We're visiting the causeway coast in Northern Ireland, any top suggestions?

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We're flying to Belfast and hiring a car and staying near Ballycastle on 7-11 April.
3 adults and a 5 year old.

We're going to Giant's Causeway and the Carrick Bridge.

But any tips or 'hidden gems' would be great! Places to eat. The 5 year old loves seafood,so we're hoping to get some fresh in the port towns. She likes mackerel, crab etc.

Will it be too early to see Puffins at Rathlin?

I live on the coast 😊 I would definitely recommend Ursa Minor in Ballycastle for pastries and coffee, thyme and co is also good for lunch. There is an amazing park at the beach in Portrush and also native seafood which is a casual fish and chip place but with some really interesting additional dishes. Ballycastle beach and park are lovely and Rathlin is wonderful! Portstewart strand is another great beach and you can park in the town (stopping for more pastry at vittle) and walk the coastal path. There is a little sea life centre in Portrush and aoftvplay etc for rainy days. There’s lasso an amazing cheese shop in bushmills which does the best cheese toasties and more cake. Have the best trip!

Port Stewart Harry's shack for amazing seafood in relaxed environment. Great wide sandy beach and sand dunes for sledging.

Sea fishing from Portrush harbour, caught mackerel, saw seals and saw dunluce castle from the sea.

Dunluce castle itself, not much left but kids loved roaming the ruins with cardboard helmets and shields from the attached info centre, gift shop.

Are you flying into the City or International? I hope it's the City because you really should drive the coast road up north. It's stunning, and there's lovely villages to stop off in like Carnlough and Cushendall, and of course it's Glens of Antrim territory.

If the weather is kind to you, have a takeaway chippy on the beach! Chequers on Dunluce Avenue in Portrush is consistently good. I hear good things about Morton's in Ballycastle. You could also stop off at the Dark Hedges - they're a big 'thing' in Game of Thrones and we keep losing more trees with every storm, and it's worth seeing.

In Portush, I just love the West Strand! I can be there for ages just breathing in the sea air and if the sun is glinting off the water, it's so beautiful! The East Strand is lovely too though with the Arcadia overlooking the ladies' bathing beach.

Ballycastle is lovely too. You will love it all! Hope you get decent weather!

We went on a 5 day trip to Ireland which included the causeway. One of the days out was to Donegal and the guide casually mentioned the option of a community run boat trip across the bay.

We went on it at the last minute, once we had seen Donegal itself, as we had time to kill before getting the coach back.

Apart from the causeway, it was the highlight of the trip. Fantastic scenery and commentary on the way out, then the bar opened and there was live music and a sing song on the way back. It was a party we wern't expecting!

Boat trip