Legend has it that the thousands of mostly hexagonal basalt columns on Ireland’s northern coast are the remnants of a causeway built to bring two giants together for a fight. According to geologists, they’re the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. By all accounts, they’re mesmerizing.

Pick your way along the stepping stones, ascending and descending the columns like stairs. Follow them right to the water’s edge, where they disappear beneath the roiling ocean.

Travel to and from this UNESCO World Heritage Site by private car, moving through bucolic countryside. Then tailor your visit to include different hikes, viewpoints, and legendary stories.