Ireland: Giant's Causeway

"In the footsteps of giants…"

Continuing up the Northern Coast of Ireland, our next to last stop on Day 3 was at the mysterious natural wonder of the Giant's Causeway. According to legend, the hexagonal basalt columns here are the remains of a causeway built by a 54 foot tall giant named Finn McCool. The story goes something like this...

"The Causeway story tells us that Finn McCool lived happily on the Antrim coast with his wife Oonagh until he discovered he had a rival in Scotland known as Benandonner. Finn was frequently taunted by Benandonner from afar and on one occasion Finn scooped up a clod of earth and hurled it across the sea at him but missed.  The huge clod of earth landed in the middle of the Irish Sea making the Isle of Man and the depression formed from scooping up the earth filled up with water to become Lough Neagh. Finn finally challenged Benandonner to a proper fight and decided to build a causeway of enormous stepping stones across the sea to Scotland, so that he could walk across without getting his feet wet. But as he approached and caught sight of the great bulk of Benandonner, Finn became afraid and fled back home, with Benandonner hot on his trail. In his haste as he ran, Finn lost one of his great boots and today it can be seen sitting on the foreshore in Port Noffer where it fell to the ground. The story takes a humorous twist when Finn asks his wife Oonagh to help him hide. Clever Oonagh disguised Finn as a baby and pushed him into a huge cradle, so when Benandonner saw the size of the sleeping ‘child’, he assumed the father must be GIGANTIC. Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway as he went in case he was followed. This is the reason that the Giant’s Causeway exists in north Antrim, with similar columns at Fingal’s Cave on the Scottish island of Staffa." 

I guess giants don't like to get their feet wet! Whether the legend is true or just folklore fodder, one thing the world can agree on is that this part of the Antrim coastline is beyond fascinating. The soft beauty of the cyan sea juxtaposed against the rigid stone columns jutting out from the water is quite supernatural. The dramatic cliffs and footpaths to the ocean paint a landscape like no other I've seen. D and and stood in awe of this place…even with tourists traipsing about, the Causeway was magical. I could have spent days there and still not enjoyed all the wonder there was to to be seen. A word of the wise--while relatively safe, the stones are wet and if you're not the sturdiest of walkers, you might want to skip climbing on them. Certain areas of the Causeway are a bit steep, so keep a close eye on your footing so you don't end up in the sea! I'm so thrilled we added this tour to our Ireland itinerary. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't picture such a beautiful country!

Vistor Information:

Admission: £8.50 per adult--Buy tickets online here (or book this fabulous tour like we did!)

Hours: Dawn till dusk (visitor's center open 9am-7pm)

Ireland: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Along the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland, there is a rope bridge suspended 98 feet above the turquoise sea. This bridge connects mainland Ireland to a small cliff top island called Carrick-a-Rede (meaning "rock of the casting"). On Day 3 of our Ireland adventure, D and I experienced the Northern coast and an exhilarating walk across this swinging rope bridge. For those bold enough to walk the half-mile shoreline footpath, climb down the steep stairwell, and carefully step across the rope bridge…they're rewarded with some spectacular views, breathtaking cliffside vistas, and another quick peek at the Southernmost tip of Scotland. Back in the day, this bridge was used by fishermen coming to catch salmon off the shores of Carrick-a-Rede island. Today, it's used to give tourists an adrenaline rush, as well as some unforgettable sights along the imposing Irish coastline. This bridge reminded me a lot of the swinging rope bridge at Grandfather Mountain back home in North Carolina…only less steep and much shorter. While definitely not for the faint of heart, D and I crossed that thing like champs…and if they'd let me stay there all day, I would have! I still can't get over the gorgeousness of Ireland. If you find yourself on the Antrim Coast near Ballintoy, make a quick stop for a lovely seaside stroll and blood-pumping walk across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The natural beauty is beyond comparison. Just don't look down! ;)

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge Visitor Info

Admission fee: £5.60 per person--£14.00 for families

Opening times for rope bridge: 9:30am-7:30pm (weather permitting)