The Clifftop Experience is a fully guided 5-mile hike from the ruin of Dunseverick Castle, along the coastline to Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway. The walk returns along the cliff tops to the Giant’s Causeway and is expected to take around three and a half hours to complete. The Giant’s Causeway reaches out into the sea – but is it the work of Finn McCool? The Clifftop Experience is a fully guided 5-mile hike from the ruin of Dunseverick Castle, along the coastline to Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway. To walk onsite to the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre and Causeway Hotel, you can park in the nearby seaside village of Portballintrae and walk part of the Causeway Coast Way, (called the Yellow Trail on our maps) and then the Green Trail which links to the Red Trail. The Green Trail is suitable for walkers of all ages, Chimney stacks at the Giant's Causeway, Co Antrim, Guide Eimear Flanagan and a group out on the Clifftop Experience, The quickest route to the Giant's Causeway, Read more about the Clifftop Experience to book. This trail gives you the chance to enjoy the often-crowded Giant's Causeway in tranquility, even during main visitor hours. The Yellow Trail starts at Runkerry Head and ends at Hamilton's Seat, marking the perimeter of the World Heritage Site, and becomes the Green Trail and Red Trail in part. From this point and to your left, you'll get a view of the Giant's Causeway and bays. Because it boasts “some of the finest cliff scenery in Europe”. Onwards, the path becomes the Yellow Trail and leads to the Hamilton's Seat, taking in an aerial view of the Amphitheatre. / A Walk Around Giant’s Causeway. Continue along the visible path and up a steep hill leading to Weir Snout. They're small birds, with distinctive black heads and white necks. You'll see boulders which act as a deterrent to people walking out on to this headland. There are approximately 40,000 of these stone pillars, each typically with five to seven irregular sides, jutting out of the cliff faces as if they were steps creeping into the sea. There are a few natural landscapes in this world that are on my bucket list, and Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland is one of them. | | The walk lasts up to three hours and twenty or thirty minutes and includes time for photograph stops, guided commentary, a short snack break at the best view, plus a quality visit to the main site of the Giant’s Causeway stones, one of the top attractions in Ireland. At this point along the path, you'll come to the top of the Shepherd's Steps. British newspaper, the Guardian, listed the coastal walk from the Giant’s Causeway carpark, along the North Antrim Cliff Path to the Dunseverick Castle car park as one of the Top 10 UK walks.Why? Indeed, before beginning this long walk (16km) but relatively easy (mostly flat), it is better to know 2 or 3 things. The thick glass panels in the Visitor Centre act as a source of light to the cavernous interior. We use cookies to provide you with a better service. 5/26/2015 After a made-to-order breakfast, today's walk started from the doorsteps of my hostel. The use of the park and ride facilities are free and gives customers 1 pound 50 off the visitor centre. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The Red Trail at the Giant's Causeway is a bracing clifftop walk with spectacular views of the world-famous Causeway Coast and North Channel. You can also take a bus from Bushmills to Giant’s Causeway. And while I do normally support the National Trust (who own the visitor centre), as well as their efforts in maintaining the old estates and stately homes and whatnot. This well maintained walkway follows a key section of the longer Causeway Coast Way & Ulster Way. The Giant’s Causeway is located on the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland, between Portrush and Ballycastle. The Giant's Causeway at dusk The Causeway Coast Way is a relatively easy low-lying coastal walk in the north-east of Northern Ireland. Why Walk the Causeway Coastal Route? Giant's Causeway Red Trail. Especially if you travel with your own vehicle (van like us, car hire, tractor, rocket … anyway), we have some advices that we would have liked to have when planning this hike. The Giant's Causeway green trail is wheelchair and buggy-friendly. Children must be age 12 years plus. Regular train services operate from Belfast or Londonderry to Coleraine, then change to bus connection Ulsterbus Service 172. Cyclists can use bike rails beside the Causeway Hotel and access the trails network from Car Park 1 (front of Causeway Hotel). Onsite parking is reserved for visitors arriving to participate in the Visitor Experience. See. Giant’s Causeway, renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, is the only World Heritage Site in N Ireland. The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. This area is spectacular, but extremely dangerous, particularly in high winds. For further details visit, Land and Property Services permit no. You can park in Bushmills and take the Translink public bus service to the nearby bus stop and walk onsite. Visiting Giant’s Causeway Getting Here. Enjoy the unique Giant’s Causeway Clifftop Experience. We use cookies to provide you with a better service. 