The Giant’s Causeway is well known in Northern Ireland for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, being the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.
The unique look of the causeway was formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago: The basalt lava through the chalk beds and the subsequent cooling formed these pillars.
Or, you could choose to believe the more interesting tale... The legend says the
causeway was built by the Irish giant Finn MacCool. When challenged by
the Scottish giant Benandonner, Finn built the causeway as a bridge to
join Ireland and Scotland. After Finn outwitted Benandonner, Benandonner
fled back to Scotland, destroying the causeway so Finn could not
follow. Actually, there are more basalt rock columns in Scotland to support this
legend... well, who knows! It's a geological formation that you cannot find in many places in the world, and the tale just gives it the right magic to be on the bucket list.
How to visit:
There's no entrance fee to see the causeway, just to go to the visitor's center (like a... museum of the place, not sure if it's worthy). If you are in Ireland or Northern Ireland for a few days, you might want
to stay up in Bushmills/ Ballycastle for a night. That way you can go
to the Giant’s Causeway early in the morning or late in the evening to
avoid the crowd. Most tourists start their tours from Belfast or from
Dublin, so between 11am and 3pm would be the busiest time of the day.
Other tip: take the red trail insted of the normal trail there is actually a trail where you can see the Causeway from the
mountain top. It is a much nicer view. And after taking a few gorgeous
pictures from the top, you just walk down the stairs to see the actual
Causeway. Leaving the Causeway, you can just follow the usual/ more
popular route back up to the tunnel.
If you don't want to plan it alone, just choose a tour, there are plenty of them starting in Belfast or in other ireland city:
Happy journeys in North Ireland!
