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From Belfast, you can book a tour or rent a car to drive along Northern Ireland’s scenic Causeway Coastal Route to spend some time at the Giant’s Causeway. Not only is the drive itself absolutely stunning–even more so on a sunny day–but the Causeway is something unworldly that should be on your bucket list. As Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is coveted and well-protected. If you’re on the Emerald Isle or in the United Kingdom, visiting the Giant’s Causeway is a must-do.

Travel tip #1: Most places in Belfast are closed or have shorter hours on Sundays and Mondays, which makes either day ideal for booking a tour as there’s not much to be seen or experienced within the city on these days. Monday is probably the better of the two because fewer people will be at the Causeway.

History of the Giant’s Causeway

Arguably, the Giant’s Causeway is one of the most phenomenal natural wonders in our world. There are over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that look like something from another world. Supposedly, the Causeway was formed over 60 million years ago following a period of volcanic activity. The lava cooled and formed the hexagon-shaped formations which can be admired today. Yet, the myth behind this place is way more believable:

As legend has it, Northern Ireland was once home to a giant named Finn McCool (also called Fionn Mac Cumhaill). When another giant–-Benandonner, across the Irish Sea in Scotland-–threatened Ireland, Finn retaliated by tearing up great chunks of the Antrim coastline and hurling them into the sea. The newly-created path–the Giant’s Causeway–paved a route over the sea for Finn to reach Benandonner.

However, this turns out to be a bad idea as Benandonner is a massive giant, much bigger than Finn! In order to save himself, Finn retreats to Ireland and is disguised as a baby by his quick-thinking wife. When Benandonner arrives, he sees Finn disguised as a baby and realises that if a mere baby is that big, the father must be far larger than Benandonner himself!

Following this realisation, Benandonner rushes back to Scotland, tearing away as much of the Causeway as he can in his haste to put as much distance between Ireland and himself as possible. And thus, the myth of the Giant’s Causeway was born.

The Giant’s Causeway Tour

What Else Could I See Besides the Giant’s Causeway?

The Causeway is fairly big and hours could be spent here. There are several hiking trails that follow the coastline, which boast picaresque views–on a clear day you can even see Scotland! To make the most of your time at the Giant’s Causeway, I recommend looking at their website for trail information. If you choose to book a tour, there will probably be a few other stops along the way:

• Carrickfergus Castle
• The Dark Hedges
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (closed until 2022 due to the pandemic)
• Bushmills Distillery (not open to the public as of December 2021 due to the pandemic)
• Games of Thrones places
• Cushendun Village and Caves
• Small villages (“wee” villages!) along the way

Travel tip #2: As of 2021, the Causeway was free to the public to access. They will try and get you to go into the Visitors’ Center, but you do NOT have to go in. If you do, you’ll pay 13 EUR or so. There are bathrooms attached to the hotel on the left of the Visitors’ Center that were free for the public to use, but did close around 4 pm.

Who Should I Book with to Visit the Giant’s Causeway?

If you choose to book a tour from Belfast, I highly recommend choosing McComb’s. I had a wonderful experience with this company: timely service, great stops, as well as an incredibly knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. I booked a few days before and was lucky to grab a seat. However, during peak season (summer) you should probably book a couple weeks in advance to be safe. They’ll pick you up at the notorious Europa Hotel in Belfast’s City Center around 8:30 am and off you’ll go!

Travel tip #3: Winter may seem like an unideal time to visit the Causeway, but there are far fewer people. This makes it much more enjoyable. Just be sure to bundle up–the wind is nasty!–and be mindful of how much daylight you have, as the sun sets around 3:30 pm.

I hope this inspires you to see a corner of the world you may have never thought to visit! The island of Ireland is beautiful, but sometimes you have to wander a bit outside of your comfort zone to witness that beauty for yourself.

Peace,

Tay