Giant's Causeway and Causeway coast
Posted by: 
Tafari
N 55° 14.410 W 006° 30.671
29U E 658236 N 6124341
On the north coast of the County of Antrim, Northern Ireland. The site lies
on the Causeway Coast between Causeway Head and Benbane Head and includes the
foreshore, the cliffs, the clifftop path and the car park and visitor
facilities at Causeway Head.
Waymark Code: WMDQV
Location: Ulster, Ireland
Date Posted: 05/29/2006
Views: 215
The Giant's Causeway lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. It is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. Geological studies of these formations over the last 300 years have greatly contributed to the development of the earth sciences, and show that this striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity during the Tertiary, some 50–60 million years ago.
The Causeway Coast has an unparalleled display
of geological formations representing the volcanic activity during the
Tertiary Period some 50-60 million years ago. The geological and landscape
interest is provided by the surface outcrops of the Tertiary Beds. This is
structured by the cliff-like edge of the plateau, the varied structure and
colour of the basalts and interbasaltic beds and their differential erosion
patterns. The coastline is composed of a series of bays and headlands along a
6km stretch of coast, the headlands, consisting of resistant lavas.
The average height of the cliffs is 100m, and have a stepped appearance due to the
succession of five or six lava flows through geological time. The Giant's
Causeway itself displays the columnar basalt structures for which the site is
famous. Specific sites of note include the Giant's Causeway itself (a sea
level promontary of almost entirely regular polygonal columns averaging 45cm
in diameter and numbering 40,000 columns), the Giant's Organ (at Port Noffer,
60, 12m high regular columns and the three tier structured Middle Basalt),
Chimney Tops (a number of columns separated by erosion from the cliffs) and
Hamilton's Seat (a view point). The coastline is also cut through by olivine
and theoleiite dykes (best example at Roveran Valley Head).
In addition to its geological features the site has a range of habitats covering seashore, cliff, scree, grassland, scrub, heathland and marsh. Local species of note include Red Broomrape, Sea Spleenwort and Frog Orchid. Some 80 bird species including peregrine falcon have been recorded.
Strangely the Causeway is thought to have lain undiscovered by the outside world until a visit in 1692 from the Bishop Of Derry (Londonderry). The Bishop alerted authorities in Dublin, who then notified learned circles in London. Many papers were produced and many theories on how it had been formed were put forward.
Many of these theories were deeply rooted in science and although very valid but they make a very boring read. My favourite explanation of how the Giant’s Causeway came to be, lies in the legend of Finn McCool.
Finn McCool
Finn McCool (Fionn mac Cumhail) an Irish Giant lived on an Antrim headland and one day when going about his daily business a Scottish Giant named Fingal began to shout insults and hurl abuse from across the channel. In anger Finn lifted a clod of earth and threw it at the giant as a challenge, the earth landed in the sea.
Fingal retaliated with a rock thrown back at Finn and shouted that Finn was lucky that he wasn’t a strong swimmer or he would have made sure he could never fight again.
Finn was enraged and began lifting huge clumps of earth from the shore, throwing them so as to make a pathway for the Scottish giant to come and face him. However by the time he finished making the crossing he had not slept for a week and so instead devised a cunning plan to fool the Scot.
Finn diguised himself as a baby in a cot and when his adversary came to face him Finn’s wife told the Giant that Finn was away but showed him his son sleeping in the cradle. The Scottish giant became apprehensive, for if the son was so huge, what size would the father be?
In his haste to escape Fingal sped back along the causeway Finn had built, tearing it up as he went. He is said to have fled to a cave on Staffa which is to this day named ‘Fingal’s Cave’.
Other versions of the legend include Finn throwing a huge piece of earth which then became the Isle Of Man and the hole which it left behind became Lough Neagh.
Around And About The Causeway
The Giants Causeway is a spectacle to behold. The coastal scenery is awe inspiring and the cliff walk that leads above and around the Causeway is breath taking.
If you follow The Causeway Coast path to the East you can reach Dunseverick Castle and Harbour in just 5 miles. And for the more fit rambler this 12 mile walk will lead you straight to Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. Although the path is narrow and mostly unsurfaced you will be rewarded with views that you will remember all your life! Even if you can only manage a few miles or kilometres for the aerial views of the Causeway alone, it really is a must for all visitors! Unless that is you have young children with you, in that case you may want to avoid the cliff path with its distinct lack of fences and walls and safety features!
The Visitor Center for the Giant's Causeway including car park you can find at
N 55° 13.989 W 006° 30.934
Only logs with a picture of you at the Giant Causeway will be accepted to log your visit. All other logs will be deleted by owner without any commend!
For an example see upper picture!!
Happy waymarking
Ras Tafari
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