Giant's Causeway Cape

Address: 44 Causeway Rd, Bushmills, County Antrim, BT57 8SU, Northern Ireland

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway

Admission: Admission charged by the National Trust (members free) - check website for current adult price

The Giant’s Causeway is a coastal area in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, noted for its interlocking basalt columns created by ancient volcanic activity. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its striking geometric columns and coastal scenery.

Large areas of polygonal basalt columns form a stepped platform that descends to the sea; approximately 40,000 columns are present, with many hexagonal shapes and some columns up to about 12 metres tall. A modern visitor centre provides geological exhibits, a shop and a cafe, and marked paths lead to the main causeway and cliff-top viewpoints.

Cliff walks and headlands adjacent to the causeway offer additional views along the Causeway Coast and photographic vantage points looking back along the column formations and out to the sea.

The columns were produced during Paleogene volcanic activity when cooling lava contracted into polygonal columns; the exposed coastline has been shaped by subsequent erosion. Folk stories about the giant Finn McCool developed around the formations, and the site has been a protected and interpreted visitor destination in recent decades.

Located near the village of Bushmills on the north Antrim coast, the causeway sits on the Atlantic shoreline of Northern Ireland and is accessible by road from nearby towns and the coastal Causeway route.

• Columns and Scale: Roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were formed by cooling lava flows; some columns reach about 12 metres in height and many are hexagonal.
• Practicalities: The site is exposed and can be windy and slippery when wet; sturdy footwear and weatherproof clothing are advisable, and access is best outside peak midday visits.

What to See#

• Visitor Centre: A visitor centre with exhibitions on geology, local ecology and human history, plus a shop and cafe serving the site since the early 21st century.
• Main Causeway: The main causeway - a broad area of interlocking basalt columns that descend to the sea and include the highest, most accessible polygonal columns used for walking and photography.
• Cliffs and Headland: Coastal cliffs and adjacent headlands that form part of the wider UNESCO World Heritage landscape and provide cliff-top walking routes and sea views.

By car: the Giant’s Causeway on the County Antrim coast is reached from Belfast in roughly 1.5-2 hours by car following the Antrim coastal route (A2) north; the drive is about 95-110 km depending on the precise route. From nearby towns such as Coleraine or Bushmills the site is a much shorter drive (typically under 30 minutes).

By public transport: Translink operates scheduled bus services from Belfast and Coleraine to the Causeway Visitor Centre; from the visitor centre it’s a short walk or visitor shuttle to the main basalt columns and coastal viewpoints.

• Arrive at opening or late afternoon to avoid the busiest coach-bus periods and to enjoy the formations with far fewer people on the stones.
• Use the National Trust visitor centre for parking, exhibits and the shuttle service down to the coastal path if you prefer to avoid the steep walk from the car park.
• Walk the nearby clifftop trails east and west of the main Causeway landing to find quieter viewpoints and different geological vistas that most day-trippers miss.