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Dunluce Castle
Dún Libhse
Northern ireland · County Antrim · Near Portrush
Built 1500 · Scottish / Irish medieval
Quick Facts
- Hours
- Extended to 18:00 July and August. Reduced hours October to March. Closed Christmas and New Year.
- Tickets from
- €6
- Duration
- 1–1.5 hours
- Best time
- April to September
- Nearest city
- Portrush
Highlights
- ✦Most dramatically positioned castle ruin in Ireland
- ✦Perched on a basalt sea stack with sheer Atlantic drops
- ✦Filming location for Game of Thrones (Castle Greyjoy / Pyke)
- ✦Part of the Causeway Coastal Route — minutes from the Giant's Causeway
- ✦A kitchen tower fell into the sea in 1639 during a dinner party
Skip the queue with a guided tour
Skip-the-line tickets & expert guides
Dunluce Castle is the most dramatically situated castle ruin in Ireland and one of the most atmospheric in Europe — a shattered medieval fortress clinging to a basalt sea stack above the Atlantic, connected to the mainland by a narrow stone bridge, with sheer drops into the churning sea on three sides. Seat of the MacQuillan and later the MacDonnell clan (the Earls of Antrim), the castle dominated the north Antrim coast from the 16th century. Its most famous misfortune came in 1639 when part of the kitchen tower — servants inside — fell into the sea during a dinner party, reportedly causing the Countess to abandon the castle permanently. Dunluce appeared as Castle Pyke (House Greyjoy) in Game of Thrones, drawing a new generation of visitors to the Causeway Coast. The castle sits 8 km from the Giant's Causeway and 3 km from Bushmills Whiskey Distillery.
History
A medieval fortification existed at this site from at least the 14th century. The current ruins date mainly from the 16th century, when the MacDonnell clan — Scottish lords of the Glens of Antrim — made it their chief seat. Sorley Boy MacDonnell resisted English Tudor forces here for decades in the late 16th century. The castle reached its peak under Randal MacDonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim, in the early 17th century, when it housed a substantial court. After the kitchen collapse of 1639 the castle was gradually abandoned and fell into the picturesque ruin seen today.
How to Visit
Dunluce is on the A2 Causeway Coastal Route, 3 km west of Bushmills and 8 km from the Giant's Causeway. The Causeway Rambler bus connects Giant's Causeway, Bushmills, and Dunluce in summer. By car it is 90 minutes from Belfast and 20 minutes from Portrush. Combine with the Giant's Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery, and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge for a full Causeway Coast day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — Dunluce served as visual inspiration and filming reference for Castle Pyke, the seat of House Greyjoy, in Game of Thrones. Some exterior shots used the castle directly.
Location
87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, BT57 8UY, Northern Ireland
Nearby Castles
Tours & Tickets
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Entry from
€6/ adult