Can you swim at the Giant’s Causeway?
This is a question many people have before visiting the Giant’s Causeway. I struggled to find an answer online myself to the question, “Can you swim at the Giant’s Causeway?” So I took it into my own hands and reached out to the Giant’s Causeway Help Team.
So, can you swim at the Giant’s Causeway?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. The rocks make for such a great backdrop and location to swim, but unfortunately, it is not permitted at the Giant’s Causeway. You are allowed to climb the rocks, sit on them, and do whatever you wish, but swimming will not be on the to-do list at the Giant’s Causeway.
In their email response to me, the Giant’s Causeway said, “It is not safe to swim at the Giant’s Causeway stones.”
Why can you not swim at the Giant’s Causeway?
It can only be assumed that it is simply not safe to swim in the sea at the Giant’s Causeway due to the rocks themselves. If a wave sweeps you into the rocks, I imagine they could cause quite a few injuries. As a Northern Ireland local, I can provide another reason is that the water is probably too shallow to swim “in the rocks”. You would only have the water up to your knees at the right of this image for example.
Although I’m not sure it would be the experience you’re expecting anyway! The water is absolutely freezing in Northern Ireland. Even on a sunny day, the water is still a bit chilly! You’ll enjoy the rocks more by staying out of the sea.
Things to do at the Giant’s Causeway
Since swimming at the Giant’s Causeway unfortunately isn’t on the agenda, I’ve provided a list of other fun things to do at the most popular destination in Northern Ireland. Many Belfast tours include a trip up to the north coast, so people come from all over NI to see the Causeway.
- Catch the sunset at the Causeway
Sunset at the Giant’s Causeway is one of the most stunning sights I’ve seen. It’s definitely my favourite place to watch the sunset in Northern Ireland. The purples, pinks, reds and oranges filling the sky above these beautifully unique rocks, is a sight made in heaven.
- Take lots of photos for Instagram!
The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most picturesque places in Northern Ireland. This makes for fantastic photo opportunities. There’s a reason the hashtag #giantscauseway has over 300,000 posts on Instagram!
- Learn a bit of history at the Visitor Centre
Delve into Irish legends and folklore, learning about Finn McCool and how the Giant’s Causeway came to be formed. With educational videos, interactive activities and lots of information, the visitor centre is unmissable if you visit the Giant’s Causeway!
- Check out the Causeway’s Must-See Points
The Giant’s Causeway has 4 main must-see points. The site is one of the most unique rock formations I have seen, and it’s clear why it is a World Heritage Site. The 4 must-see points are:
- Grand Causeway
- Giant’s Boot
- Wishing Chair
- The Camel
- See the Causeway from above
If you visit the Giant’s Causeway, you simply have to walk up the clifftop trails. The view they provide is outstanding and gives another breathtaking view of the rocks. Prepare for a bit of wind though, wrap up warm! It’s cold- like I said, we don’t have the temperatures to swim at the Giant’s Causeway.
Places to swim near the Giant’s Causeway
Although you are not allowed to swim at the Giant’s Causeway, they provided an alternative. They said, “there is a bay before the Giant’s Causeway called Port Ganny”. Based on images online, the rocks seem to be very similar here to the Giant’s Causeway, so you could feel what it would be like to swim at the Giant’s Causeway, without actually swimming at it.
Remember: Our water gets cold!
Another place nearby I recommend is Dunseverick Harbour, it’s less than a 15-minute drive away, and provides great opportunities to jump off the pier, have a swim and enjoy the Northern Irish Coast. Oh yeah, make sure to drive the Causeway Coast. It’s totally worth it!
Swimming at the Giant’s Causeway: Wrap Up
Well, there you have it. Despite not getting the answer we all wished for, I hope my answer to the question “Can you swim at the Giant’s Causeway?” was helpful. Please take advantage of my alternative things to do. There are so many great things to do at the Causeway and most of them are for free too!
If you are visiting Northern Ireland, you may wish to check out some of my other posts here:
