Northern Ireland / Giants Causeway trip... any suggestions?

[Gimpymoo]

Have got some time coming up in Nothern Ireland, will have a car so planning a trip to the Causeway and travel around the coast.

Is the Causeway visitor centre worth going to or is it a naff tourist trap?

Any suggestions of things to see?

I notice a few old churches and and nice beaches scattered around the coast.

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

 

[Gimpymoo]

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately, the rope bridge is closed owing to covid. I did want to do that

Do you have to pay to walk along the Causeway coast?

We have approximately 10 hours to do as we please so will be a "mad dash" but I think we can do what we want to get a taster.

 

[Gimpymoo]

I believe that you can walk round or to the side of the visitor centre without paying to get into it, but its not obvious that this is possible as they try and make everyone go through the visitor centre. I think you still have to pay parking. I've asked my sister in law if this is still the case as she lives down the road.

Edit - sister in law says you can

Top notch.

Thank you for asking.

Any ideas if you can pay for parking by itself at the visitor centre or anywhere else you can park nearby, paid or not.

 

[Gimpymoo]

Had a great day Yesterday.. weather was very kind to us and a great first time in Northern Ireland.

We went to:

Giants Causeway
Portrush
Castlerock
CS Lewis park in Belfast and had a walk around to see some of the Murals in Newtownards and see the Titanic Yardmen sculpture.

I thought Castlerock was beautiful, unspoilt, not over commercialised. Will definitely go back to spend some more time around there.

The Causeway is a great place, HOWEVER, something about the National Trust as "custodians" grinds my nuts. They do not allow "parking" only. The guy said "You can pay £33 for the family" (Visitor centre pass with free parking).... yeah, OK. Oddly, everyone else we met on the day was nice to talk to but I cannot say the same for those at The National Trust. I am certain some people just pay as they think that is just how it is not realising it is open countryside, especially foreign tourists. There is a severe lack of signage for those unfamiliar.

We went to Bushmills railway and paid £8 and walked up to the causeway from there, we went on the route which takes you along the top and normally, you can drop down the hill but that path is closed owing to covid/people being close proximity so we walked back and took the lower path. The staff at Bushmills Railway were super friendly.

Also... what is the deal with the peas? We got some fish and chips which were great... but the peas were not mushy... a local thing or just a crap chip shop thing?