Pamela Louderback, Day 67

This day we took an all day bus tour trip to an area called Giant’s Causeway.  This is in the northern part of County Antrim.  This is an area rich in geology and mythology.  The Causeway is made of basalt…solidified lava that cooled and cracked in columns with mostly five or six sides.  Some of these columns are dozens of feet high.  This dates back 60 million years. 

Or, if you prefer a more colorful explanation, an Irish giant, Finn MacCool (Finn mac Cumaill)built these huge stepping stones across the Irish Sea so that a Scottish giant could walk across and face a challenge.  There are similar columns on the Scottish side of the Irish Sea.

On the way to the Giant’s Causeway our bus drove through Larne which is referred to as the “gateway to Scotland”.  We also drove through the Ballypatrick National Forest and made a quick stop by the Dunluce Castle for a photo op.  The Carrackarede rope bridge was pretty exciting to walk on.  This bridge was originally built so fishermen could cross over to the island to put their nets in the water. 

Pointing out the safety precautions for the island and the Carrackarede rope bridge. 

 From a distance...

                                            At Giant's Causeway: one of the information signs.

                                                   Some of the basalt stones on the shore.

Dunluce Castle