Antrim Coast & the Giant's Causeway
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Port
Greencastle (Londonderry), Ireland
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$209.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Today's tour takes you on a journey to Northern Ireland's most famous landmark and only UNESCO World Heritage Site -- the Giant's Causeway. This remarkable landform takes its name from the legend of the giant Finn MacCool and it draws people from far and wide to this corner of North Antrim. The Antrim coastline in renowned for its scenic beauty and the Giant's Causeway is its unique jewel in the crown, known to the Irish as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Journey along the Donegal coastline through the towns of Moville and Culmore before crossing from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland.
Meet the walled city of Londonderry. A short panoramic drive will introduce you to this historic city.
From here, travel through the towns of Limavady and Coleraine to join the Antrim Coast at Portrush, arriving at the Giant's Causeway. Finn MacCool, Ireland's giant whose story is rooted in a shroud of superstition and legend, reputedly built the causeway so he could visit his giantess girlfriend in Scotland, but the new Visitor Center allows you to decide for yourself which explanation of how the causeway's 40,000 basalt stones were formed is most likely. Stories about the area's rich mythology, history, geology, flora and fauna will make your visit to the Causeway more resonant.
Head outside and let your imagination take over as you step across the tightly-packed columns of stone that lead to either the creative turbulence of a bygone volcanic age or into the myths and legends of the past.
Lunch is served at a local hotel.
Relax and enjoy a drive through the magnificent scenery of the Antrim coast, with a stop to photograph Dunluce Castle -- one of the most extensive ruins of a medieval castle in Ireland. Return to Greencastle and the ship, waiting in the bay.
Notes:
Dress warmly in layers so you are comfortable despite the inevitable changeability of Ireland's weather. A shorter version of this tour is available in the same port (87203 Giant's Causeway). Tour is not available on all sailings. The terrain at the Causeway is uneven with steps and inclines. Guests using a wheelchair can reach the start of the stones but will not be able to access them.