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Published: August 14th 2022
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway.
"The most characteristic and unique feature of the site is the exposure of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt in perfect horizontal sections, forming a pavement".--Baedeker 1906
Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site.
DSC_0084A port call in Belfast provided the opportunity to see a bit of Northern Ireland. The region appeared peaceful now, after so many years of factional strife. We selected another Paddywagon Tours excursion as our port tour at Belfast. Our first stop out of Belfast was at the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the King's Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance.
The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since become a public road. (Gracehill House is now a golf club, restaurant and events centre.) The stand of trees attracts a lot of visitors. When visiting the grove and while admiring the trees, you need to remember that it is on a public highway and motor vehicles are always passing through.
The Straits of Moyle (or the North Channel) is the narrow body of water separating Ireland and
The Dark Hedges
The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the King's Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance.
The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since become a public road.
IMG_2514 Scotland. Our motorcoach driver/guide took us on a scenic ride along the north coast of Country Antrim, en route to the Giant's Causeway. Scotland can be seen across the strait. The village of Dunseverick affords many views of the rugged North Antrim coast. Nearby is Dunseverick Castle. The ruins date to the time of St. Patrick, who is known to have visited here The castle was destroyed during the English Civil War when Cromwell's New Model Army attacked it.
Our drive along the north coast of Country Antrim had as its destination the Giant's Causeway. The Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of some 40,000 basalt blocks at the base of a cliff. There is a small collection of buildings at the top of the path leading down to it: the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre; two former schoolhouses (one now a museum, the other The Nook, a restaurant); and the Causeway Inn. Another attraction is the nearby Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway. The two mile long heritage railway operates over the right of way of the former Giant’s Causeway Tram and connects the town of Bushmills with the site. It would be an interesting way of getting
The Dark Hedges
The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the King's Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance.
The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since become a public road.
DSC_0034p1 here.
The Giant's Causeway is a striking natural feature of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt rock arranged in perfect horizontal sections. They appear to be man-made but are a geological feature. The causeway was formed 50 to 60 million years ago when molten rock was forced up through fissures in the earth to form a lava plateau when the lava came in contact with the sea.
Of course, legend has it that the Irish giant Finn McCool built the causeway in order to walk over to Scotland and challenge the Scots giant Benandonner. Finn gets into trouble with issuing his challenge, but his wife, Oona, gets him out of it.
The Giant's Causeway is operated by the National Trust. Visitors do pay an entrance fee of £11.50 going though the Visitor Centre. Alternatively, visitors can bypass the Visitor Centre and walk directly down the path to the bottom of the cliff. Entrance to the visitor centre does provide displays about the formation of the Giant's Causeway, restroom access, the gift shop and contribution to the upkeep of the site.
To get to the Giant's Causeway one must either walk down the path
Dark Hedges
The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the King's Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance.
The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since become a public road.
DSC_0040p1 or take a shuttle bus. We took the shuttle bus in order to maximize time at the blocks. They really are very impressive. and project out into the ocean. The blocks do look like they have ben fit together by hand. The blocks reminded me of the Incan structures at Sacsayhuamán near Cuzco. Other features to look for along the path are Great Stookan, the Organ Pipes, Finn McCool's Camel and the Wishing Chair. If one has time, which we did not, you can climb up the Shepherd's Steps and walk along the Cliff-top path for a topside view of the causeway and the coast.
After visiting the Giant's Causeway, the tour dove on to Bushmills. The town is home to the Old Bushmills Distillery famous for its production of Irish whiskey.
Our driver was an amiable fellow. He sang several Irish songs, including
Donald Where's Your Trousers? and
The Belle of Belfast City. When he spotted a herd of cows sitting in a field, he honked the horn saying "Wake up, lazy cows!" He was critical of houses every now and then that were flying the Union Flag. I didn't think anything of it, accustomed to people
Dark Hedges Interpretive Marker
The Dark Hedges informational marker.The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim.
The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since become a public road.
DSC_0029 flying the American flag at home. He didn't view it as a patriotic act, but as an overt political act of showing solidarity with keeping Ulster as part of the United Kingdom.
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