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Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway Green Trail

Visitors exploring the Green Trail at the Giant's Causeway, County Antrim
Visitors exploring the Green Trail at the Giant's Causeway | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Follow a 2-mile clifftop trail towards Runkerry in Northern Ireland located next to the Giant's Causeway. There are views of the famous stones along the way and on most days you can see Scotland and the Inishowen Peninsula. Part of this tranquil walk follows the route of the Bushmills Heritage Railway and there are significant numbers of breeding skylarks, stonechats, linnets and the occasional chough to spot.

Start point

Causeway Hotel, OSNI grid ref: C944438

Trail information

Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2 (km: 3.2)
Duration1 hour 30 mins
Dog friendly***
  1. *Steep in places. For further details, please see Terrain section.

  2. **This is an accessible trail. For further details, please see section marked Access.

  3. ***Dogs on leads are welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Views

Take in views from the Great Stookan to the Scottish Isle of Islay.

  • Total stages: 3

    Total stages: 3

    Start point

    Causeway Hotel, OSNI grid ref: C944438

    Stage 1

    Start at the Causeway Hotel, where there's a path on the left side of the building leading towards the cliff path. Turn left and just follow the path towards Runkerry Head. On your right side you'll have views of the Causeway stones and the chimney tops. On a clear day you can also see right across to Scotland.

    A wheelchair user accessing information along the Green Trail at the Giant's Causeway in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland
    There are fully accessible information signs along the Green Trail | © National Trust / Art Ward

    Stage 2

    Pack a picnic and stop at the accessible picnic area, the perfect place to take in views of the Giant's Causeway to the east and Runkerry Head to the west. Carry on from the picnic area and you will come to a T-junction. Turn left to continue on around to Runkerry Head or turn right to take the alternate clifftop path back towards the visitor centre and hotel. It should take approximately 15 minutes to return from this point.

    Stage 3

    To your left you'll see Portcoon Cave. Walkers can continue on around the Runkerry Trail to the left but this is the end of the accessible walk as there are wooden stiles further on the trail. Your return path to the visitor centre/hotel is approximately a 25-minute walk from this point.

    Runkerry Head with the view of Humphrey the giant camel on the Green Trail at the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland
    View of Runkerry Head on the Giant's Causeway Green Trail | © National Trust / Cliff Henry

    End point

    Causeway Hotel, OSNI grid ref: C944438

    Trail map

    Map showing the route of the Giant's Causeway Green Trail in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland
    Giant's Causeway Green Trail map | © Crown Copyright (2013) Land and Property Services permit no.120099

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Get in touch

44 Causeway Road, Bushmills, County Antrim, BT57 8SU

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

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