Rathlin Island

Small visitor centre with historical exhibition.

This Church of Ireland church dates from 1812 and is named for St Thomas Lindsay of Armagh. The first church here was founded in 580 AD, with a monastic settlement that was raided and eventually destroyed by the Vikings. The graveyard is for all denominations; here lies Rev John Gage, who bought the island in 1746. War graves hold the crew of HMS Viknor, lost in 1915 probably sunk by a mine, and HMS Racoon, which hit the rocks in 1918. Church services are held every Sunday in July and August at 11AM, and monthly Sep-Jun.

The original Roman Catholic church here had been a mill and threshing barn until 1812. It was replaced by the present building in 1864, which used washed-up timbers.

Viewpoint and 4 mile clifftop nature trail. Seabirds include puffin, guillemot, kittiwake, razorbill and fulmar, and there's also chough and corncrake. You may not bring dogs into the area, and there's no place to tie them up while you explore. The centre has toilets and a drinks vending machine.