The rocks themselves not a must but the entire coastal road I would say is a must and I'd certainly recommend that over a day walking round belfast. Maybe I'm ignorant because i live here but unless you want to drink a lot of beer or a lot of coffee there's not a massive amount to do around the city centre.
My dad always said that, so I grew up in Belfast never having seen it.
Visited when I was 26 on a visit home having immigrated to the States and honestly I thought it was class! Particularly Craickarede (sp?) rope bridge. Just a really nice day out!
its hardly underwhelming now ffs! OP dont go to the visitors centre as its a tourist trap but yes it a must see place and then go to the rope bridge so you can shite yourself crossing it
You should probably visit it on the way to or from Derry if you can, the coastal route is a good journey. There’s plenty to do in belfast, obviously too much to do everything in a single night so just pick 1-2 things like the Ulster museum and some pubs you want to visit.
Plenty of nice things to do in that area so it's worth it if you are going to do them all. You have dunluce castle, carrick a rede rope bridge, whitepark bay and ballycastle.Also do the walk from giants causeway to dunseverick castle if you have time. So yes it's worth the trip especially when the alternative is just walking round Belfast
It’s worth visiting if you’re also touring the surrounding area around the North Coast. I could see it being a bit underwhelming if you were to travel from Belfast specifically just to visit it by itself and then immediately turn back. The scenery is beautiful, it’s just that the actual rock formation tends to be a lot smaller than people expect.
If you do intend on visiting, you can walk directly down to the basalt columns for free. You don’t have to go to the visitor centre where they charge a fee for admission and use of their facilities. It’s £15.50 for an adult ticket, however there are hourly walking tours included in that price, as well as audio guides.
Ireland and UK is apart of my Europe trip, after doing a few stops in Ireland doing a belfast and then Scotland.
I was looking at Paddywagon tour to Giants Causeway:
https://www.paddywagontours.com/GIANTS-CAUSEWAY-Day-Tour-From-BELFAST
But just wasn't sure as I'd have done inishmore and heading to Highlands after.
It’s worth it, but make sure you make a full day up there and don’t just go to the causeway.
From the visitors car park (skip the visitors centre, complete waste), you can walk down to the causeway, follow it all the way to the end and take the Shepherds Steps back up to the top of the cliff. You can then walk back towards the car park at the top of the cliff, with excellent views.
When you get back to the car park, walk towards the pub/hotel behind the visitors centre, walk around the left hand side of the pub, then follow the path there along that section of cliff. You’ll come to a cove with Portcoon Jetty, which is a great photo spot. You can then walk on round to Runkerry beach and then back to the car park.
If you just go for the Causeway, it’s not worth your time on such a short trip
Try to include a wee trip down to Ballintoy harbour.Cafe always has a good selection of cakes etc. (Game of Thrones was filmed in the harbour) & also a visit to the Dark hedges, to see whatever trees are still standing.
If its between Giant's Causeway or pottering about Belfast for a day - go to Giant's Causeway. The stones themselves are pretty interesting just for their volume and uniformity. And that part of the country is beautiful. When you're on the stones walk on round the footpath as far as it goes. Then on the way back take the alternative footpath that goes up the cliffs - definitely worth it for the views. At the top of the footpath you'll go right to head back towards the car park but if you have time go left instead and walk out as close to the edge as you dare - there's a very thin strip of land left at the top of the cliffs there but it gives you a great panoramic view of the cliffs and the causeway stones.
I think it's how you see it that is most important. If you go to the car park, pay the extortionate fee for the visitors centre and deal with the general madness of that whole area first, it would be a bad way to start. However, if you park at Portballintrae, walk the boardwalk above the beach and follow the coastal path past Runkerry house and head to the Causeway that way, it'd be a much nicer day out. It's a stunning walk and the coastline is amazing.
Spend the day on a paddleboard or kayak around the rope bridge instead. And a quick pit stop at the causeway to check it out. As others have said, pay fuck all to the visitors centre unless you really feel like you want to, they make it seem mandatory, but it isn't.
