The Giant's Causeway might not be the best-known WHS, but it really is a classic. Already in the late 19th century, it was a tourist site, luring visitors with its exceptional natural beauty. Its peculiar volcanic features have been the center of a scientific debate between Volcanists (who claimed that it was the result of volcanic eruptions) and Neptunists (who pointed to the crystallization of seawater), and still attract geologists from all over the world. Before science, the stones were part of a legend, in which the Irish Giant Finn Maccool built the Causeway as stepping-stones to Scotland to meet his rival Giant Benandonner. And the Causeway was part of the first batch of UK WHS, which means that it was selected earlier than landmarks like Westminster and the Tower of London.

In 2008 the Causeway Coast still is Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attraction. I visited on a stormy Saturday in February when there were about 100 other people scattered around the site. The stretch of coast included in the WHS is about 6 km long. I did the circular walk, starting along the ridge and returning via the road near the coast. This way the most spectacular area (the polygonal basalt blocks) is at the end of the tour. The walking itself is a pleasure also, as you see many other volcanic features along the way. The stormy weather made the waves of the Atlantic Ocean bump into the black rocks with much noise and splatter.

A remarkable thing is that there is no entrance fee to the site. Near the parking lot, there are only some souvenir shops and a building by the National Trust, which owns the area. There have been a lot of discussions last year about whether a private company was allowed to take over. It was decided against, but I hope the National Trust will make more of it than what it has now and produce a really good visitor center. There are so many stories to tell about this site.