Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has step-free level access and automatic doors.
- This entrance is the visitor centre exit.
- There is not a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating and on site-transport.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is located ahead from the visitor centre entrance, up the ramp to the exhibit area, then right into the toilet area. View information about this toilet (new tab).
- Additional toilet facilities with adaptations for disabled people are located ahead and to the left from the car park 1 toilets entrance. View information about this toilet (new tab).
Admissions
- At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: outdoor areas, trails, and access to the toilets by car park 1.
- At this location the following areas are free to access for National Trust members but payable for everyone else: parking, guided/audio tours, access to the visitor centre, including the café, shop, and exhibition area.
- This site offers companion or carer discounts.
Public Transport
- There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the site.
- The nearest train station is Portrush.
- Portrush Station is approximately 8 miles away.
There is a regular bus service from the station to the Giant's Causeway bus stop. - For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Translink (opens new tab).
Parking (Car Park 1)
- This site has a car park.
- This is an open air car park with a block paved surface.
- Parking is free for National Trust members, but charges apply for all other visitors.
- Maps and information boards are not available.
- There are more than 10 Blue Badge parking bays.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 240cm x 470cm.
- There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
- The nearest Blue Badge bay is 15m from the visitor centre entrance.
- Obstacles from the car park include: dropped kerbs, slopes/ramps, a road crossing and bollards with low colour contrast and no visual identification band.
- There are not parent and child parking bays available.
- There is not a designated drop-off point.
Parking (Car Park 2 - Visitor Experience)
- This site has a car park.
- This is an open air car park with a block paved surface.
- Parking is free for National Trust members, but charges apply for all other visitors.
- Maps and information boards are not available.
- There are no Blue Badge parking bays available.
- Obstacles from the car park include: dropped kerbs, slopes/ramps, a lack of pedestrian walkways to cross the car park and bollards with low colour contrast and no visual identification band.
- There are not parent and child parking bays available.
- There is not a designated drop-off point.
Parking (Causeway Coast Way Car Park)
- This site has a car park.
- This is an open air car park with a tarmac surface.
- Parking is free for National Trust members, but charges apply for all other visitors.
- There are clearly presented payment signs.
- Maps and information boards are available.
- There are 4 Blue Badge parking bays.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 236cm x 470cm.
- There is a hatched zone on one side and to the rear.
- The nearest Blue Badge bay is 400m from the visitor centre entrance.
- Obstacles from the car park include: slopes/ramps, level changes with no dropped kerbs and a lack of pedestrian walkways to cross the car park.
- There are not parent and child parking bays available.
- There is not a designated drop-off point.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs and mountain trikes. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: ear defenders, fidget toys and soft toy.
- You can borrow these from the Visitor Welcome desk within the Visitor Centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: mobility scooters. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from the Visitor Welcome desk within the Visitor Centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- All items are available to loan for Visitor Experience ticket holders at no additional charge and are available on a first come, first served basis from the Visitor Welcome desk within the Visitor Centre.
Route to (the Blue Trail and Giant's Causeway)
- Head through the visitor centre to the rear exit.
The Blue Trail to the Giant's Causeway is on the path ahead. - The route to the area is step-free level.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
Exit (Visitor Centre to Blue Trail)
- The exit is located at the rear of the visitor centre.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
- The width of the opening is 146cm.
Outdoor Spaces (The Giant's Causeway)
- This information is for the access point located at the exit from the visitor centre.
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- There is open access at the surveyed access point.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: concrete or tarmac, cobbled, grass and loose stones.
- Footpaths are available in some of the outdoor space.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no step-free level access around the area.
- There are slight ramps/slopes without handrails, steep ramps/slopes without handrails and more than 3 steps with handrails in the main areas.
- The route to the Giant's Causeway has slight and steep slopes throughout.
The Giant's Causeway itself can be accessed by steps from the pavement. - There are some bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
Hikes and Trails (Blue Trail)
- The trail is approximately 0.8 miles long.
- Follow the path from the visitor centre exit.
The route is entirely covered by a tarmac pavement, and includes some very steep inclines.
From Giant's Causeway at the end, return by the same route to the visitor centre. - The hike is open 24 hours.
- None of the paths are lit at night.
- The route includes the following surfaces: tarmac.
- Some of the route contains steep gradients.
- These are found in the following areas: from the start of the trail and at various points throughout.
- There are no alternative routes to avoid these areas.
- The route is not clearly signposted.
- The route has information boards with large maps.
- Seating is available on the route.
- There are no toilet facilities along the route.
- A regular bus can shuttle visitors along the route and back.
The bus is wheelchair accessible, with a designated wheelchair space.
There is a charge of £1 to use the bus.