The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a geological formation of interlocking hexagonal basalt columns that were formed from volcanic activity. (Charles Thoennes)
As much as I enjoyed Belfast, Northern Ireland, the true highlight of our trip was the Giant’s Causeway. We booked a bus tour through Odyssey Coach Tours.
Scientifically speaking, the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a geological formation of interlocking hexagonal basalt columns that were formed from volcanic activity.
But the folk lore behind the Giant’s Causeway is a story of, you guessed it, giants! Finn McCool (also the mascot for the Belfast Giants ice hockey team) built the path of steppingstones to reach Scotland and fight Benandonner, another giant. However, he discovered that Benandonner was much bigger than him, so he retreated home. Upon his return, he disguised himself as a baby. When Benandonner came to fight him, he assumed Finn was even bigger than him since the baby he found was so large. This story is a form of geomythology: a story that links natural geological formations to a myth or legend.
Aside from the fun folklore, the Giant’s Causeway provided a beautiful backdrop. The waves lapping at the shore and the opportunity to climb on the rocks was the perfect way to unplug and recharge from everyday life. Another reason I fell in love with the Giant’s Causeway was it felt very much like the Faroe Islands. The landscape, the weather and the folklore were reminiscent of that once-in-a-lifetime vacation. I could have easily spent more time at the Causeway, so if you’re a nature enthusiast you might want to plan accordingly.
Aside from the fun folklore, the Giant’s Causeway provided a beautiful backdrop. (Sergii Figurnyi (Adobe Stock))
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As part of the tour, we made a few stops along the way to and from the Giant’s Causeway. One stop was to Bushmills Distillery. If you’re like me and not a big fan of whiskey, try a hot toddy while you’re there. We had enough time to do a wee whiskey tasting, buy a bottle for a gift and snap a few pictures.
Another stop was to the Dark Hedges, made famous by HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” I watched all of two episodes of that show before deciding it was not my cup of tea, so I was unfamiliar with the Dark Hedges prior to the tour. I did not see what all the hype was about, but I can at least say I’ve seen them.
Want to tour the Causeway at your own pace? A friend tells me you can also rent a car and drive yourself along the Causeway Coastal Route for gorgeous views. Driving in the UK can be intimidating, but she assures me it is not a treacherous drive.
If you’re ready to see a unique geological formation with an interesting lore in a gorgeous setting, it might be time to head to Northern Ireland with a stop at the Giant’s Causeway.
I could have easily spent more time at the Causeway, so if you’re a nature enthusiast you might want to plan accordingly. (Nataliya Hora (Adobe Stock))
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Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of War.
