About 500 years ago, the North Atlantic Plate and the European continent separated, causing intense crustal movement and underwater volcanic eruptions. The hot magma met the cold seawater and solidified, eventually forming the spectacular landscape known as the "Giant's Causeway." The landscape consists of tens of thousands of irregularly arranged basalt columns, with varying heights, the tallest being over 12 meters high, and a total length of several kilometers. In 1986, it was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Geologists have found that the natural stairs were formed by volcanic eruptions, with volcanic lava spilling out and crystallizing repeatedly. The seawater washed away small rock particles, forming the uneven columnar jointed basalt terrain.
Legend has it that the Irish giant built a road out of stones in the sea to plunder the Scottish giant's treasures by passing through Scotland. However, the Scottish giant was angry and went to retaliate along the road. The Irish giant dressed up as a baby and hid in a cave. When the Scottish giant saw the baby in the cave, he thought the Irish giant was incredibly powerful and fled in a panic, destroying the road as he went. What remains today is the Giant's Causeway that we see. The visitor center provides Chinese audio guide service to help tourists understand the history and cultural background of the attraction.
Although not well-known in China, the Dark Hedges is one of the most beautiful tree tunnels in the world. Planted in the 18th century, this road has been around for 300 years. The 150 beech trees have grown together, intertwining to create a scene reminiscent of a fairy tale. The road exudes a very romantic atmosphere. Fans of "Game of Thrones" may recognize this as the King's Road from the series. The road is located near the town of Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, so after admiring the trees, visitors can also explore the town and relax.
Dunluce Castle is one of the famous ancient castles in Northern Ireland, located in County Antrim. It was first built in the 13th century and underwent multiple renovations and reconstructions. The castle sits on a cliff by the sea and is connected to the mainland by a suspension bridge. The castle belonged to the MacDonnell family, but they abandoned it in 1639. Later, it was occupied by the Earl of Antrim. The MacDonnell family abandoned the castle not only because of war but also because of its mysterious and eerie nature.
The rope bridge that connects the main island of Ireland and Carrick-A-Rede island is known as the third steepest in the world. Carrick-A-Rede, which means "fallen rock," is adjacent to the famous Giant's Causeway and crossing the rope bridge takes you over a 60 million-year-old volcanic fissure. This historic rope bridge was once a necessary tool for fishing, but is now a popular tourist attraction beloved by visitors from around the world. Only 8 people can cross at a time, and it takes around 20 minutes to walk from the entrance to the exit. The views along the way are also quite charming.
Lake Ern
Located in the county of Fermanagh in the west of Northern Ireland and bordering Ireland, it consists of two interconnected bodies of water, Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne. Lough Erne is known for its beautiful sunset views and is the largest lake in the Fermanagh Lakelands, including 154 islands (including Devenish Island).
Gaobin Cliff Walk
The cliff trail is in the closest possible place to nature, where visitors can even walk on water. The sea rolls up white waves and constantly beats against the cliffs, and the sea breeze blows on the cheeks. The plants on the shore and animals in the water constantly come into view. This is the home of thousands of birds, marine creatures, and plants.
Royal Port rush Golf Club
The Royal Portrush Golf Club is located on the scenic northern coast of Northern Ireland. Founded in 1888, it is one of the most challenging courses in the world. The course is situated on historic sand dunes along the Atlantic coast. From the ruins of Dunluce Castle, one can overlook the entire course.
