In the footsteps of giants

The Giant’s Causeway was once named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in Britain.

I can see why. It is a mind-boggling arrangement of mostly hexagonal columns.

And the tops form stepping stones that lead from the base of a large cliff and disappear under the sea.

That description does not do this UNESCO World Heritage Site justice.

It is a must see and it is on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland near the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

The causeway is also a nature reserve and the 40,000 interlocking basalt columns were the result of a volcanic eruption.

Much of the site is managed by the National Trust and legend has it that the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant called Finn MacCool.

He was apparently challenged to a fight by Benandonner, a Scottish giant and Finn is said to have built the causeway so the pair could meet.

The rest is mythology. Strangely, they allow visitors to clamber over the columns.

They provide a wonderful place for pictures and the six-year-old, ultra-modern visitor centre is packed with gift ideas. It is about 20 minutes walk from the causeway.

We travelled there by P&O Ferries and returned by Stena Line and we stayed at The Ballygally Castle Hotel.