THE GOBBINS PHASE II

TAKING ADVENTURE TO NEW HEIGHTS

PROJECT OVERVIEW AND PROPOSALS

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council is excited to unveil plans for Phase II of The Gobbins Cliff Walk as part of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD).  

This consultation process will include a number of information and consultation events over the coming months. This will give local residents and interested parties multiple opportunities to meet with the design team to chat about the proposals. This website will be updated to provide further information on these additional future engagement events.

WHERE IS THE PROPOSED SITE?

Nestled along the breathtaking Causeway Coastal Route, The Gobbins is a world-famous cliff walk that takes visitors on a thrilling journey along rugged sea cliffs, suspension bridges, and tunnels carved into the rock face. 

 The proposed development is located across two sites: 

  • Land located at The Gobbins Visitor Centre (66 Middle Road, Ballystrudder, Larne BT40 3SL) 

  • Lands adjacent to The Gobbins Footpath (Located just off the Gobbins Road, Islandmagee, Larne) 

WHO IS BRINGING FORWARD THE PROPOSALS? 

The application is being brought forward and delivered by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC) as part of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD). Further information on BRCD can be found here. 

WHAT IS THE GOBBINS? 

The Gobbins Cliff Path is a dramatic coastal walkway in Islandmagee. Originally designed by railway engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, it first opened to the public in 1902. The path features a series of bridges, tunnels, and walkways that hug the basalt cliffs, offering visitors close-up views of sea caves, marine life, and bird colonies. 

WHO IS FUNDING THE PROJECT? 

The BRCD is a major investment initiative designed to boost the local economy, create jobs, and drive tourism growth. It focuses on three key goals: attracting investment, generating new employment opportunities, and accelerating inclusive economic development. 

Aligned with these ambitions, The Gobbins Phase II scheme ensures the attraction evolves into a world-class visitor attraction. This investment will not only enhance the experience for visitors but also strengthen Northern Ireland’s position as a must-visit destination on the global stage. 

HISTORY OF THE GOBBINS

  • The first stretch of the path opened in 1902, as a tourist attraction for the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company. The path was initially approximately a mile of coastal cliff top walk before reaching a ‘cliff section’ where visitors would enjoy bridges, tunnels and caves. 

  • In 1905, Wise was granted money by the railway company (by then part of the larger Midland Railway Company) to extend the path, however Wise became ill and the works were completed by the company’s locomotive Engineer, Bowman Malcolm. The extension opened in 1908 including a tunnel at the rear of 'Trump Cave' and building the supports for a suspended walkway inside another cave. Additional steps were cut, bridges built and ironwork for handrails installed at different points along the cliffs. 

  • The Gobbins cliff path required constant maintenance to cope with the impact of waves and storms. Following the Great Depression and the steady rise of competition from road transport, the railway company got into financial difficulties. The shortage of funds to maintain the path, led to it closing briefly in 1936. 

  • After the war, The Gobbins cliff path was briefly reopened by the new Ulster Transport Authority but closed again in 1954. 

  • Several unsuccessful attempts were made to restore and reopen the path, hampered by finance and the impact of the Troubles, and by 1981 the first Tubular Bridge collapsed. The remains of the path continued to be explored by climbers and walkers. However, the cliffs were dangerous, and throughout the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s several people got into difficulties, requiring rescue. 

  • In 2011, the planned reopening of The Gobbins was announced by Larne Borough Council. 

  • The Gobbins Phase I included the reconstruction of the original Gobbins path after its closure in 1954. McLaughlin & Harvey undertook the project to design and build twenty-three footbridges and cantilevered walkways to form a one-kilometre-long pathway along the base of the sixty-meter-high cliff, with a similar length cliff top path and a new visitor’s centre remote from the coast. 

    The restored and enhanced pathway reopened in 2015. Enhancements included a refurbishment of the underground tunnel. Like the original Gobbins, the increased visitor numbers have brought economic opportunity, additional jobs and wider economic investment to the area. 

Historical photos of The Gobbins Cliff Path in the 1930s.

ATTEND OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION EVENT

The event details are: 

  • The Gobbins Visitor Centre, Middle Road, Islandmagee, Northern Ireland, BT40 3SL, from 3-7pm on Thursday 27th February 2025 

The project team is hosting a public information event, where the team will be on hand to listen to your comments and answer your questions.