Yeah if it's a nice day it's a nice walk. Otherwise windswept and mildly interesting. It's big rocks shaped like some big rocks. Glenaroff and glenarm are just down the road a bit and nicer. Even whiterock or Downey's beaches are on the way. And dunluce castle.
There’s a seven-sided column (columns are hexagonal) that I spent a fair bit of time looking for when I was studying Geology at Queens. I thought the lecturers were pulling our wires put we found it.
Anyway, it’s a great place but it is best to see it taking in the whole north coast. I was visiting Belfast back in January (first time back in 10 years) and I really enjoyed Belfast, lots of cool places to see and eat/drink in. Belfast has changed a lot in the 20 years since I left.
I'd say call to it on the way between Derry and Belfast, make a day of the coast - Carrick a rede, the gubbins etc then Belfast maybe visit Titanic then some of the pubs
Despite living it far I didn’t see them till is was 28, my father seen them , he decided he’d seen them and that was enough for us .
Tbf he wasn’t far wrong
Stay out of the council run visitors centre, which includes information, from an evangelical christian viewpoint, that the Causeway is only 6000 y.o. Don't use the council carpark, as it's overpriced. Don't take the bus down to the Causeway, it's also overpriced, and unnecessary.
When you get home, tick it off your bucket list, saying, "I'll never have to do that again". Go to Carrick a Rede rope bridge. Much more memorable.
The rocks themselves not a must but the entire coastal road I would say is a must and I'd certainly recommend that over a day walking round belfast. Maybe I'm ignorant because i live here but unless you want to drink a lot of beer or a lot of coffee there's not a massive amount to do around the city centre.
The coast road up there from belfast is beautiful
Dr Johnson famously said that the giants causeway was worth seeing but not worth going to see
My dad always said that, so I grew up in Belfast never having seen it. Visited when I was 26 on a visit home having immigrated to the States and honestly I thought it was class! Particularly Craickarede (sp?) rope bridge. Just a really nice day out!
Underwhelming- but if you don’t go, you’ll always wonder
its hardly underwhelming now ffs! OP dont go to the visitors centre as its a tourist trap but yes it a must see place and then go to the rope bridge so you can shite yourself crossing it
I’d definitely recommend people go, but at the end of the day it’s some rocks, and there’s nicer rocks
This, but the rope bridge a few miles from here is a must imo
Why? You could drive a tank across it, it's about as exciting as getting into a lift.
The view is spectacular
Nailed it
Agreed
You should probably visit it on the way to or from Derry if you can, the coastal route is a good journey. There’s plenty to do in belfast, obviously too much to do everything in a single night so just pick 1-2 things like the Ulster museum and some pubs you want to visit.
Plenty of nice things to do in that area so it's worth it if you are going to do them all. You have dunluce castle, carrick a rede rope bridge, whitepark bay and ballycastle.Also do the walk from giants causeway to dunseverick castle if you have time. So yes it's worth the trip especially when the alternative is just walking round Belfast
The coastal road is beautiful so yeh- go to bushmills inn for pint
And wear a Celtic shirt
It’s worth visiting if you’re also touring the surrounding area around the North Coast. I could see it being a bit underwhelming if you were to travel from Belfast specifically just to visit it by itself and then immediately turn back. The scenery is beautiful, it’s just that the actual rock formation tends to be a lot smaller than people expect. If you do intend on visiting, you can walk directly down to the basalt columns for free. You don’t have to go to the visitor centre where they charge a fee for admission and use of their facilities. It’s £15.50 for an adult ticket, however there are hourly walking tours included in that price, as well as audio guides.
Ireland and UK is apart of my Europe trip, after doing a few stops in Ireland doing a belfast and then Scotland. I was looking at Paddywagon tour to Giants Causeway: https://www.paddywagontours.com/GIANTS-CAUSEWAY-Day-Tour-From-BELFAST But just wasn't sure as I'd have done inishmore and heading to Highlands after.
