The Giants Causeway. The most characteristic and unique feature of the site is the exposure of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt in perfect horizontal sections, forming a 1906 Giants Causeway and Causeway Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. DSC_0084
A port call in Belfast provided the opportunity to see a bit of Northern Ireland. The region appeared peaceful now, after so many years of factional strife. We selected another Paddywagon Tours excursion as our port tour at Belfast. Our first stop out of Belfast was at the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the Kings Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance.
The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since a public road. (Gracehill House is now a golf club, restaurant and events centre.) The stand of trees attracts a lot of visitors. When visiting the grove and while admiring the trees, you need to remember that it is on a public highway and motor vehicles are always passing through.
The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the Kings Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance. The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since a public road. IMG_2514
Scotland. Our motorcoach driver/guide took us on a scenic ride along the north coast of Country Antrim, en route to the Giants Causeway. Scotland can be seen across the strait. The village of Dunseverick affords many views of the rugged North Antrim coast. Nearby is Dunseverick Castle. The ruins date to the time of St. Patrick, who is known to have visited here The castle was destroyed during the English Civil War when Cromwells New Model Army attacked it.
Our drive along the north coast of Country Antrim had as its destination the Giants Causeway. The Giants Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of some 40,000 basalt blocks at the base of a cliff. There is a small collection of buildings at the top of the path leading down to it: the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre; two former schoolhouses (one now a museum, the other The Nook, a restaurant); and the Causeway Inn. Another attraction is the nearby Giants Causeway and Bushmills Railway. The two mile long heritage railway operates over the right of way of the former Giants Causeway Tram and connects the town of Bushmills with the site. It would be an interesting way of getting
The Dark Hedges is a line of 18th century Beech Trees along Bregnagh Road in County Antrim. They are very mysterious looking, like something out of Tolkien. In fact, the road and the overhanging trees were used in filming the TV series Game of Thrones, where they appeared as the Kings Road. Other productions have also made use of their menacing appearance. The trees were planted ca. 1775 along the entrance road to Gracehill House. The entrance drive has long since a public road. DSC_0034p1
The Giants Causeway is a striking natural feature of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt rock arranged in perfect horizontal sections. They appear to be but are a geological feature. The causeway was formed 50 to 60 million years ago when molten rock was forced up through fissures in the earth to form a lava plateau when the lava came in contact with the sea.
