Map of the Giants Causeway

1989 - Photograph by kind permission of the School of Electrical Eng. - Queens University Belfast

Once the download is complete you can run your mouse over the titles at the right of the photograph to identify the locations. The photo taken 1989 shows the headlands of the Giants Causeway from Benanouran Head in the foreground to Runkerry Point, the roof of Runkerry House can be seen in the distance just to the left of Runkerry Point. The cliff top walk is still open and can be negotiated from the Causeway Visitor Centre above Portnaboe around as far as Portbraddon, if your lucky and have neap tide then it is possible to walk onto Whitepark Bay beach from Portbraddon. The visible lower mid cliff path is closed from Port Reostan due to slope failures (rockfalls) which have destroyed the path at several locations. In the photograph you can see a red layers of soil (Laterite) exposed on the headlands either side of Port na Spaniagh, this extends on round into Port Reostan -it is this layer, sandwiched between two harder basaltic layers which is prone to weathering and in turn leads to slope failure. It is very unlikely that the old path will ever be re-opened.   Portcoon (Narrow harbour) is famous for its sea cave which extends in some two hundred yards and is accessible from the landward side - with tales of smuggling and ghostly pipers it was a popular spot for Victorian visitors who would hire local boatmen to take them round from Brenther boat slip in Portnaboe or Black Rock boat slip below Runkerry House. In Portnaboe (Port of the cow) you will find remains of low stone walls. Several theories exist as to their purpose and perhaps three were correct are correct - one theory is that they were built to pen sheep or cattle - another that they were used to dry seaweed harvested from the shore, the third and most intriguing, is that they were built by the Vikings for wintering at the causeway. It is known that Vikings used their boats when wintering over - they would build a low stone wall the shape of the hull, the boat would then be turned upside down and secured, providing an excellent waterproof shelter. The Vikings are well documented in the history of Ulster, they first came here in small 'hit and run' raiding parties, then later with fleets and eventually they made land bases in attempts to conquer the country.

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1989 - Photograph by kind permission of the School of Electrical Eng. - Queens University Belfast
Once the download is complete you can run your mouse over the titles at the right of the photograph to identify the locations. The photo taken 1989 shows the headlands of the Giants Causeway from Benanouran Head in the foreground to Runkerry Point, the roof of Runkerry House can be seen in the distance just to the left of Runkerry Point. The cliff top walk is still open and can be negotiated from the Causeway Visitor Centre above Portnaboe around as far as Portbraddon, if your lucky and have neap tide then it is possible to walk onto Whitepark Bay beach from Portbraddon. The visible lower mid cliff path is closed from Port Reostan due to slope failures (rockfalls) which have destroyed the path at several locations. In the photograph you can see a red layers of soil (Laterite) exposed on the headlands either side of Port na Spaniagh, this extends on round into Port Reostan -it is this layer, sandwiched between two harder basaltic layers which is prone to weathering and in turn leads to slope failure. It is very unlikely that the old path will ever be re-opened. Portcoon (Narrow harbour) is famous for its sea cave which extends in some two hundred yards and is accessible from the landward side - with tales of smuggling and ghostly pipers it was a popular spot for Victorian visitors who would hire local boatmen to take them round from Brenther boat slip in Portnaboe or Black Rock boat slip below Runkerry House. In Portnaboe (Port of the cow) you will find remains of low stone walls. Several theories exist as to their purpose and perhaps three were correct are correct - one theory is that they were built to pen sheep or cattle - another that they were used to dry seaweed harvested from the shore, the third and most intriguing, is that they were built by the Vikings for wintering at the causeway. It is known that Vikings used their boats when wintering over - they would build a low stone wall the shape of the hull, the boat would then be turned upside down and secured, providing an excellent waterproof shelter. The Vikings are well documented in the history of Ulster, they first came here in small 'hit and run' raiding parties, then later with fleets and eventually they made land bases in attempts to conquer the country.
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