Rathin Island, although technically not on the Causeway Coastal Route, is somewhere you should try to visit. It is serviced by a modern catamaran ferry from Ballycastle and also some smaller ribs that can be hired for the crossing. The main centre is Church Bay which has a pub, shop and accommodation, from there you can enjoy walks to Rue, Bull and Altnacarry lighthouses. There is also a mini bus that takes visitors around the island.

Rathlin or 'Raghery' as my grandfather would have called it, lies like a stepping stone between North Antrim and Scotland, at its closest point is is only three miles from Fair Head and sixteen from the Mull of Kintyre. The eight mile long limestone and basalt island is steeped in history which is evident in the standing stones, cairns, passage tombs, cashels, ancient church and castle sites that speckle its landscape.

The island has lots to offer those who like to explore and discover, it is full of history and stories for the ancient unwritten past,  one of most famous is the story of Robert the Bruce, who while hiding in a cave on Rathlin  he was inspired by a spider to return and fight for Scotland. Over the centuries its strategic position has brought the island turmoil from the warring Scots, Irish  and English forces, as well as being raided by the Vikings.

A family whose name is synonomous with Rathin is the Gage family, the island was originally leased to the Reverend J Gage in 1746 and as landlords they made great improvement to the agricultural structure and built the harbour and buildings such as the manor house.