Clifftop Experience (Away A Wee Walk)
The best way to avoid the crowds and get under the skin of a place is to explore it with a local friend. That’s what walking the Causeway Coast with Eimear Flanagan or one of her team feels like. These are ‘their’ cliffs, they are proud of this landscape and delighted to share it with visitors.
This five-mile walk through the heart of Northern Ireland’s only World Heritage Site is a personal discovery of a spectacular coastline. The National Trust Giant’s Causeway attracts upwards of a million visitors a year – and rightly so – but few people will get to experience it quite like this. With this experience you’ll see, and hear, so much more than the average visitor to the Giant’s Causeway. “There’s so much more to the Giant’s Causeway than the main attraction,” says Eimear. “Our tour is never the same twice, depending on how Mother Nature is playing that day. The landscape is showstopping. It feels like you’re accessing something unknown, remote.”
Early in the tour you’ll see the ruins of Dunseverick Castle, which St Patrick is said to have visited back in the 5th century. As you embark on your cliff walk, your guide points out flora and fauna; there are juicy blackberries and lilac harebell in summer, and vibrant yellow gorse in spring (which, according to Eimear, smells of coconut when in full bloom). The rolling green hills lie in repose and are dotted with sheep and ponies, a gentle pastoral scene which contrasts starkly to the ocean underneath you. Some days, the sea seems flat calm; other times, it is really pretty wild. On a clear day, your guide will be able to point out Rathlin Island in the distance, and tell you about island life. You might also spot the Mull of Kintyre, or Donegal, or hear tales of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada. And of course, there is plenty of geology along the way too.
You arrive at the grand finale, the hugely popular and iconic Grand Causeway. These amazing formations, the result of a volcanic eruption, date back up to 65 million years. There’s little choice but to feel refreshed, revived and invigorated. “There’s a feeling I get almost every single time I come here, and I’ve walked the route hundreds and hundreds of times,” Eimear notes. “There’s something in our DNA as humans, connecting with the DNA of the natural environment. It’s a deep connection with nature."
Meet 11.00 am inside the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre at the Visitor Information desk beside the 3 big TVs (not the ticket desk at the front). We recommend you aim to arrive on site no later than 10.45 am to allow time to get parked in what can be a busy site.
Pre-booking is essential on the National Trust website ONLY and you are advised to book 72 hours in advance and no later than by 4pm the day BEFORE you intend to do the walk. Tour dates can book up in advance so do book as soon as you know your travel date. Departs daily 11.00am (Mar - Oct) and weekends only (Nov - Feb)
Tours require a minimum of at least 2 people. Please bring a light, portable lunch or snacks and some water, in a small back pack. Optional seasonal comforts to include hats, gloves or sunscreen. Avoid denim because it will stay wet even after a very short rain shower. Hiking boots/shoes highly advised and deemed essential from October to April. Select the BOOK NOW button on this page to link to the National Trust website to book the Clifftop Experience Select 'website' to link to the Away A Wee Walk website to see private driver/guide tours, self guide walking holidays in the Causeway area etc.
Addtional Information: 5 mile walk (2 hours 25 minutes walk time) A moderate level of fitness is required. Waterproof jacket and walking shoes recommended. Optional seasonal comforts to include hats, gloves or sunscreen! Bring a light, portable lunch and water, in a small back pack.
Route: Walking Route is from Dunseverick castle to the Giant's Causeway.
Terrain: Grassy and gravel paths prone to being muddy in parts during significant periods of rain or in winter, stiles, stone steps with and without handrails, exposed but never narrow cliffs.
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