of the country’s creatures, and you can get there in just two hours when you travel via our Cairnryan to Larne route.
Rathlin Island
Accessible via a 6-mile ferry crossing from Ballycastle in County Antrim, Rathlin Island is an absolute must-visit for wildlife fans. Best known for the puffins that nest there between the months of April and July, Rathlin Island boasts stunning scenery and is a popular choice for birdwatchers who travel to see Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony. In addition to puffins, you can see razorbills, fulmars, guillemots, and kittiwakes during a visit to Rathlin Island, and one of the best places to see them is from the viewpoint at the RSPB West Light Seabird Centre. Set at the bottom of 98 steps, the centre’s viewing platform enables you to see chicks hatching on ledges during the spring and early summer, and there are telescopes and binoculars available for use.
Rathlin Island isn’t only one of the best places to see wildlife in Northern Ireland because of its birds, it is home to lots of other fascinating species too. For example, you may see harbour and grey seals basking or playing on and around the rocks in Mill Bay or at Ushet Port, and you can often get quite close as they are curious creatures. You can tell the seals apart as grey seals have longer snouts and harbour seals have a rounded face which is often described as being ‘dog-like’. Another interesting animal on Rathlin Island is the golden hare. Said to be unique to the island, this hare species is blue-eyed with a golden coat which makes them easy to identify.
Magilligan Point Nature Reserve
Located at the tip of one of the British Isles’ largest sand dune systems, Magilligan Point is a lovely spot for a walk thanks to its impressive wildlife and excellent views. Offering panoramas of Lough Foyle, the largest sea lough on the north coast, this nature reserve is home to stunning wildflowers in the summer and plenty of birdlife in the winter. In the warmer months, enjoy splashes of colour in the dunes created by the appearance of blue harebells, yellow bird’s-foot trefoil, and pink pyramidal orchids, and look out for the common blue and meadow brown butterflies that float around the reserve. Those with a keen eye may also see a rare six-spot burnet moth as this species has also been spotted in the area.
Magilligan Point Nature Reserve is a great destination for birdwatchers as it welcomes plenty of seabird species and migrating waders too. Whooper swan and brent geese are among the most commonly spotted birds, and you might also see Bewick’s swan, greylag geese, common teal, and Eurasian wigeons. Lough Foyle also attracts a number of raptor species that you may see during your visit, including hen harriers, the common buzzard, and even peregrine falcons. Outside of wildlife spotting, keep an eye out for the ferry that travels from Lough Foyle to Greencastle too – it had to be mentioned!
Streamvale Open Farm
For a more up close and personal wildlife experience in Northern Ireland, spend a day at the fun packed Streamvale Open Farm. Located just outside of Belfast, this farm offers visitors the chance to stroke and cuddle rabbits and chicks, bottle feed lambs and goats, and even spend time with the farm’s puppies when they come out to play throughout the day. There are also tractor and barrel rides to enjoy, and the opportunity to zoom around on a pedal operated go-kart too! During the tractor ride, you’ll even be able to get off by the red deer where you’ll have the chance to feed them. Streamvale Open Farm is also home to the first agricultural themed play village in Ireland which teaches children about farming as they play.
If you visit Streamvale Open Farm in the morning, you might be lucky enough to see the site’s 250 cows being milked! This offers a great way for little ones to learn where milk comes from, plus this milk is used in the farm’s own ice creams which you can treat yourself to at lunchtime. Two of the farm’s talented sheepdogs also make an exciting appearance, one doing tricks in an agility performance and the other rounding up sheep. Both dog acts are very impressive and definitely worth watching during your visit, so ensure that you include these shows when you plan your day.
Now you know where to spot the best wildlife in Northern Ireland, book your ferry crossing from Cairnryan to Larne and start planning your UK staycation today.
