Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns resulting from a volcanic eruption. It is located about 2 miles (3 km) north of the town of Bushmills in County Antrim, Northern Ireland along the northeast coast of Ireland.
The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, however there are some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (36 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres thick in places.
Visit February 2008
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The Giant's Causeway might not be the best known WHS, but it really is a classic. Already in the late 19th century it was a tourist site, luring visitors with its exceptional natural beauty. Its peculiar volcanic features have been the center of a scientific debate between Volcanists (who claimed that it was the result of volcanic eruptions) and Neptunists (who pointed at the crystallisation of sea water), and still attract geologists from all over the world. Before science, the stones were part of a legend, in which the Irish Giant Finn Maccool built the Causeway as stepping-stones to Scotland to meet his rival Giant Benandonner. And the Causeway was part of the first batch of UK WHS, which means that it was selected earlier than landmarks like Westminster and the Tower of London.
In 2008 the Causeway Coast still is Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attraction. I visited on a stormy Saturday in February when there were about 100 other people scattered around the site. The stretch of coast included in the WHS is about 6 km long. I did the circular walk, starting along the ridge and returning via the road near the coast. This way the most spectacular area (the polygonal basalt blocks) is at the end of the tour. The walking itself is a pleasure also, as you see many other volcanic features along the way. The stormy weather made the waves of the Atlantic Ocean bump into the black rocks with much noise and splatter.
A remarkable thing is that there is no entrance fee to the site. Near the parking lot there are only some souvenir shops and a building by the National Trust, which owns the area. There has been a lot of discussion last year about whether a private company was allowed to take over. It was decided against, but I hope the National Trust will make more of it than what is has now and produce a real good visitor center. There are so many stories to tell about this site.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Ian Cade (England):
 All of Britain’s natural World Heritage sites contain coastlines, but this is perhaps the most unique and recognisable of them all. We had a lovely day trip here from Belfast and the whole of the County Antrim coast was very impressive.
The Causeway itself is fairly small, consisting of three small peninsulas of the incredible polygonal columns, these are really impressive and the most accessible and concentrated group of its kind. Everyone that visits seems to climb all over them, and I must admit I had great fun clambering up and down, using the columns as steppingstones.
One interesting aspect about the inscription is that ICOMOS recommended that the site should also be included as a cultural heritage site, due to its role in Irish Legend and also the influence it had on the European Romantic movement. This was never acted on, I guess it is a political decision as it would have meant extending the site to include similar rock formations in Scotland, thus removing the one solely Northern Irish site on the list.
As I said we visited on a day trip from Belfast (a really interesting city oozing with contemporary history), which was a nice easy way to get there. However there are plenty of ways to get to the Causeway from many different locations. The east Antrim coast was especially nice with lots of small fishing villages, which would provide great places to stay for a few nights of rest. Just around the coast from the Causeway is Royal Portrush Golf Course, regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, and it would be a real treat to get in 18 holes on this lovely piece of coastline.
The Causeway was a nice place to visit and worthy of its inclusion on the list. |
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Christer Sundberg (Sweden):
 After attending a business conference on western Ireland i couldn’t wait to get myself on a bus up to Northern Ireland and the famous Giants Causeway coast line - Northern Irelands only World Heritage Site and a remarkable piece of nature scenery that I’ve been interested in visiting for quite some time.
Spending the day on the bus from Galway to Londonderry and then by train to Colerain on the Northern coast gave me a thorough view of the famous green Irish landscape and the small villages along the way. And when the bus passed the northwestern mountains, with its snow covered peaks, my thoughts went immediately to the Lords of the Ring. And it would not have surprised me a bit if a couple of hobs had hopped on the bus….or maybe the actually did…?
A twenty-minute taxi-ride took ne from Colerain station straight to the Causeway Hotel, opened in 1836 and located right by the coastline cliffs. If you ever decide to visit the Causeway, the Causeway Hotel is an absolute must and just as classical in its own Northern Irelandish way, as Raffels in Singapore or The Ritz in London.
The actual World Heritage Causeway Coast runs further down towards Belfast and includes quite a lot more than the areas north of Bushmill where I went. But it is on the other hand here where you find the classical part and probably the most beautiful and dramatic scenery. It is also here you will find the famous symmetrical, honeycomb-like columns of dark rock called basalt that descends from the base of the high cliffs into the water. There is an old Irish legend that tells of the Irish giant Finn MacCool who challenged Bennandonner, a Scottish giant for a fight. But since there was no boat large enough to carry the Scottish giant, Finn MacCool built a causeway of gigantic stones so that the Scottish giant could travel on dry land. Whether you decide to believe the legend or the scientific explanation its up to you…
Walking along the windy Giants Causeway coast makes you realise the power and magnificence of nature. And regardless of your latest career move you are reduced into the small and insignificant human being we all are in the end. And if the Causeway Coast does not exhaust you, why not take the opportunity to drive down to the nearby village of Bushmill and visit the whiskey distillery and down a well-earned glass from the oldest whiskey distillery in the world. |
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Dolly Bufter (USA):
My daughter & I visited in May 2003. It is an incredible experience. We arrived late in the day so missed visiting the information center but the causeway itself was fabulous and worth every minute getting there. Walking along the coast and climbing the stones allows you to imagine the impact on the lives of all who live & lived near here. Photos don't give you half the idea of how phenominal this site is. |
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John A. Wilcox (USA):
I visited the Giant's Causeway near Christmas of 2001. Not only was there few people around during that time but what made the experience that much more exciting was that it felt that you were the only person there in a mystical experience between you, the ocean and old Gaelic memories.
It is a bit of a walk up and down from the visitor's centre, but the only time I would recommend it would be when the buses are not running full of tourists. |
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Allison Sutherland (Northern Ireland):
The Official guide for the Giants Causeway can be found at
www.giantscausewayofficialguide.com It realy is worth a link and has been endorsed by Dr David Bellamy! |
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