Giants Causeway Tour From Dublin
Dublin to Giant’s Causeway Private Day Tour
Discover the best of Northern Ireland on this private day tour from Dublin to the Giant Causeway. This Giants Causeway Day Trip from Dublin includes a number of spots along the way including two photo stops inspired by the TV series Game of Thrones. On this tour, you get to see Dunluce Castle, the Giants Causeway and Larrybane Quarry. Not forgetting the chance to cross the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, a traditional style rope bridge that sits 30 metres (98 feet) above sea-level.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is home to the award-winning Causeway coast, it is known as “Northern Ireland’s most popular attraction” due to a unique combination of breathtaking scenic drives along the cliffs, epic landscapes and coastal views, history and culture.
Giants Causeway Tour/ The Game of Thrones Tour from Dublin
There are only a handful of truly extraordinary landscapes in the world; the places that postcards go on holiday to see and The Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland is certainly one of them. The 80 kilometre Causeway coastline (50 miles) is a sight to behold and encompasses the cliff-top Dunluce Castle (The Game of Thrones filming location) also known as the house of Greyjoy, County Antrim, Giant’s Causeway, Ballintoy Harbour (Game of Thrones filming location) and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
The Giants Causeway Tour
The Coastal route to Giants Causeway is one of the most stunning coastal day trips from Dublin. It’s the best-rated experiences that passes through towns and villages rich in Irish history along the Antrim coastal route. This is a perfect trip for amazing photo opportunities and to learn about Irish royalty, aristocracy, folklore and tales of fighting clans, giants and fairies.
The Giant Causeway is Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, an award it received in the year of 1986. It often appears on many natural and cultural must go lists and was named the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom in 2018.
Giant’s Causeway, Ireland, Seamless hexagon rock formation.
It is one of only 25 places to receive this status and is famously known for the Girona shipwreck. The Girona was a ship of the Spanish Armada which encountered stormy conditions along the coast of the Giants Causeway. The men aboard could not control the ship in such conditions and the Girona was blown off course and onto the rocks at Lacada Point near Dunluce Castle which is the first stop on this tour.
What is the Giants Causeway and how was it formed
The causeway is a seamless hexagon rock formation stacked side by side like pieces of a puzzle. It looks Magical! It is made up of 40,000 basalt columns that are interlocked perfectly shaping out hexagons making the Giants Causeway massive in size and in stature. The Giants Causeway is located on the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland and the magical hexagon rock formations were a result of 50 to 60 million years old volcanic activity. The tops of the basalt columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most columns are hexagonal in shape with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest rocks are about 12 metres (39 feet) high and the cliffs are 28 metres (91 feet) thick in some places.
Finn McCool and the Giant’s Causeway Story
The legend of the Giant’s Causeway: Wonder and legend has surrounded the creation of the Giants Causeway. According to legend, this was built by a Giant Named Finn McCool (Gaelic: Fionn mac Cumhaill). Finn was challenged to a fight by a Scottish giant named Benandonner.
400,000 interlocking basalt columns make up the Giant’s Causeway.
Finn McCool accepted the challenge and built the Causeway across the North Channel (between Ireland and Scotland) so that the two giants could meet. When Finn McCool sees Benandonner (the Mountain of Thunder), he realises that his foe is much bigger than he is so he decides to hide. His wife Oonagh, disguises Finn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the ‘baby’, he reckons that its father, Finn, must be a giant among giants. He then flees back to Scotland in fear, destroying the causeway behind him so that Finn would be unable to chase him down.
Some Notable features of the Giants Causeway
The Giants causeway has some interestingly shaped structures. Some resemble objects such as; An Organ, A Giant’s Boot, reddish weathered columns known as Giant’s Eyes, Shepherd’s Steps, the Honeycomb, the Giant’s Harp, the Chimney Stacks, the Giant’s Gate and the Camel’s Hump.
Giant’s Causeway tour, Ireland.
The Giant’s Causeway is not just a tourist attraction. It is a haven for the story behind its appearance, but it is also a shelter for some sea birds. The National Trust has an inventory of rare and interesting plants too. Along with your visit to the Causeway, you can see some seabirds, such as fulmar, petrel, redshank, guillemot and the razorbill. The rock formations also have plants including sea spleenwort, hare’s-foot trefoil, vernal squill, sea fescue and frog orchid. With Elder duck, rock pipits, and wagtails also known to be sighted.
The Giants Causeway Visitor Centre
You will have a wonderful experience here as you can start with going around the exhibits, visualizing the story of the Causeway and how it was formed. The story that everyone likes to tell is mainly the one about Finn McCool. From there you can enjoy a 1-kilometre walk to the legendary stones as your tour begins. There is a bus for those who have difficulty walking down to the site. When they come back to the visitor centre building you will see the gift shop with a range of National Trust items, a souvenir shop, a tourist information centre and an accommodation desk. There is a café which is a large range of food and beverages on offer. The Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre is welcome to tourists all year long except during Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Plan a trip anytime during the year.
