Cushendun Old Church

The ruins of Cushendun Old Church sit quietly in the village itself, a modest medieval structure that's seen better days but still carries genuine presence. What you're looking at is a proper slice of local heritage - the building dates back centuries and was clearly important to the community that built it, even if the roof's long gone and the gravestones have weathered to near illegibility.

It's not a grand affair. No soaring arches or stained glass. Instead, there's something rather moving about the bare stone walls and the way time has simply carried on around it. The churchyard itself is peaceful, which matters more than you'd think when you're wandering through a working village.

Historically-minded visitors will find it worthwhile - there's genuine medieval fabric here and the setting tells you something real about how settlements developed along the Causeway Coast. But if you're after dramatic ruins or exhibition spaces, you'll be disappointed. This is a quiet stop, not a destination in itself. Twenty minutes maximum, and that's if you read the few remaining inscriptions.

Ballycastle is the nearest proper town, about eight kilometres south, which makes this easy enough to slot into a broader coastal walk. If you're staying at Watertop Farm nearby, the church is a gentle stroll through the village rather than a specific trip. Weather matters here - grey skies suit it better than baking sunshine somehow.