Giant's Causeway - You beauty! Plus a rope bridge

Woke up to a beautiful day after spending half the night worrying that fickle Mother Nature might trick me out of one of my bucket lists again, but no, sunshine, clear skies and little wind.

First sighting along the Causeway Coastal Route of what is going to behold.

But first, we had to stop and peruse the little seaside village of Portstewart. The white building is a castle turned into a school that our new Irish/NZ friend Ann went to, and suggested we might like to take a photo for her!

Then we continued to Portrush, ie Royal Portrush Golf Course, where the British Open has played, and Dave was considering playing. It is all sandy, and you can only see it from up above.

We know we are getting closer, look at those geological structures!

Believe it or, this is the remains of Dunluce Castle, guarding the coast.

We arrive at the Giant's Causeway where by you pay for parking and entry to exhibition area. Well worth it to understand about how the causeway came about (lava from volcanoes, ice ages and water erosion) but also the Irish legend that explains it's existence.

You then walk down this hill for a while (bus goes for the infirm - not me yet!). As you can see the weather was ideal.

Looking towards the causeway itself - made up of little, middle and giant causeways!

Me scramblind over the rocks, which are actually pillar like structures embedded and worn down into stones.

You can climb up to the high ridge (we did) but I needed some pulling up from Dave as sheer cliff really.

the giant's chimney stacks they say - can you see why?

We made it nearly all the way to the sea! Was petrified I would slip and then what?????

Me still being a mountain goat.

Dave having a rest, on his phone1

These very tall pillar like structures are the giant's organ (music that is)

After climbing and crawling we went for a walk up and along side this hill structure. No Health and Safety folks here - sheer cliff down.

This is the Giant's chair.

Me under the organ pipes - now you can see the sheer size/1

Looking back on the cuaseway.

The causeway from our tall hill walk.

Close up of chimneys.

So back to the causeway and I am knackered! Bus back up the hill and then you could see busloads and busloads of people arriving. Imagine trying to get over the stones with lots of other people pushing you out of the way!

Onward and onward - back on the Causeway Coastal Highway and another castle ruin on the edge of the cliff. You can walk from the road to explore it.

More McMansions, this time they too are perched on a cliff looking out to sea.

Rope-Bridge Walk

Apparently this is a must-do in this part of the world. Beautiful scenic drive around the coast to it.

Believe it or not it is over there!

See it yet?

Believe it or not, this quarry on the way to the rope-bridge is where part of the Game of Thrones was filmed. Has a cave there as well. Dave was trying to recall which scenes and failed!

So you walk along the cliff top on a nice walk for a km and there below is the bridge. You have to walk down 3 huge stone stairways to get there (don't think about getting back up Brenda .... too tiring to consider!)

The rope bridge was initially made by fishermen who used it to access the little island to go salmon fishing. We saw the hut at the side of the hill and ropes which they used to put the boat down into the water! Imagine it in rough seas!

Me making my way over. You see the steep staircase behind - like a sheer ladder. The rope bridge is high up between the mainland and a little island, and you look down onto crashing waves and rocks! the water is soooo clear, we saw a salmon swimming below.

Big seagulls nesting on the cliffs with babies.

The fishermans hut - can you see the rope pulleys for the boats?

So now back up - that was the challenge especially after 3 hours clambering and climbing at the Gian't Causeway. I took it very, very slowly with a few catch-the-breath stops but made it. Can honestly say this was the most physical work I have done the whole holdiday and I survived! Very sore butt and legs tho.

Onward to Belfast for a rest - yeah right!