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Major city · United Kingdom

BallymoneyBaile Monaidh

Use Ballymoney as a rail stop, not a base: one night on foot, or a car/taxi day for Dark Hedges. Without wheels, skip it as a base — the coast towns do it better.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (wet, dark by 16:30)
Airports
BFS · BHD · LDY
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Ballymoney is a commuter town of about 11,000 in County Antrim, on the Belfast–Coleraine rail line and the A26. Its one headline sight, the Dark Hedges, is 8 miles (13 km) northeast and needs a car or taxi. Most travellers sleep one night, see the museum and the Joey Dunlop memorial, then push on to the coast. Without a car, the town is a rail stop, not a base.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ballymoney, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi across town£6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
  • Museum or sight ticketBallymoney Museum entryFree
  • Budget bedSelf-catering house (up to 4), a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£130 (≈ US$180)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £65 (≈ US$90) · Mid £130 (≈ US$180) · High £260 (≈ US$350)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Dark Hedges beech avenueJoey Dunlop Memorial GardenBallymoney MuseumRoad racing heritage
Airports
BFS Belfast International (Aldergrove) (Bus or taxi to Antrim station, then hourly train to Ballymoney; about 1 h 30 min total (check)) · BHD George Best Belfast City (Bus or taxi to Belfast Grand Central, then hourly train; about 2 h 15 min total (check)) · LDY City of Derry (No rail link at the airport; bus or taxi to Derry station, then train via Coleraine — check connections)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ballymoney: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

3°C

18 rd

Feb

8°C

3°C

15 rd

Mar

10°C

4°C

16 rd

Apr

12°C

5°C

13 rd

May

15°C

7°C

13 rd

Jun

17°C

10°C

13 rd

Jul

19°C

12°C

14 rd

Aug

19°C

12°C

15 rd

Sep

17°C

10°C

14 rd

Oct

13°C

8°C

17 rd

Nov

10°C

5°C

17 rd

Dec

8°C

3°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town centre is walkable in 15 minutes. Bus 373 loops the town five times on weekdays and is of little use to visitors. Dark Hedges, Derrykeighan and Kilrea need a car, taxi or bike; there is no bus to the Hedges.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Dark Hedges

go

Door to door: About 20 min by car

Car or taxi via A26 and B147; no bus

Go before 09:00 or after 18:00 for space; park at Hedges Hotel, about £5 by card.

Ballycastle

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min by car

Drive A44; by public transport, train to Coleraine then bus — check the connection

Ferries to Rathlin Island; the coast road is the point of the trip.

Portrush

go

Door to door: About 55 min

Train to Coleraine, change for Portrush

Beaches and the arcades; easy by rail.

Bushmills and Giant's Causeway

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Train to Coleraine, then bus 402; or drive

A full day; the distillery and the causeway are 3 km apart.

Belfast

go

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

Hourly train from Ballymoney station

Do it as a day out, not a transfer.

Derry

overnight

Door to door: About 1 h 40 min

Train via Coleraine

Walls, museums and a different city; sleep one night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Main St / High St)

Walk to the station, pubs and museum; the Manor Hotel is the only hotel in town.

Dark Hedges / Stranocum

Hedges Hotel and glamping pods; you need a car for everything else.

Kilrea and the Bann valley

10 km south; quiet village base with no rail link, so a car is needed.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£65–95 (≈ US$90–130) excl. bed (2026 estimate)
Mid
£110–170 (≈ US$150–250) excl. bed (2026 estimate)
High
£200 (≈ US$300)+ excl. bed (2026 estimate)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or hotel double room1 × 1 night × £130£130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £130£260
Train Belfast Grand Central → Ballymoney, one way2 × £15 · check£30
Taxi Ballymoney → Dark Hedges, one way1 × £20 · check£20
Dark Hedges car park, card on exit1 × £5 · check£5
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 · check£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£47
Trip total≈ £256 per person per day, bed included£512≈ US$700

check

2026 estimate in pounds, marked check where no local price is confirmed; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Fish and chips£11–16 (≈ US$15–25)
Pint of beer£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Train Ballymoney → Belfast, one way£10–15 (≈ US$14–20)
Taxi across town£6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
Ballymoney Museum entryFree

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low street crime; the real risks are rural lanes with no footpath, wet roads and long dark evenings in winter. Standard UK advice applies.
  • Bregagh Lane at Dark Hedges is closed to traffic; park at Hedges Hotel and pay about £5 (≈ US$7) by card on exit.
  • Road races close nearby highways: Northwest 200 in May, Armoy in late July. Expect diversions.
  • Rural lanes have no footpath and poor lighting; walk facing traffic and wear something visible.
  • Many town-centre kitchens stop serving by 21:00; the chip shop is the late option.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Non-emergency police (PSNI)
101
NHS non-emergency medical advice
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BallymoneyBaile Monaidh

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Non-emergency police101
  • NHS advice111

Embassy

No embassies in Ballymoney. US citizens: consulate general in Belfast; other countries: embassies in London or Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Train Ballymoney → Belfast Grand Central: about £10–15 (≈ US$14–20), 80 min (check)
  • Train Ballymoney → Coleraine: about £5–7 (≈ US$7–10), 20 min (check)
  • Taxi Ballymoney → Dark Hedges: about £20 (≈ US$30) one way (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the station? — Where is the station?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

English is the everyday language; a few Irish and Ulster-Scots words appear on signs.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ballymoney. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (wet, dark by 16:30) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BFS and BHD: last train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Dark Hedges access page with the parking charge, the lane closure and the best hours, plus a no-car verdict.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for Ballymoney Museum, the Joey Dunlop Memorial Garden and Derrykeighan Old Church.
  4. Eat pages with last orders for the town centre and the late chip shop, so a 21:30 arrival has one answer.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources