RHH's photos with the keyword: causeway coast

We are still in Northern Ireland. We hiked to the Giant's Causeway last week on a windy and raw day but intend to go back on a sunnier day. The Giant's Causeway is one of the most scenic areas along the north coast of Northern Ireland and is known for these wonderful columnar basalt formations. It is known as the Giant's Causeway in connection with an old legend. "Legend has it that long ago when Goliaths roamed what is now known as the British Isles, they battled each other fiercely to expand their personal kingdoms. Irish giant Finn MacCool was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Finn accepted the challenge and built a land bridge, a Giant’s Causeway, across the North Channel from Ireland to Scotland to attack Benandonner. Upon completion, Finn headed across the Giant’s Causeway but when he caught sight of Benandonner he realized his foe was a much larger giant so he hid while he rethought his strategy. Finn’s wife, Úna, cleverly dressed him as a baby and laid him in a cradle at the Irish end of the Giant’s Causeway. When Benandonner advanced and saw the huge “baby,” he assumed the baby’s father, Finn, was a giant among giants and promptly ran back to Scotland in fear, destroying the Giant’s Causeway behind him so Finn couldn’t follow."

Giant's Causeway is a few miles from the guesthouse where we are staying with our daughter. We hiked there last week on a windy and cloudy day and then also hiked the cliffs above the causeway. The causeway is known for this wonderful columnar basalt formations.

This bridge is put up during the summer months and is a major tourist attraction on the north coast of Northern Ireland. It was , however, originally used by fishermen, who set their nets from Carrick-a-rede (the Rock in the Road) and it does still maintain its original use in spite of the tourists.

This is Carrick-a-rede from the west. The rope bridge cannot be seen in this picture, but it takes you to the large "Rock-in-the-Road" standing out in the water. The position of this rock makes it an excellent place for fishing both by seabirds and by people. The white on the side of the rock is the excrement of seabirds who nest and live on the cliff and dive from it into the water.