Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway named the UK's third most incredible sight

Giant's Causeway on the Co-Antrim coast. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Giant's Causeway on the Co-Antrim coast. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Giant's Causeway on the Co-Antrim coast. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

THE iconic basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway have been named the UK's third most incredible sight by leading travel media company, Lonely Planet.

Its new ranked `ultimate UK travel hitlist' of the 500 most memorable, beautiful, surprising and compelling experiences across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands is revealed today.

Lonely Planet's community of travel experts chose ranked "the best sights and experiences... in order of their brilliance".

The Giant's Causeway is described as "timeless" and "unrepeatable" and is beaten only by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which has been named the UK's top experience, and London's British Museum - branded "the envy of the world" - at number two.

Twenty sights and experiences in Northern Ireland feature in the list, from sipping Guinness at the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast at number 154, to spotting puffins and seals on Rathlin Island at 194.