120099 © Crown Copyright (2013) (Northern Ireland), External public toilets at 'groups' entrance (open during Visitor Centre opening hours), External public toilets at side of Causeway Hotel, Six must-see sights at the Giant's Causeway. So there is free entry to the Giants Causeway, whereas there’s a charge of around £11.50 to the Giants Causeway Visitor Experience. What to bring 11/10/2015 by Rachelle Lucas 3 Comments. The best times to visit are early in the morning (if you get lucky you will have the causeway to yourself) and at dusk. There’s a chance for a Giant’s Causeway tour with an optional guided walk, which is included in the visitor experience admission charge. This is very informative and your guide will share all the myths surrounding the causeway as well as point out some of the distinctive rock formations such as the ‘Wishing Chair’ and ‘The Organ’. 26 Mile Hike details Visitors can also peer down at people below and others can wave up at them! ~ Walk in the footsteps of giants ~ ~ The Giant’s Causeway ~ About The Giant’s Causeway . Discover the Giant's Causeway with our Blue Trail - a direct route of under a mile, leading directly to the world-famous stones. It's also fenced off from the clifftops so little ones can roam free in plain sight. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |. From the giant's boot to the wishing chair, take in these six must-see sights at Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giants Causeway Half 2021 A half marathon Mighty Hike following the iconic Giant’s Causeway, taking in the dramatic views of Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taking any Giant’s Causeway day tour from Belfast is a good way to catch a glimpse of the beautiful coastline, but to fully appreciate the scale and beauty of the Northern Irish coastline, you really have to explore more than just the Giant’s Causeway. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | If you would like to visit the causeway by bike then National Cycle Network Route 93 runs to the site along the fantastic Causeway … | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 Mile Hike … Located on the very tippy top of Northern Ireland, visiting Giant’s Causeway is on the bucket list of every avid traveller from the UK. The start of the path. Let us ensure your experience is full of unforgettable, authentic and deeply renewing experiences. It’s a 20 minute downhill walk from the visitor centre to the causeway but for those who are unable or prefer not to walk, a shuttle bus service operates from the car park at a nominal charge. I visited the Giant’s Causeway with my mum in March 2016 on a one day tour around the Game of Thrones film locations from Dublin; visiting Giant’s Causeway was tagged on the end.. There's a wooden plinth with a map and directions. Get a bird's-eye view of the causeway bays from the Red Trail which runs along the clifftop. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It takes a walker of average fitness 2-3 days to complete. Best Time to Go. Be careful because the path is actually a road, used by shuttles going up and down; walk on the sidewalk. It's not fenced off and we urge visitors to exercise due caution. An analogy often used to illustrate the cooling process of the lava is the cracking of lake beds when they dry out in the sun. It's similar to the sound of two stones being hit together. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Giant's Causeway: Giant's Causeway Premium Day Tour from Belfast (Includes Admissions) (From $48.74) Giant’s Causeway Day Trip from Belfast (From $27.85) Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge Day Trip from Dublin (From $86.25) Walk from Bushmills: Giants Causeway Day Trip. Specialising in Ireland’s world famous Causeway Coast, we provide guided walking day tours along the stunning Giant’s Causeway cliffs, independent walking holidays or bespoke, guided hiking vacations. Walking trail. I've heard that if you go near closing time it's … At the moment, a section of the Red Trail: the Shepherd's Steps in both directions, is closed due to a rock fall. The Clifftop Experience walk departs daily from the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre at 10.15am for the Rambler bus to Dunseverick Castle. The path is a gentle walk down, along the coast, that goes all the way to the sea and onto the Giant’s Causeway. Some 40,000 hexagonal columns were created here during a period of intense volcanic activity some 60 million years ago. Regular service available, some services are seasonal. Clamber on the stones, feel the power of the crashing waves and marvel at the awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. Following this trail on mobile or tablet? There's lots of other wildlife to spot in the surrounding heath and grasses (which are full of insects and foodstuff!). The primetime for photographers are these same times. Discover the Giant's Causeway with our Blue Trail - a direct route of under a mile, leading directly to the world-famous stones. I have visited the Giants Causeway Visitors Centre on many occasions but our last trip was specifically made in order to do the cliff walk which overlooks the actual causeway. In partnership with. Following the visible trail from the Weir Snout viewpoint (away from the Visitor Centre) you'll arrive on top, but inland from, the headland known as the Aird. Although the Giant’s Causeway is managed by the National Trust there is no charge to view the natural phenomenon of basalt columns. Giant’s Causeway walk Our advices to prepare this walk. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Assume your starting point in front of the Causeway Hotel. You'll get views of the stones and a clifftop walk with wildlife to spot. We came from a cruise ship tour, so I'm sure our boat contributed to the huge crowds. These are 162 steep steps - once a rough narrow 'rodden' passable only by sheep and their sure-footed shepherds. Bushmills is the closest town to the causeway and a 5/10 minute drive away. At 7:30am, I had Giant's Causeway all to … The Causeway Coast Cycle Route takes in Causeway Road, which leads to the Visitor Centre. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Look for the viewfinder to get more information on the views from this point. The steps are not for the faint-hearted! Giant’s Causeway Engulf yourself in Irish myth and legend at Northern Ireland’s most visited attraction, and be stunned the 30,000 towering hexagonal basalt columns. The rock outcrop stretching into the sea is the Grand Causeway. Read more about the … Fancy a walk around the Giant's Causeway? Giant's Causeway 2021 A marathon Mighty Hike following the iconic Giant’s Causeway, taking in the dramatic views of Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Share your experience. The walk can be extended by continuing along the North Antrim Coast Path towards Dunseverick. The Giant's Causeway was a really cool natural area, but it was completely packed with tourists so it was kind of hard to enjoy. Today, the Giant`s Causeway is a world-famous landscape and judging by the constant flow of tourist coaches, no visit to Northern Ireland is considered complete without seeing it. To follow the Red Trail, descend the steps from the clifftop. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | It is 2 miles (3km) from Bushmills village, 11 miles (18km) from Coleraine and 13 miles (21km) from Ballycastle. When you get to the bottom of the steps, you can choose to follow the trail towards the Organ, or turn left and head towards the Grand Causeway, linking to the Blue Trail. Giant’s Causeway, promontory of basalt columns along 4 miles (6 km) of the northern coast of Northern Ireland. Nearly 5 miles in length, this section of coast from Giant’s Causeway to Dunseverick Castle is officially referred to as the North Antrim Cliff Path (& maintained by The National Trust). Please be aware of unfenced cliff edges, high winds, steep steps and rock falls. The walk returns via the Organ and the Giant's Chair. The Red Trail at the Giant's Causeway is a bracing clifftop walk with spectacular views of the world-famous Causeway Coast and North Channel. If you are not planning to go inside the Visitor Centre (as mentioned above, the Giant’s Causeway is free to visit), you can park in Bushmills and then walk to the Giant’s Causeway (around 2 miles). A Walk Around Giant’s Causeway. Park and Ride at Bushmills: Giants Causeway Day Trip. The Giant's Causeway and Visitor Centre is located on the B147 Causeway road. At the moment, a section of the Red Trail: the Shepherd's Steps in both directions, is closed due to a rock fall. Facing the hotel entrance, turn right and walk in the direction of the Visitor Centre. The Giant’s Causeway is Ireland’s only natural World Heritage site. Ulsterbus Service 172; Goldline Service 221; Causeway Rambler Service 402; Open Top Causeway Coast Service 177; Antrim Coaster Service 252. Formal path, hard core gravel surfaces, uneven in places, single track in places, 162 steep stone steps ('Shepherd's Steps') with handrail, uneven and with various depths. With many unique viewing points along the way, this bracing clifftop trail boasts spectacular vistas of the world-famous Causeway Coast that are off the beaten track. And they’re not the only ones who are impressed. Carry on browsing if you're happy with this, or find out how to manage cookies. Carry on browsing if you're happy with this, or find out how to manage cookies. Giant's Causeway, 60 Causeway Road, Bushmills. You can access the site for free on foot. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills. Giants Causeway Entrance Fee? You'll see the sloping grass roof of the Visitor Centre; providing no conservation work is in progress, you can cut across the roof and pick up signs for the Red Trail from the rear. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, this is the focal point for a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has attracted visitors for centuries. Upon arrival at the Visitors Centre a very friendly Parking Attendent incorrectly informed us that the cliff walk extended from the Centre to the Carraig a Rede rope bridge passing Dunseverick Castle … Maximum group size is 18. Some people would try to park on the road near the Giant’s Causeway. In the fields opposite the Aird, you may hear the call of the stonechat.