Following the Giant's Causeway
There are places in this world where the mere mention awakens the inner-traveller, stirring up wanderlust, and a desire to learn more about the story and mystery hidden between the syllables of a name. These places become a must see. We took a day out from Belfast to explore the beautiful rugged coast of Northern Ireland and to visit one these special places for us...the Giant's Causeway.
The Giant's Causeway is the largest concentration of hexagonal basalt formations in the world.
They estimate (or maybe someone really did count) that the number of individual rock formations is over 40,000.
The scientific explanation for this geological formation has to do with ancient volcanoes and rapidly cooling lava flows.
The less scientific explanation has to do with, you guessed it, giants. One giant, in particular is credited for the Causeway's creation (and its destruction) and his name was Finn McCool.
There are different stories, but all say that Finn McCool built this causeway across the sea to Scotland. The reason why differs depending which legend is told. Some say to rescue his love who was trapped in Scotland, some say to challenge a Scottish giant.
Old coins left between the rocks.
This castle ruin doubles as Pike on the TV show Game of Thrones.
Stopped by the Bushmills distillery for a free whiskey sample. They still use water from the Bushmills River which flows through the bogs and is supposed to add a peaty taste. We drove over the Bushmills River on our way out. The color? Definitely peaty.
Standing on the white limestone cliffs of Larrybane Bay.
There are a ton of sea birds here. Two species we actually encountered before at the Lisbon Aquarium, of all places.
The razor beaks taking shelter among the cliffside rocks.
We took a scenic cliffside walk to the tip of the bay.
Our destination? A rope bridge strung over the sea.
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge dangles 30 metres above sea level and was frequented by fisherman who claimed that Carrick Island on the other side was the best place to catch migrating salmon (and also to evade taxes).
Standing on Carrick Island looking back to the mainland.
They limit the number of people allowed on the island, so there's plenty of room to claim a spot on the thick soft grass and stare out to sea.