Giants of Britain
Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
The Giant’s Causeway lies on the rugged Antrim coastline. Legend has it, this strange landscape made up of 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea was the work of Finn MacCool, Ireland’s most famous giant and leader of the King of Ireland’s guards.
In one story, Finn fell in love with a Scottish giant on the island of Staffa and built this colossal pathway to bring his beloved home to Ireland. In another story Finn MacCool was being ridiculed by a Scottish giant who was shouting at him from the Scottish coast and boasting he would squash Finn with one hand if he ever got over to Ireland.
Finn was enraged and tore large pieces from the cliffs and pushed them into the sea to make a sturdy causeway to Scotland. When he had finished he shouted 'Now you'll had no excuse' – the Scottish giant eventually fled in fear.
The Giant’s Causeway is truly an unbelievable sight to see and is a designated World Heritage Site. It hard to believe the area wasn’t created by some mythical creature, but scientist insist these extraordinary formations were caused by volcanic activity some 50–60 million years ago – personally we prefer to think Finn made them!
Giant Cormoran of Cornwall
St. Michael's Mount (www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/index.htm) at Penzance is a small tidal island just off the coast of Cornwall. Legend has it St. Michael's Mount was the work of Cornish giant Cormoran who built a fortified home from where he could terrorise the locals living in the coastal village of Marazion.
According to the legend, the villages offered a reward for whoever could kill the giant and a young local boy called Jack came forward. One night, Jack crept over to the mount, dug a huge hole in one side and covered it with straw. In the morning, Jack blew on his horn to wake the giant. Enraged, he came running down the mount to flatten Jack and promptly fell into the hole, which Jack then filled in on top of him.
St. Michael's Mount is a fascinating place to visit. At low tide you can walk the cobbled causeway to explore the island’s walkways, castle, shops and restaurants. And as you walk up St. Michael's Mount, you can see Jack’s hole and, it’s said, if you put your head against the nearby rock you can still hear the giant's heart beating.
Get your Great British Heritage Pass
For any of you garden lovers or those planning a history or heritage themed trip around Britain, the essential "buy before you leave" product is the Great British Heritage Pass. Providing free entry into over 580 castles, gardens and stately homes across the length and breadth of Britain, it really is the key to unlocking Britain's secrets.
For full details and to order click here.