The Translink Ulsterbus 402 is a daily bus service running between Coleraine and Ballycastle along the Causeway Coast Area. The route is also known as the “Causeway Rambler” service, and is the only regular public transit link to the Giant’s Causeway.

Where do I board the bus at Coleraine?

The Ulsterbus 402 begins its journey at the Coleraine Bus Centre, the bus hub attached to the Coleraine rail station. It takes around 2 minutes to walk from the train platforms to the bus bays, which is handy for tight connections. Just follow the signs!

To get to the Giant’s Causeway, hop on the bus heading to Ballycastle.

Where do I board the bus at the Giant’s Causeway?

The Giant’s Causeway bus stops (marked “Aird” on timetables) are located a short 2 minutes’ walk from the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre. The bus shelters are on the Causeway Road itself, and the geography of the area makes it easy to spot the approaching blue Ulsterbuses.

A journey from Coleraine to the Giant’s Causeway on the Ulsterbus 402 takes roughly 20-30 minutes, approximately on the midway point between Coleraine and Ballycastle.

Can I board the bus at Portrush?

Yes, you can board the Ulsterbus 402 at Portrush. The bus calls at the Dunluce Avenue bus stand (Google Maps link), which is located a 5 minutes’ walk away from the town centre. Catch the bus heading to Ballycastle to get to Giant’s Causeway.

How do I buy my tickets?

There are 3 ways to pay for Ulsterbus journeys:

• Cash;
• Contactless Debit / Credit Cards; and
• Translink travel cards.

If paying by cash or contactless, tell the driver where you want to go, the type of ticket you need, and hand over payment or tap the contactless reader when indicated. The driver will then pass you a paper slip – This is your bus ticket and should be retained for inspection.

If you’re using Translink’s travel cards, repeat the steps above but present your travel card instead of cash or card. The paper slip must still be retained for inspection.

How much do tickets cost?

A Single ticket from Coleraine to Giant’s Causeway at the time of writing costs £5.10, and a return trip (2x Single tickets) costs £10.20, payable by cash or card onboard the bus.

Alternatively, you can buy iLink cards:

• A 1 Day iLink card for the Northwest Zone for £16 (incl. £1 card fee); or
• A 1 Day Zone 4 iLink card for £20 (incl. £1 card fee).

The Northwest Zone iLink card is good for all bus and rail travel within the northwestern area of Northern Ireland, and includes notable places like Derry/Londonderry, Portrush, Coleraine, and the Giant’s Causeway. On the other hand, the Zone 4 iLink card works best if you’re based out of Belfast as it covers all bus and rail services in Northern Ireland.

I do recommend the iLink cards as they can end up being cheaper than buying separate tickets for each bus or and train ride. The cards are good for a day, a week, or a month depending on your needs. For more information on the iLink travel cards, head on over here.

Note: Translink may at any time change the ticket prices quoted above. Please contact Translink for the latest prices.

Timetables and Routing

The Ulsterbus 402 runs scheduled half-hourly departures, and covers a total of 12 stops in each direction. The first departure from Coleraine is at 9:20 am, and the last departure of the day from the Giant’s Causeway is at 7:20pm.

Other than the Giant’s Causeway, the Ulsterbus 402 also covers prominent locations such as Portrush, Dunluce Castile, Bushmills, Dunseverick Castle, and Ballintoy (Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge). This makes the Ulsterbus 402 very useful if you’re doing a day tour of the Causeway Coast Area.

The route terminates at Ballycastle’s Marine Corner bus stop (Google Maps link), where the bus turns around for its return trip to Coleraine. For tourists, however, the more convenient option is to take the train to Coleraine and hop on the bus there.

To view the detailed timetables for the Ulsterbus 402, please use the Timetables search function on Translink’s Timetables webpage.

How are the buses like?

The Ulsterbus 402 is operated using the standard Ulsterbus fleet of single decked and double decked buses. The fleet is fairly young, and includes amenities such as USB charging ports.

Are there alternatives?

If taking local bus and trains aren’t your thing, the Giant’s Causeway is still accessible by car or with a tour bus. A rented car gives you flexibility and privacy throughout your day, and following a tour saves you from having to do planning. But a tour puts you at the mercy of the day’s schedule, going by car also means fighting for a parking spot, and both alternatives can end up costing more.

If you can, do visit the Giant’s Causeway with Translink.

External Links

• Translink’s website;
• Timetables page on Translink website (type in your stop name or route number).
• Translink’s own journey planner app (App Store link), (Google Play link).
• Service updates for all Translink services at Translink’s Twitter feed.