Monday 26 May 2014

Giant's Causeway

This is the beginning of a fantastic trip I made recently that I want to take you on as we make us way eventually to Tory Island which is off the N.W Coast of Donegal.  This is going to take many posts and WARNING, many photographs!

My first stop was the Giant's Causeway which is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland. It is today owned and managed by the National Trust and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a National Nature Reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. 



Even though I have been here many times, I went on a very the interesting tour, hearing about the legend of the Giant and the history of the area.  CLICK HERE to find out more about this magnificent site.

The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres (92 ft) thick in places.  


As there are a lot of photographs, I suggest you put this post into slide mode and just enjoy the walk with me around this historic site. Below is the fantastic new visitor centre with many informatvie staff to answer all of your queries and questions.








Wheatear





Can you see the sleeping Camel in the faraway headland?




Can you see the chimneys in the faraway headland below? As we looked, I was relieved when our guide told us they were not smoking therefore the Giant was not at home! 






One of the stones above is the ‘wishing seat’ and below is a another place to throw in a coin and make a wish.



 Beautiful pockets of thrift among the stones.


Otter.  
There is a very short clip of it in the video at the end.  
There were also seals in the water.






One of these stones is the ’wishing’ seat.



When I took this shot, I wondered what this lady's wish would be!




Walking between these fantastic stones to another wonderful vista.





The Giant’s Organ
That red dot is someone standing at their base!




The Giant’s Boot


 Now would you want to meet the man that fitted that boot!!






Our tour is over although there is much more to see, in fact you can see this wonderful site from a walk on top of the cliffs, that is spectacular.  However, I had to continue on my journey.  


Our tour of the Giant's Causeway is over although there is much more to see, in fact you can see this wonderful site from a walk on top of the cliffs, that is spectacular.  However, I must continue on my journey.

More details can be found at the National Trust site, CLICK HERE.

I have a short video which can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/PKNjeRAWOpE

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.



Tomorrow I move further along the Antrim Coast so join me then and find what I discover.

Thank you for visiting.

Many thanks for commenting on any of my posts.

48 comments:

  1. Has been very good the tour you've given us!

    Tomás.

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    1. HI Tomas Glad you enjoyed the tour and thanks for comment.

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  2. A Place I always wanted to visit and you got an Otter as a bonus.

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  3. Hi Adrian I notice you use the word 'wanted' does not mean you are not ever going to come to Ireland to see this wonderful sight? I think perhaps if you came to Ireland you might never leave it! Many thanks of visiting and your comment.

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  4. Fabulous shots, we recently enjoyed a documentary on this site, so it is fun to see your photos. I loved the little Otter..

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    1. Hi Lynn Lovely hear from you and glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  5. It is a very Interesting place and I'd like to thank you sharing this trip with us.

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    1. Hi Nicol Glad you found this post interesting and I hope you will continue this journey with me. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  6. I'm so glad Finn was not home so you could enjoy roaming the area without fear of the giant. :)

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    1. Hi Eg Well that comment made me laugh. Thanks for that. I would have had to look UPPPPPPPP to Finn! Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  7. Stunning landscapes and such unusual rock formations! Thank you for the show!!!

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    1. HI Kenneth Glad to hear from you and that you found the post interesting. I hope you will continue the journey with me and many thanks for your comment.

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  8. Hi Margaret, I'd seen just a couple of photos of those hexagonal rocks when our Niece and Nephew visited a few years ago and they'd told us about how excited they were to visit. I'd forgotten to research and see more so your post was quite the delight. All your photos really allowed us to see everything in perspective. How interesting it is. I love how you saw the otter as well - that is a great shot of it with it's fishy dinner too. Good video as well, thank you :D)

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    1. Hi Susan I am glad you were able to see more of these unusual rocks and found the post interesting. I hope you wil continue the journey with me tomorrow.. Many thanks for your lovely comments.

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  9. Thank you for this post . . . If my husband and I ever get back to Ireland the Giant Causeway visit is at the top of our list.

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  10. Hello Margaret, what a beautiful place to visit.. I love the coastline and rock formations.. The otter is cute. Wonderful post, thanks for sharing your visit.. Have a happy week!

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    1. HI Eileen Glad you enjoyed this beautiful place and many thanks for your kind comments.

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  11. Hi Lynne Glad you enjoyed the post and I hope you will continue to come with me on my journey. If you and your husband do come to Northern Ireland, please get in contact with me as I would love to meet another fellow blogger. Many thanks for your comments.

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    1. We will do that for sure. You remind me of my Irish friend in Dublin, by the name of Lyla.
      For sure I will follow along with you on your journey through Co Antrim . . .
      I may have told you we have not visited north of Dublin or Shannon . . . We have been to Newgrange which is a bit north I think. Hopefully one day soon we can make plans for another trip.

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  12. Such an interesting place Margaret. I'm amazed at all the different rock formations. Looks well attended too. Have a great week.

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    1. HI Carol Yes Thousands of people visit it daily and that was a challenge in itself, trying to get shots without people in them!! glad you enjoyed the post adn thanks for your comments.

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  13. What a wonderful tour! The photos are awesome!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed my photos and tour and thanks for comment.

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  14. Hello There, We just got home from a great week--which was a terrific 'healing' experience for me --as I recover from gallbladder surgery followed by that wicked infection... You'll have to check out my blog post today (if you haven't done so yet).

    Wow---what an interesting place . Wonder if I'll ever get there??? Probably not ---so I'll just continue to travel through your thoughts and photos. Thanks.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. HI Betsy Glad you enjoyed the post but if you never make it over here, you can just drink it in through my photographs. Many thanks for your comments.

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  15. thanks so much for sharing this,Margaret! a wonderful place..masterly captured!!

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    1. Hi Roger Glad you enjoyed the Giant's Causeway and my shots of it. thanks for your comment.

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  16. the stone formations are neat! what a lovely area!

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    1. Glad you liked the rock formations and thanks for comment

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  17. Wonderful photos Margaret of an amazing place - I would so much love to visit (the geology is fantastic there). Thanks so much for sharing I really enjoyed the tour.

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    1. Hi RR es I think you would love this place so why don't you come? The Irish are always very welcoming. Thanks for comment.

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  18. Hi Felicia Glad you liked this post and I think you would love it. thanks for comment.

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  19. Hi Margaret. What an incredible and enchanting place! I'm visiting your blog for the first time from Betsy's Joyful Reflections. Your photos are wonderful and made me feel I was on the trip with you.

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    1. HI Betty Jo I am glad you found me and felt you were indeed coming along with me on this trip. Well that was only 1 post so I hope you will join me tomorrow to see what we can get up to. Many thanks for your comment.

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  20. An unbelievable giants causeway, it must have been ages to carry all those carved stone there, lol.

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  21. Hi Bob I take it you are were joking as no stones were ever cut! Many thanks for your comment and glad you liked the Giant's Causeway.

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  22. I have heard of the Giant's Causeway, but I've never seen such wonderful pictures. Thanks for taking us along with you.

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  23. I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date.To visit YOU! Wow, so wild and beautiful; the rocks around the wishing rock actually look man made to perfection.

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    1. HI Ginny Glad you enjoyed the rocks and scenery. Yes I think you would love Ireland so start saving!! Thanks for your comments.

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  24. This is a place I would love to visit. Great photos!

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  25. Stunning scenery Margaret, it looks like a fantastic place to visit, I thought that red dot was the organist?!!
    And Otters too...now that cant be bad?...[;o)

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  26. lol, thsi place is a paradise for a photographer. :)

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    1. HI Yup! it sure is and you would love it here. Many thanks for your comment.

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