Explore our Giant’s Causeway tour, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Northern Ireland, with Game of Throne photo stops at the House of Greyjoy and Larrybane Bay & Quarry!
Dunluce Castle
Dunluce Castle is the House Greyjoy, the great castle of Pyke, in the Game of Thrones tv-series. A medieval castle in Northern Ireland, known as the seat of Clan McDonnell. The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on each side and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland.
Dunluce Castle Facts
It has inspired many people throughout the years: from poems and songs to being shot multiple times as a film location. Some might even remember it from Led Zeppelin‘s studio album ‘’Houses of Joy’’, Jackie Chan’s Medallion, to an album cover for Glasgow Friday.
Dunluce Castle, Ireland (Game Of Thrones).
Lissanduff Earthworks, Portballintrae, relates to the Pre-Historic site adjacent to the castle. Lissanduff earthworks is a set of concentric ringed mounds of earth. The southern one has spring in the centre and known as the wet earthwork the northern one is dry. Their purpose isn’t unknown. The Causeway Coast Management Plan advises that ‘One is clay-lined and appears to have been designed specifically to hold water for water rituals. The other is a more typical ‘’lios’’ or ‘’rath’’ and would have served as a fortified settlement for people and animals. The site dates to the Bronze Age (3,000BC) and has yet to be fully understood or archaeologically excavated.
The name: ‘Liss’ comes from a Gaelic word for ‘enclosed space’, often used to name forts. Dubh in Gaelic means ‘black’ or ‘dark’ and can have ritual overtones
Dunluce Castle History
It is built on the dramatic coastal cliffs of North County Antrim. It’s earliest written record is in the hands of the McQuillan family and dates from 1513. Dunluce Castle It was captured by the MacDonnells of Antrim in the 1550s by chief John Mor MacDonald who was the second son of Good John of Islay, Lord of the Isles. In 1584, after the death of James MacDonald the 6th chief of the Clan MacDonald of Antrim and Dunnyveg, the Antrim Glens were seized by Sorley Boy MacDonnell, one of his younger brothers. Sorley Boy took the Castle, keeping it for himself and improving it in the Scottish style.
Cross the bridge of Dunluce Castle today.
In more recent years’ Dunluce Castle served as the seat of the Earl of Antrim until the impoverishment of the MacDonnells in 1690. You will hear about the Castle’s dramatic and complicated history and how one stormy night in 1639 led to the castle kitchens falling into the sea.
Dunluce Town
Dunluce Town was established around 1608 and is often related to the archaeological excavations where significant remains of the “lost town of Dunluce” were found. This town may have had the most revolutionary housing in Europe at the time as it had indoor toilets which were just being introduced around Europe at that time. It is said to also have had a complex street network based on a grid system with most of the town yet to be discovered.
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
The Carrick-a-rede rope bridge connects cliffs across the Atlantic Ocean, it is suspended almost 30 meters (100 ft) above sea level and was first erected by salmon fishermen over 350 years ago. It is the only access for fishermen looking to access the tiny island of Carrickarede and is a memory that will stay with you forever.
It’s is now one of the most popular tourist destinations along the Causeway Coast and every year thousands of people visit this area seeking a stimulating experience. The scenery alongside the coastal path is breath-taking and will provide the perfect photo opportunity for all who take this tour from Dublin.
The Carrick-a-rede rope bridge is suspended almost 30 meters (100 ft) above sea level.
On either side of the bridge is the stunning coastline where you will get a bird’s eye view of clear water and the ancient caves below. Birds, sharks and dolphins are a common sight in this area and you may be fortunate enough to witness some seabirds like razorbills and fulmars close up. You can see different types of orchids and wildflowers.
An important feature of the island is the fisherman’s cottage. At selected weekends the fisherman’s cottage is open for public view, be sure to check out the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge website.
Free crossing of the Carrick-a-read Rope Bridge is included in this tour from Dublin.
Finally, Carrick-a-Rede was one of the first sites in Northern Ireland to install a fully wheelchair accessible public viewing telescope. The national trust organizes stargazing here and this place is designated as a dark sky discovery site and recognised as an excellent place to stargaze. It allows overnight camping, car parking and toilet facility. During your day time visit, the telescope gives you stunning views of the rope-bridge, Carrickarede island and the neighbouring Sheep Island.
Larrybane
Larrybane Quarry is found in County Antrim and is seen in the hit tv-series The Game Of Thrones as it was used as the main filming location for Season: 2 – Episode 3 and Season: 6 – Episode 5.
Larrybane was used in Game of Thrones as the main filming location for Season: 2 – Episode 3 and Season: 6 – Episode 5.
