Visit the Chaussée des Géants : Bookings & Rates

Are you coming to Ireland soon? So don’t miss visiting the Chaussée des Géants, one of the most beautiful natural attractions on the island!

Located on the north-Irish coast, the Chaussée des Géants ( Clochán na bhFómharach in Gaelic) is an impressive and gigantic geological formation. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1986, classified as a National Natural Reserve, this site is made up of over 40,000 hexagonal columns in basalt. Some are visible to the high cliff of 28 meters high. These steps then descend into the sea and disappear there offering a surprising and unique scenery in the world!

Would you like to visit the Glovesée? In this article, you will find all the necessary information to discover this masterpiece of nature. Tips, history and practical information through rates and schedules, you will know the essentials to plan and make the most of your visit!

History of the Giant Boiler

An Irish legend says that a giant in the country, Finn MacCool, wanted to fight Benandonner, a giant living in Scotland. No boat being large enough to carry them, Finn then built a stone pavement between the two countries.

Benandonner eventually accepted the challenge and took this road to cross the sea to Ireland. He was bigger and stronger than MacCool. The wife of the Irish giant then disguised her husband as a baby, which frightened the Scots, terrified to meet the father of such a child! He thus fled to Scotland destroying the roadway so as not to be followed.

The fun story is always told to Irish children. In truth, this Chaussée des Géants is the result of the erosion by the sea of a lava casting dating from 50 to 60 million years. The basaltic wash, cooling, then fractured into columns, perpendicular to the surface.

Our tips to visit the Chaussée des Géants

Are you coming to Northern Ireland soon and want to organize your discoveries? To help you discover this essential site, here are some tips to prepare your visit.

The best time to visit the Chaussée des Géants

If you can, we recommend that you visit the Giant Boiler early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid crowds. Most tourists come between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. , the schedule to which the visits since Belfast or Dublin Come on. For this, for example, you can stay a few days away from the natural site. For the season, it is best to come during spring or summer.

Prepare his bag and visit

To take advantage of his visit, it is necessary to carry some objects and clothes in his bag. Even in summer, a hot jacket impermeable is thus indispensable. The site is facing the Atlantic Ocean, cold winds blow all day long!

Because the Hot is full of uneven surfaces, we recommend you wear shoes comfortable and suitable . Injuries are common here because of small falls. Finally, you can take water and a snack, but make sure to preserve the place by keeping your waste.

Some practical information

Dogs are Authorized but must be kept on a leash. The Visitor Center is accessible to persons with disabilities. Don't miss the official website before your visit to view weather information and safety tips!

What to do during your visit to the Chaussée des Géants?

The Boiler of Giants is divided into 3 areas: the Great, the Middle and the Little. For this visit, a guide is not necessarily necessary, since marked paths will lead you from wonder to wonder, from sumptuous landscapes to sumptuous landscapes!

The three Boilers

As its name suggests, the Grande Chaussée covers most of the site. It starts on the shore, at the foot of the cliffs. By advancing near the water, you will see this form of road. The hexagonal slabs by sinking into the sea are in fact growing to form a sort of paved path from 20 to 30 meters wide! At low tide, you can even borrow it over a few hundred meters.

The Middle and the Petite Chaussée are located along the Grande. They look more like stone mounds than lanes.

The little wonders to admire

Along the way, you can observe some amazing rock formations, and that the premises have obviously nicknamed over the years. Among them are the Promontory of Giants, a 6-kilometre long coastline that stands in front of the cliffs, thousands of columns. But you can also admire the Harpe, huge columns incurved majesticly by the water, the Fireplaces, associated with historical events and the Invincible Armada, a famous Spanish fleet.

Others are also waiting for you: the Professions to weave Giants, the Giants’ Circus, the Giants’ Canon, the Giants’ Eyes and finally the Giants’ Boot!

The Visitor Center

Opened in 2012, the Visitor Center is easily recognizable to its modern architecture, which recalls the geometry of the basaltic columns of the site. It houses a coffee shop and a souvenir shop. But he has an exhibition room. The latter will teach you more about the history and exceptional geological formation of the Chaussée des Géants.

How much does a ticket cost to the Giant Boiler?

Here are the rates to visit the Chaussée des Géants :

• Adults: £11 online, £12.50 on site,
• Children: £5.50 online, £6.75 on site,
• Families: £27.50 online, £31.25 on site.

The entrance includes access to the reception centre, use of an outdoor audioguide, orientation leaflet and parking. To take the shuttle from the reception centre to the Chaussée des Géants, you will have to pay an extra charge. The entrance is free for under five years.

How do I book an online ticket for the Giant Boiler?

You can easily book a ticket for the Chaussée des Géants on the official website of the site. Third-party sites also offer tickets to access this natural monument.

Are there any guided tours of the Giant Boiler?

Guided tours and excursions to the day or half day with guide are numerous. In terms of rates, count on 25€ to 50€ for a guided tour or tour from Belfast and a little more from Dublin.

Are there visits combined with other monuments?

Many excursions include other attractions in the area, such as shooting locations Game of Thrones For example. These visits may cost between 30 and 60€ On average.

Opening hours of the Chaussée des Géants

You can visit the Chaussée des Géants at different times during the year: - In January and February: 9h00 to 5h00 - From March to May: 9:00 to 6:00 - From June to September: 9:00 to 7:00 - In October: 9:00 to 6:00 - In November and December: 9h00 to 5h00

La Chaussée des Géants is not accessible from December 24 to 26. The last entry is one hour before the Visitor Center is closed.

How do I access the Gloves?

To reach the Chaussée des Géants and its Visitor Center, you can take various means of transport: a rented car or not, the train, the bus, the bike or the walk.

By car

To go to the Giant Boiler, the car is obviously one of the most convenient means of transport. The Giant Boiler and the Visitor Center are on the road to the road B147 5 kilometers from the village of Bushmills. From Belfast, the site joins in an hour and a half On average. For this, you will have to take the roads M2 then A26 until Ballymoney. Then follow the road B62 up to Revallagh then the Priestland Road to Bushmills.

From March to October, a shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes from the village of Bushmills, where parking is available to the Visitor Center.

By train or bus

Regular train and bus lines operate from Belfast or Londonderry to Coleraine. Once in this city you can easily reach Bushmills with the bus line Ulsterbus Service 172 .

Count between two and a half hours and three hours to reach the city from Belfast by these means, and 2 hours from Londonderry.

Cycling or walking

route 93 from the National Cycle Network in Northern Ireland along the coast of Newry to Ballycastle through Bangor and Belfast. Amateur and passionate cyclists can thus take this route in part to rally different cities of the coast, including visiting the Chausssée des Géants.

If you prefer to walk, you can follow the Causeway Coast Way. This breathtaking route follows this part of Ireland’s most famous coastline for 53 kilometres. But above all, it is connected to the network of paths of the Chaussée des Géants!

Where to park near the Chaussée des Géants?

You will find a parking reserved for visitors at the entrance of the site. Your entry ticket usually includes day parking. You can leave your vehicle quietly on site, walk around and make your discoveries.

Where to stay near the Giant Boiler in Ireland?

Along this beautiful north coast, from Portstewart to Ballintoy, you will find many holiday homes, hotels, Airbnb and campsites where to sleep. Bushmills, like Portballintrae, are villages close to the Giant Boiler. Logging in one or the other will allow you to easily reach the natural site, on foot, by bike, by bus or by car. Logging in other coastal cities is a good way to discover other wonders of the region, once you have visited the Boiler of the Giants of course!

The easiest way to find your accommodation is to make use of Compare hotels , which will allow you to find the accommodation corresponding to all your criteria.