The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland: Let Science or Let Legend Do The Talking?
Saturday, February 28, 2015 Northern Ireland 0 Comments

The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a national nature reserve, and the fourth greatest natural wonder in the entire United Kingdom, is as mysterious as it is captivating. It’s this area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, which is according to science, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Going here will certainly rock-your-world-!!! Late afternoon, with our Irish friend and his stories about his Ukrainian girl friend and the effects of eating Northern Ireland’s famous smores, we slowly drove our way to the Giant’s Causeway. It’s in Country Antrim, which is on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, near the town called Bushmills. Even on a late afternoon, on a non-peak travel season, the place was crawling with tour buses and tourists – surprisingly, since most of the area nearby looked uninhabited.

Like most of the coast sites in Northern Ireland, we took a long trek going to the Giant’s Causeway site, with a view of the North Atlantic ocean shores and some excellent rock and grass formation on the other side of the pathway. Quite a nice walk, even better than the Carrick-a-Rede!

Once we reached the iconic topography, the tops of the rock columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot disappears under the sea. We saw hexagonal columns, with black, dark brown, and dark grey rock formations that are hard and intense. We were standing on the rocks, admiring the view and the formation, as the audio guide meticulously gave a 101 history on what happened here.

It was awesome hearing the audio, but we stopped the guide and joined in the bandwagon. People were climbing around like excited monkeys, and we couldn’t help but join in the erupting adrenaline rush of rock climbing. No matter how old or disabled or safety-expert you are, you’d want to do it too when you see it, I guarantee you that!

There are some structures in the area that resemble objects – some are labeled as the Shepherd's Steps, the Honeycomb, the Giant's Harp, the Chimney Stacks, the Giant's Gate and the Camel's Hump. Sepnding at least three hours here is a good idea, ‘cos there’s so much exploring to do.

Though there are lots of explanation c/o Science, the “Legend” has something to say too. Legend has it that this was caused by Giants of Northern Ireland to shoo away Giants from Scotland from taking over, hence the causeway. It sounds unbelievable typing it now, but hearing it on audio, with an Irish voice and some radically cool sound effects kinda made sense!

Overall, this is one of the best and must-go places in Northern Ireland if you’re looking for that mysterious yet adventurous kind of travel experience. It’s a good story to have, something worth telling, just like its legend.

Have you been to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland? Any favorite spot that I didn’t include in the pictures here? How’d you find the legend of the Giant’s Causeway?

Facilities:

Accept Groups/Coach Parties

Baby Changing facilities

Credit / Debit Cards / Euro Accepted

Family Discount

Gift Shop

Guided Tours Available

Open Mondays / Open Sundays

Picnic Area

Tea-room / Cafe onsite

Toilets

WiFi

Address: 44 Causeway Rd, Bushmills, Antrim BT57 8SU, United Kingdom

Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/

Opening times: Stones and coastal path open daily from dawn until dusk. Closed 24th, 25th, 26th December. Last admission to visitor centre is one hour before advertised closing time. During spring and summer, our busiest times are between 11:00 - 15:00, so come early or plan an evening visit.

Directions:

Tourist Information Centre: Giant's Causeway Visitor Information Centre

Drive: 2 miles from Bushmills. 11 miles from Coleraine, 13 miles from Ballycastle. Drive time - Belfast 1 hour 25 minutes, Londonderry/Derry 1 hour 10 minutes, Dublin 3 hours 45 minutes.

Park and Ride: Available from Bushmills village, March to October, this service operates approximately every 20 minutes.

Bus: Regular services available, some of these are seasonal. Ulsterbus Service 172; Goldline Service 221; Causeway Rambler Service 402; Open Top Causeway Coast Service 177; Antrim Coaster Service 252.

Train: Regular services from Belfast or Londonderry/Derry to Coleraine then change to bus connection - Ulsterbus Service 172.

Things to Do Nearby

Old Bushmills Distillery

Portstewart Strand and Barmouth

West Strand Beach

Whiterocks Beach, Portrush