The Giant’s Causeway
When my sister, Carm, (who planned our itinerary,) asked for input for our trip, the Giant’s Causeway was one of two places I requested we visit. Driving through Belfast to County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, we went there on day two.
Considered by some as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the most visited tourist site in Northern Ireland. Estimated to have formed some 60 million years ago during the intense volcanic activity of the Paleocene Epoch, it’s a jagged promontory of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, mostly in the shape of hexagons, that juts out into the North Sea, and is surrounded by some of the rugged cliffs Ireland is known for.
Interlocking Basalt Columns
We began our tour at the site of the amazing basalt rock formations with the rough waves of the North Sea crashing against them. The craggy columns looked almost chiseled, man-made, and were all the more impressive because they were created naturally.
From the basalt columns, we took the red trail around Port Noffer, and climbed the steep, narrow path to edge of The Amphitheatre. There we had some of the most magnificent panoramic views I’ve ever seen. Afterwards, we retraced our steps halfway down the slope then climbed The Shepherd’s Steps to the upper red trail and to more stunning views atop the cliffs.
High cliff view and our walking path
The Giant’s Causeway is steeped in Irish legend. It’s said the causeway was built by the giant, Finn MacCool, in order to cross the North Channel to fight the Scottish giant, Benandonner. In one story Finn defeats Benandonner outright, while another has Finn hiding from Benandonner when realizing how much bigger he is. To trick Benandonner, Finn is disguised as a baby by his wife, and when Benandonner sees the size of the baby, he figures that Finn must be a “giant among giants.” Benandonner flees back to Scotland, destroying most of the causeway in his wake so that Finn can’t chase after him.
Interestingly, several movies have been filmed on location at The Giant’s Causeway including Dracula Untold, Hellboy II, and Your Highness. Just down the road from The Giant’s Causeway, we stopped to see Dunluce Castle, a ruined medieval castle where scenes from Game of Thrones have been filmed.
Ruins of Dunluce Castle
For its breathtaking beauty, The Giant’s Causeway tops my list of favorite places to see on our trip, and on day two, I was able to check off a long-held bucket-list item.