The Giant's Causeway, a surprising walk in the footsteps of the giants in Northern Ireland!

The Giant's Causeway lies in the very north of the country. From Belfast, theAntrim Coast Road is a must if you want to explore the coastline and the sea as far as Scotland.

The ancestral home of the Earls of Antrim

Some forty kilometres from the capital, Glenarm is a charming coastal village marked by the manor house of the Earls of Antrim, which remains in impeccable condition. Stop off for a visit. You can even spend the night here (at least in one of the glamping pods in the superb grounds).

During your stopover - or your stay - you can enjoy the produce from his organic farm, or treat yourself to his tea room in the style of an English lord. There's even a mini Land Rover circuit for children to take behind the wheel. The park is also the venue for the annual Highland Games. You may be lucky enough to come along at that time.

The Glens of Antrim

Stop off at the harbour marina before continuing on through the Glens of Antrim, the county's small range of mountains and valleys. There are 9 glens, and the port of Carnlough in the west is an authentic stopover before visiting the listed village of Cushendun.

The little port is picturesque, and the twenty or so middle-class houses stuck together on its cornice add to its charm. You'll also be intrigued by the sea-beaten caves on the seafront. Take a stroll there, well covered. And since the sea air makes you hungry, stop off for an apple pie at Mary McBride 's Bar (2 Main Street).

On the road to the Giant's Causeway to the east, look out for the remains that dot the glen. Less than 2 kilometres north of Cushendun, a circular mass of stone called Altagore Cashel stands out in a field. It is a small ringfort erected by the Celts in the early years of our era.

The Torr Head Scenic Road

The road runs along the crest of the cliffs, giving you a breathtaking view of the waves below! This brings you to the Torr Head Scenic Road. Stroll along the immense windswept beaches, stopping at Torr Head and Murlough Bay to take in the full extent of the seascape before you.

A UNESCO-listed site

The Giant's Causeway is an impressive 70 hectares, with a long tongue jutting out into the sea like a stone jetty that has collapsed. The mineral columns, known poetically as "basaltic organs", act as a barrier to the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The site resembles an architectural edifice teeming with polyhedral columns emerging from the earth. Like an ancient pavement sinking into the water. Like giant pencils stuck together, sticking out of a huge ink pot. In reality, it's a natural mineral formation, giant prisms that reproduce just the shape of the crystals they're made of. Their horizontal ends resemble paving stones emerging from the earth. Hence the idea of a "roadway".

The legend of the giant Finn MacCool

When you arrive - or leave - you're bound to want to know more, and that's what the visitor centre is there for. You'll learn about the legend of the giant Finn MacCool, who is said to have been responsible for sinking the organs into the sea. He decided to go and fight the other giant, Benandonner, in Scotland, so he built a huge stone-paved jetty in the sea between the two islands so that he could cross on foot. And the story works. Because on the other side of the sea, on the Scottish coast, more precisely on theisland of Staffa, the same basaltic organs emerge from the waves, formations found only in these two places on the entire planet. This has given rise to the legend of an ancient causeway that has disappeared into the depths, but which linked the two islands.

To escape the wrath of the Irishman, Benandonner disguised himself as a baby on the advice of his wife. We're in the middle of Gargantua! So Finn, who imagined himself to be the size of his father, got scared and took to his heels, all the while taking care to destroy the pavement so that Daddy Benandonner wouldn't come and show him what he's made of. All in all, a Rabelaisian fable.

Visitor centre explanations

More down-to-earth, the visitor centre has a room explaining the unique geological phenomenon of these basalt prisms, the largest of which are 12 metres high, and their history.

Dunluce and Ballintoy Castle

Everyheroic fantasy author has always drawn inspiration from Celtic and Norse mythologies and their tortured landscapes. So it's hardly surprising that the makers of 'Game of Thrones' found County Antrim to be a fitting backdrop for their famous series. In fact, most of the series' exteriors were shot here.

Few castles in Europe, like Dunluce Castle, are built on rocky spurs that literally fall into the sea. Dating back to the 13th century, it was fought over by the McQuillan and McDonald families. It lies 3 kilometres west of Bushmills.

Now very much in ruins, it can be seen in the series from the foot of the cliff, an imposing landmark of the "Iron Islands", completely reconstructed using computer-generated images. That said, the castle remains one of the most beautiful on theAntrim Coast Road.

Around ten kilometres to the east of the Giant's Causeway is the small port of Ballintoy. It too is featured in the series. The wild coastline around it is remarkable. This is also where you'll find the world-famous site of Carrick-a-Rede.

Here, there are sublime cliffs and suspension bridges where you come to be impressed. Two places are famous for this: Gobbins Cliff Path and Carrick-a-Rede.

Gobbins Cliff Path

This cliff-hugging coastal walk is close to Belfast. More than just a stroll, it's a hike of almost 5 kilometres. First, the artificial path, made of metal tubes and platforms, follows the very uneven relief of the cliffs.

The entire length of this suspended footbridge will follow the contours of the cliff. Metal staircases or steps carved into the stone, going up and down. It's not an easy walk. A metal belvedere juts out over the sea, offering one breathtaking view after another. You can even pass through the rock via the Wise's Eye, a gaping hole that leads to underwater caves. If you're interested in seabirds, you're likely to come across several species: the unusual puffin, often accompanied by cormorants and even little penguins.

A sea cruise from Ballylumford offers you the chance to do the same thing, but this time at water level.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

At Ballintoy, this rope bridge is suspended above the void to allow access to the small island of Carrick (Carrick Island). It was once used by salmon fishermen to reach their fishing grounds. Today, it's a tourist attraction offering beautiful views of the coast and ocean, while suspending you in the air and spray. In summer, it's very crowded.

We're not going to lie, the experience is pretty impressive because this bridge is really made of rope (and wooden planks on the ground). As a result, it rocks, even when there's no wind! It's a way of reliving what Irish fishermen had to endure on a daily basis in days gone by. A thrill guaranteed!