Superb natural site - but greed gets in the way (Giants Causeway)

Member Name: Alex

Product:	Giants Causeway
Date:	25/08/08 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing rocks and beautiful coast

Disadvantages: Expensive parking and tacky tourist operation

This is a must-visit destination, but try to avoid peak times and weekends. It is truly amazing but its not well managed. Contrary to what one of the other reviewers say, its an easy walk to the accessible part of the causeway. They have long since closed the most beautiful part which was a more difficult walk. Anyone with normal fitness should be able to see the most important parts by foot. The buses are there for others. Unfortunately the buses share the same road as the pedestrians and go far too fast. I supect htey have been told to get up and down quickly so as to make more money but they are too fast and aggressive. This is just one instance of greed that detracts from this attraction and its down to the National Trust. They also "run" the tacky shop, the shack like visitor centre, the toilets and the buses. It looks like they are only really interested in earning money from this. The toilets are a disgrace - really smelly and dirty and the interpretation is almost non-existent. Teh other detraction is Moyle District Council who have obviously asked the question "what is the maximum amount we can get out of the tourist here and how?". The answer is to build a big car park and charge 5 pounds per car (2008). It takes 1-2 hours to see the Causeway, so that's pretty extortionate but they have managed to get the roads nearby yellow lined so that you have no choice (although lots of people sneak in trough the hotel car park and don't pay and display).

Summary: Try to visit off peak - avoid the car parking and the tourist shop.