The Giant’s Causeway In Northern Ireland: Discover This Beautiful Place

The Giant’s Causeway is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, and even the UK. It is no wonder, as it is a true natural wonder located north of Bushmills, about a hundred kilometers from Belfast. If you want to know more about this National Nature Reserve, do not stop reading.

The origin of the Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is the result of volcanic eruptions, lava that rose to the surface and subsequently cooled relatively quickly. This origin dates back to no less than sixty million years ago, so in addition to its beauty, the Giant’s Causeway stands out for being a portal to the most remote past of our planet.

However, there is a legend that defends that the Giant’s Causeway was formed differently : two giants had a great rivalry, although they had never seen each other. One was from Ireland and the other from Staffa. One day the former decided to face the latter in a decisive battle, but there was no ship large enough to carry him.

The Irish giant then decided to build a causeway of huge stones across the water. When the road was ready, he crossed the sea, but when he saw the enormous figure of his adversary, he decided to return before being seen and asked his wife for advice, who told him to disguise himself as a baby.

When the Scottish giant saw the road he took the opportunity to go fight against his enemy. However, when he saw the supposed baby, he thought that if the little one was of such a size, the father would be much older and stronger. On his return to Scotland he destroyed the path, of which only the beginning and the end are preserved, so that the other could not follow it.

Characteristics of the Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is an area that contains some thirty-eight thousand hexagonal basalt columns. These, which can reach twelve meters in height, extend more than seventeen kilometers along the coastline until they enter the sea.

Among all the columns of the Giant’s Causeway there are stones that are shaped like a chair. Each of these is known as a “wishing chair”, because according to a legend, if you sit on them and move your buttocks from left to right three times with your eyes closed making a wish, it will be granted.

And it is that the basaltic columns are different from each other in terms of thickness, height or shape, so you can find some very curious. An example is the one with nine faces. Finding her among the others is an arduous task that many tourists keep trying.

Practical information for your visit

All those who come to the Giant’s Causeway will find the visitor center, which seems to have also emerged from volcanic lava as it is made of the same material. Inside there is a small museum that explains everything related to the natural wonder, as well as a restaurant and a souvenir shop.

The visitor center is open every day of the year except from December 24 to 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (November to February), at 6 a.m. (March and October) or 7 p.m. (April to September). However, the Giant’s Causeway is accessible at any time.

In order to enjoy the experience, you have to pay an entrance fee of nine pounds, although there are discounts for families, for example. This cost includes the guided tour in English – an audio guide is available in several languages ​​-, parking and access to the visitor center.

Regarding how to get to the Giant’s Causeway, there are several options. If you leave from Belfast you can hire an excursion, go by car or use some form of public transport that reaches Coleraine. Then it only remains to move to Bushmills, the closest town to the visitor center.