102. Giant's Causeway

What is the Giant's Causeway?

It's a natural wonder: 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, most of which are hexagonal, that were created by an ancient volcanic eruption. Or you might choose to believe the legend instead - it was built by an Irish giant called Finn MacCool. It's a great story.

What's the Giant's Causeway like? 

I had been wanting to see the Giant's Causeway since I was a kid, so this trip had 30 years of anticipation behind it. It didn't let me down. It was absolutely brilliant.

Where is the Giant's Causeway? 

Antrim, Northern Ireland

When did we go? 

2006

How did we get there? 

We flew into Belfast and then drove the Causeway Coastal Route as it's now known (I'm sure it was the Antrim Coast Road when we went).  It's been voted one of the world's top five road trips so do not miss it - don't drive inland from Belfast. We stayed in Portrush.

Worth noting: 

The Bushmills distillery is only 4 miles from the Giant's Causeway - it's great and definitely worth a visit.

Where was the Giant's Causeway in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

103rd. It moved up one place in 2020.

Does the Giant's Causeway deserve its place in the Lonely Planet Top 500? 

100% yes. It would be in my top three.