The Causeway Coast

When you hear of Northern Ireland, you can’t ignore the magical Giants Causeway. Its mysterious hexagonal stones laid on the North Coast has become the nation’s most popular tourist attractive, just over an hour drive from Belfast. With locals naming it the work of Finn McCool, and some blaming a volcanic eruption over fifty million years ago, it is unsure how the phenomenon occurred. Although, it is known is that it is one of the most magnificent spots in Northern Ireland. The Giant Celtic legend Finn McCool was said to have picked a fight with Scottish warrior Benandonner, building a path across the Irish sea to meet in the middle to settle their differences. According to legend, McCool defeated Benandonner and escaped back to Ireland, throwing the majority of the stoned path back into the ocean so he cannot be followed, creating The Giants Causeway. The Causeway is home to over one million visitors each year, with a state-of-the-art Visitor Centre opening in 2012. With the Giants Causeway being the main attraction, there are also many must see spots nearby. One of the most admired spots nearby is the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees made famous by appearing in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones. Taking off since the popularity of the series, the Dark Hedges is a fascinating sight, after being planted over 250 years ago by James Stewart to frame the avenue of his home, it has become a more than worthwhile journey for tourists, just a twenty minute drive from the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre. If you are a beach lover, you can visit White Park Bay, a lovely sanded beach just nine minutes from the Giants Causeway, and if you are lucky, you might be able to catch a few cows relaxing on the beach in the summer months. If you find yourself peckish, either bring a picnic and place yourself on the sand or the green or even visit the Bothy Coffee Shop just a minute away on the main road.