Rathlin Island , County Antrim

Rathlin Island , County Antrim

Ireland’s largest inhabited island is located just off the coast from Ballycastle and only 13 miles from the Mull of Kintyre , Scotland. This strategic position has meant a turbulent history , and following settlement by monks it was the site of the first Viking raid in Ireland in AD 795. The island has also witnessed three massacres – one by the Scots and two by the English. Robert the Bruce , King of Scotland , hid from the English in a cave here in 1306.

Today the island’s inhabitants have a mixture of Scots and Irish heritage , and it is popular with anglers and scuba-divers. A ferry is available and runs daily from Ballycastle.

Rathlin Island is a real hidden gem and a must see on your tours of Ireland.