Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Anything with a name like the Giant’s Causeway is bound to have a legend attached that explains the origins of this unique geological formation found on the northern Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Irish Sea.  And it goes something like this…

The Legend of Finn McCool

The Irish giant Finn McCool builds a giant raised road, or causeway, across the sea to the coast of Scotland to meet the Scottish giant Benandonner in battle.  Once he arrives in Scotland, he quickly discovers that Benandonner is a much bigger giant than himself, and Finn runs back across the causeway to home.

Finn’s wife disguises him as a “baby” by putting him in a bathtub-turned-cradle, and when Benandonner sees Finn as a giant “baby,” he quickly decides that if the “baby” is this big, then his father must really be huge.  In fear, Benandonner runs back to Scotland, tearing up the causeway along the way…hence it is called – the Giant’s Causeway.

Listen to the story (read with an Irish accent!) with illustrations here to get a more complete and entertaining telling of the legend. Make sure the sound and auto are turned on (and it worked better in Google Chrome, than Internet Explorer).

Now watch the short 2.5-minute animated version The Myth of Finn McCool that plays in the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Center.

But was it really giants that created this geometric wonder that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site?  Even though there is more to the Finn McCool story, scientists say that the mostly hexagonal shaped columns are the result of volcanic activity over 60 million years ago.

Giant's Causeway basalt columns 

Basically, fluid basalt flowed up through chalk beds to form a lava plateau.  And much the same way as mud dries leaving cracks, so did the basalt creating nearly 40,000 columns.  Years of weathering created many of the mythical sites along the coast.

Some of these must see sites include: the Grand Causeway, the largest of three rock outcrops; the Giant’s Boot, a large formation resembling Finn’s boot lost in his flight…a size 93.5 by scale; the Camel’s Hump, known as Finn’s camel turned to stone it is a basaltic dyke of cooled lava; the Wishing Chair, a natural formation worn smooth over time and once reserved only for ladies; and the Shepherd’s Steps on the far end of the coastline walk, 167 very steep steps connecting the coast trail and the cliff trail and best experienced going down!

Other notable sites along the coastline trail include the Organ, the Chimney Stacks, Giant’s Eyes, the Honeycomb, the Giant’s Harp, and the Giant’s Gate.  The modern visitor center opened in 2012 and operated by the National Trust offers interactive exhibits, a restaurant, and a gift shop. Audio guides are also available through the center.

For a complete map of all paths and sites to see, go here.  For individual trail maps for coastline and cliff top walks to download, go here.  And to enjoy 360-degree virtual online tours, go here.

Giant's Causeway hexagonal columns

From the parking lot and visitor center, there is a half-mile downhill walk to the coastline trail along the causeway columns.  Fortunately, there is also a shuttle bus that runs to and from the coastline trail and it shares the same route as the walking path. Walking down would be fine for most but walking back to the main building could be tough.

Appropriate dress also enhances a visit to the Giant’s Causeway.  It can windy and cool and/or rainy, so dress appropriately for coastal winds which make the area cool regardless of the season.  Good walking shoes are necessary as the basalt columns can be wet either from rain or splashing waves. 

Giant’s Causeway, N. Ireland (5:36) is a good narrated video to see the site and understand the basis of the legend of Finn McCool.

Although this video Giant’s Causeway (11:25) is a bit long, it gives you a complete picture of visiting the site as a tourist.  At the beginning notice the shuttle bus on the road down to the coast and the tourists walking down.  At the end, this tourist walks up the Shepherd’s Steps and you can hear him huffing and puffing in the background!  (Just a little video to see the importance of the shuttle bus at the Giant’s Causeway!)

From an historical perspective, the Spanish Armada’s flagship Girona sank near the Giant’s Causeway in 1588…a secret that only locals knew about for over 400 years.  It was 1967 before the wreck and its many treasures were discovered off the Antrim Coast.