Would you like to enjoy a stunning coast walk away from the crowds at the Causeway?
A cruise excursion to the Giant’s Causeway is one of the most popular ways to spend your time in Belfast port. Our tour is the ONLY one available that takes you on a two hour quality walk along much more of the coastline than those travelling only on a coach tour usually get to see. This is a very authentic experience for those who want to see Ireland’s famously beautiful scenery the best way possible; up close and on foot.
Just like our full day tour option from Belfast, we proudly work in association with Irish Tour Tickets for the coach part of this tour. However, after a short photo stop at a castle we separate those who have opted for a small group coastal walking tour from the main coach for a 2 hour walk at the Giant’s Causeway coast.
Your Cruise excursion also includes luxury coach transfer with a guide, dedicated walking guide for the coast, two castle photo stops, the Carrick A Rede rope bridge viewing point, Antrim coast drive, stop in coastal village and a Belfast City highlights tour at the end.
More Information
A selection of reviews from those who have done this tour. See more at Tripadvisor.
“Great views, fresh air, good conversation, what’s not to love?”
“Brilliant”
“Highlight or our trip”.
“Great way to avoid the crowds at the Causeway”.
“Stunning coastline”.
Cruise excursions allow visitors to experience the best each port has to offer. This Giant’s Causeway coast walk tour offers that bit more by allowing you some real quality time hiking in the beauty of the landscape.
The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it sees a huge growth in visitors on Cruise ship days. This coast walking option ‘skirts’ around those crowds and allows you to experience the very best of the landscape and some quality time off the ship and off the coach. This walk is shorter than the high cliff path offered on our regular full day tour but still offers some amazing scenery including a beautiful beach walk and a way to reach the Causeway site from the opposite direction to how the crowds arrive. You’ll pay a little extra than for a standard Cruise excursion but you will realise why on the tour. The walking part of your tour is for a very small intimate group of no more than 12 people.
The walk is 4 miles (6.5k) and is enjoyed over two hours including a visit to the Causeway stones.
The rest of the day is enjoyed on a much larger coach tour but it provides all the luxurious comforts of quality transport and the opportunity to see all that travelling by coach has to offer on this world famous coast. Your driver/guide will even show you the highlights of Belfast city at the end of the tour. Your coach driver will get you back to your ship in plenty of time.
- Depart dock at 8.30 a.m. or thirty minutes after docking if you arrive later.
- Visit to Dunluce Castle for a photo stop.
- Separate from the full coach tour to enjoy a dedicated small group guided coast walk with a dedicated walking tour guide.
- Return to coach tour.
- Stop at Carrick – A – Rede rope bridge viewing point for amazing coastal scenery and photo.
- Enjoy a relaxed coastal drive through Irish coastal villages including Cushendall, Waterfoot, Carnlough and Glenarm, stopping at one of them along the way.
- Enjoy a Belfast city highlights tour.
- Return to ship.
How many people are on the tour?
The coast walk is in groups usually between 7 and 12, but never more on a Cruise day.
How fit do I need to be?
Fit enough to enjoy a 4 mile (8k) coast walk but you don’t need to be a marathon runner. Just about average and make sure you enjoy the outdoors.
Do we stop to take it all in?
The cliff hike is in groups usually between 7 and 14, but never more.The walking tour is at a ‘walking’ pace between photo and commentary stops. The stops however are frequent and utterly breathtaking. You’ll have great time to soak it all in.
What is the weather like?
Irish! Changeable… very changeable. Pack a light raincoat, wear good walking shoes or boots and otherwise wear layers. We have only done a handful of tours where it has rained the entire time. The wind blows, the sun shines, the rain falls… often all on the same tour!
How long do I get at the Causeway stones?
Most walking tours will get between 15 and 25 minutes to clamber around the stones at the end of the tour. That is ample time in addition to seeing the Causeway coast.
Is the path flat?
For the coast walk on Cruise days the path is much flatter than the high cliff path but will still involve some elevation.
When do I eat lunch?
Bring a light lunch or snacks from the ship. Weather depending you will either eat on the walk, or on the coach after or later when you make a coastal village stop.
Why are jeans not a good idea?
Demin is very cold and uncomfortable if it gets wet. We rarely have a lot of rain, believe it or not, however jeans can stay wet for hours after just a short shower.
Are the guides qualified?
Yes and extraordinarily passionate and experienced. All our guides have a host of training and experience. All guides are first aid trained. Qualifications vary across guides and include Mountain Leadership, Tour Guiding, World Host training and First Aid with an Outdoor focus, plus many others. From understanding the geology to knowing how to get the coast guard if someone hurts themselves, we have the perfect combination of passion and skill. (By the way… so far we have not needed to call the coast guard!).
Do you ever cancel due to weather conditions?
It is very rare for us to cancel a tour. If we need to we will refund the walk cost of your tour and you can still enjoy the standard coach part of the tour.
What if the ship does not dock?
We will provide a full refund.
For cancellation up to 72 hours prior to departure date a 15% administration fee will be charged.
For cancellation less than 72 hours prior to departure date or a ‘no-show’ the full amount will be charged.
We strongly encourage all our customers to have adequate travel insurance to compensate for unforeseen cancellations etc.
We will issue a full refund if your ship does not dock.