Larrybane is home to large white milestone caves some of which are more than 30 meters (98 feet) high. It is about 10 meters (32 feet) above the level and has a small raised beach extending up to 5 meters (16 feet) into the cliff face forming a cave. The two main pillars at the entrance of the cave are the most breath-taking.
Ballintoy Harbour
Ballintoy Harbour is a picturesque small fishing village. It has a charming array of small shops, two churches and a café. This harbour has also been used as a filming location for the Game of Thrones as the village is the fictional town of Lordsport in the Isle of Pyke.
Ballintoy is a small traditional Irish fishing village just beside the Giants Causeway.
Please Note:
All tours can be altered and changed to suit you and your groups’ needs. The information can be altered to suit you. Just contact our team and we will arrange the perfect tour for you.
Depart for the Garden of Ireland, Wicklow
It is from here your tour of Wicklow begins. Your guide starts your tour off with an introduction to Dublin City as we then make our way down south to County Wicklow, which is more commonly known as the “Garden of Ireland”. Here awaits a number of beautiful lakes, dense forests’ and wonderful views making this a wonderful scenic drive and a fine day away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin city.
Glencree Valley
This is your first 45-minute stop on this day tour to the Wicklow mountains. Glencree Valley & Cemetery is home to the military cemetery, which serves as a reminder of the impact World War II had on the island of Ireland. The adjacent military barracks is now a centre for peace and reconciliation inspired by the events that impacted this island a long time ago.
The P.S. I Love You Bridge
Enjoying a 15-20-minute photo stop at the location made famous by the popular hit movie and musical P.S. I Love You. This quick stop allows you the perfect opportunity to walk in the steps of Holly and Gerry and recapture that ultimate romantic moment!
The Guinness Lake & Lough Tay
Here you have the chance to enjoy another 15 – 20-minute stop at the Guinness Lake, a.k.a Lough Tay.
The view of this beautiful Lough (lock) is like no other and is often referred to as the Guinness Lake as it was the Guinness family who imported its white sand. Not to mention that the shape of the lake with the white sand at the top makes it look like a Pint of Guinness! It too is home to many movie locations, most recently as Kattegat in the hit tv series Vikings!
Glendalough Lake
On your visit to Wicklow’s National Park, you can embark on one of the ever-popular Glendalough walks, as you will have a minimum of two hours to visit the Glendalough Upper and Lower Lake or do some hiking in the Wicklow Mountains. You too, will have time to visit the Glendalough Visitor Centre (admission not included) or the Glendalough Cathedral home to Saint Kevin’s Monastery, Celtic Crosses, Glendalough’s 10th century round tower, and so much more!
You also have the option to join our award-winning guide on a quick Glendalough walking tour if you wish. Here you will enjoy a quick tour of the area, finding out more historical facts on Glendalough & Wicklow. You will be allowed over 60 minutes to explore the Glendalough lakes and area.
Avoca Village
The fifth and final stop on your Wicklow Tour is Avoca Village, a small town made famous by Thomas Moore in the song ‘The Meeting of the Water’. It too is well- known for its spot as the fictional home of BBC’s hit tv-show “Ballykissangel”. Here you can enjoy some traditional Irish food and drinks in a traditional Irish Pub/Bar called Fitzgerald’s. Remember, all Gray Line Ireland travellers can enjoy an exclusive discount on a traditional Irish meal deal and a complimentary shot of Irish whiskey before making your way back to Dublin City.
Arrive back in Dublin’s City Centre
At 17:30, we hope you have you back to where your day began, Please keep in mind that traffic and other delays beyond our control may lead to a later return time to Dublin.
How far is Wicklow from Dublin?
County Wicklow is just under 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Dublin’s Upper O’Connell Street. Our tour to the Wicklow Mountains gives you the best chance to see what the ‘Garden of Ireland’ has to offer, with this eight-an-half-hour tour including excellent stops at places such as Wicklow’s National Park, Lough Tay and Glendalough, to name but a few.
Is Wicklow Worth Visiting?
Yes! And on this fully guided day tour from Dublin, there is no need to ask what is there to see or do in Wicklow, as you are guaranteed to see all the best spots Wicklow has to offer! Once on-board with our award-winning team, you will have an experience like no other and see why our tour from Dublin to Wicklow is the best selling tour we have to offer!
How do I get to the Wicklow Mountains from Dublin?
Leaving Dublin city centre behind, you will make your way to the Wicklow Mountains via Ballsbridge, and then you will take to the N15 towards Gleencree, Lough Tay, Sally Gap and the P.S. I Love You Bridge.
From there, you will take a scenic drive to Glendalough via R115 before passing through a small rural town called Clara Vale via the R755 towards Avoca. Once your trip to the Wicklow Mountains has come to an end, you will take the N11 home to Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1.
How long does it take to get from Dublin to Wicklow?
Our tour to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains from Dublin will be an eight-an-half hour return trip.