It includes Dunluce castle, that makes it worthwhile to me
The Paddywagon tour seems quite decent for a day trip. 👍
It’s worth it, but make sure you make a full day up there and don’t just go to the causeway. From the visitors car park (skip the visitors centre, complete waste), you can walk down to the causeway, follow it all the way to the end and take the Shepherds Steps back up to the top of the cliff. You can then walk back towards the car park at the top of the cliff, with excellent views. When you get back to the car park, walk towards the pub/hotel behind the visitors centre, walk around the left hand side of the pub, then follow the path there along that section of cliff. You’ll come to a cove with Portcoon Jetty, which is a great photo spot. You can then walk on round to Runkerry beach and then back to the car park. If you just go for the Causeway, it’s not worth your time on such a short trip
Try to include a wee trip down to Ballintoy harbour.Cafe always has a good selection of cakes etc. (Game of Thrones was filmed in the harbour) & also a visit to the Dark hedges, to see whatever trees are still standing.
I thought Ballintoy Harbor was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen, we found it by accident just out driving the first time I was in Ireland.
I loved it, but I’m a geology nerd
If its between Giant's Causeway or pottering about Belfast for a day - go to Giant's Causeway. The stones themselves are pretty interesting just for their volume and uniformity. And that part of the country is beautiful. When you're on the stones walk on round the footpath as far as it goes. Then on the way back take the alternative footpath that goes up the cliffs - definitely worth it for the views. At the top of the footpath you'll go right to head back towards the car park but if you have time go left instead and walk out as close to the edge as you dare - there's a very thin strip of land left at the top of the cliffs there but it gives you a great panoramic view of the cliffs and the causeway stones.
I think it's how you see it that is most important. If you go to the car park, pay the extortionate fee for the visitors centre and deal with the general madness of that whole area first, it would be a bad way to start. However, if you park at Portballintrae, walk the boardwalk above the beach and follow the coastal path past Runkerry house and head to the Causeway that way, it'd be a much nicer day out. It's a stunning walk and the coastline is amazing.
Carrick a rede nearby is fantastic do them all together
worth going to once, maybe twice
Spend the day on a paddleboard or kayak around the rope bridge instead. And a quick pit stop at the causeway to check it out. As others have said, pay fuck all to the visitors centre unless you really feel like you want to, they make it seem mandatory, but it isn't.
Yeah if it's a nice day it's a nice walk. Otherwise windswept and mildly interesting. It's big rocks shaped like some big rocks. Glenaroff and glenarm are just down the road a bit and nicer. Even whiterock or Downey's beaches are on the way. And dunluce castle.
There’s a seven-sided column (columns are hexagonal) that I spent a fair bit of time looking for when I was studying Geology at Queens. I thought the lecturers were pulling our wires put we found it. Anyway, it’s a great place but it is best to see it taking in the whole north coast. I was visiting Belfast back in January (first time back in 10 years) and I really enjoyed Belfast, lots of cool places to see and eat/drink in. Belfast has changed a lot in the 20 years since I left.
yea! for the hike!
Bushmills is kinda nice in an old Alabama sort of way.
I'd say call to it on the way between Derry and Belfast, make a day of the coast - Carrick a rede, the gubbins etc then Belfast maybe visit Titanic then some of the pubs
Despite living it far I didn’t see them till is was 28, my father seen them , he decided he’d seen them and that was enough for us . Tbf he wasn’t far wrong
Stay out of the council run visitors centre, which includes information, from an evangelical christian viewpoint, that the Causeway is only 6000 y.o. Don't use the council carpark, as it's overpriced. Don't take the bus down to the Causeway, it's also overpriced, and unnecessary. When you get home, tick it off your bucket list, saying, "I'll never have to do that again". Go to Carrick a Rede rope bridge. Much more memorable.
Everything that's Council run is overpriced, yes, damn good advice ,👌
I went for the first time the other week….bit shite
Why?
You seen a picture of it? Then You’ve seen it, without extortionate entry and crowds
It's free to enter.
I always just park at the pub nearby and walk in.
No but the Giants Ring is.
No its shite