The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
Jutting out into the swirling sea, this impressive and bizarre geological formation is certainly one of Ireland’s weirdest places. 40,000 interlocking basalt columns jostle for place as they rise from the sea floor off the coast of Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland. Was it made from volcanic forces? Or was it made by giants? Science states that as a result of volcanic activity 50-60 million years ago, the basalt magma fractured between 840-890C, making the rock cool and contract, resulting in a regular array of polygonal prisms or columns. On the other hand, the mythical story goes that Finn McCool, the Irish giant, was engaged in a shouting match with Bennadonner, the Scottish giant, on the other side. Grumpy Finn decides to teach Bennadonner a lesson – he’d best him in a proper fight, and wouldn’t that show him! So he builds the Causeway… all the way to Fingal’s Cave in Scotland. But when he arrives, he realises his error: the Scottish brute is massive. Far bigger than Finn. So Finn retreats in fear, babbling the tale to his wife. Unfortunately for Finn, Bennadonner finds the Causeway and follows him across, angry and looking for a fight. Finn’s quick-thinking wife disguises him as her baby. When Bennadonner arrives, he demands to know where Finn McCool his. His wife, carefully tending her massive “baby,” says he’s out but will be back soon. When Bennadonner sees the size of Finn’s massive infant, he thinks to himself, ‘if that’s the size of his child, imagine the size of the father! He must be much bigger than me!’ In terror, he runs back across the Causeway, tearing up chunks and tossing them behind him. Leaving two ends of the causeway intact, but missing the middle section… And that’s the Irish folklore story of how the Giant’s Causeway was formed. Visit it yourself to decide for yourself!
Tip: Walk from Dunseverick Castle along the coast to the Giant’s Causeway. It’s the best way to visit this very cool but popular site. You’ll have most of the walk to yourself, and it’s fantastic to watch the coastline get more and more wild as you approach the Giant’s Causeway. From this approach, you’ll get and epic bird’s eye view of the Causeway before you descend the cliffside stairs to walk on the stones themselves. Walking isn’t for you? For those visiting from the car park, a shuttle service is available, making the stones accessible to all.
Top Most Beautiful Places in Europe 