Giants Causeway

anotherginger

Does anyone know if you can still visit the giants causeway for free? The National Trust website gives a price for the Visitor Experience, but doesn't say whether or not you can still go to the causeway for free.

The website says 'From summer 2012 a per head visitor experience charge will apply'. If it was a nominal amount it wouldn't be so bad, but I'm planning on taking a few friends for a fleeting visit (it will literally be down to the stones and up again because we've got a pretty full itinery). The per head adult price is 8.50.

RTNI

We were there at the start of February, car parking is £6 in all the car parks. We decided to get the shuttle bus from Bushmills for £2 each or there abouts.

If the national trust begin charging for access to the causeway then that will be terrible IMO.

Is there any info on trip advisor from recent visitors?

anotherginger

I got a response from the NT today, so good news is that it is still free to get to the causeway.

The 8.50 charge includes your parking, visitor centre and audio guide. This means that to park onsite you now need to pay the 8.50. Alternatively, as you say, you can park and ride from Bushmills.

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

We were there recently & there's another shuttle bus that you can take down to the coast from outside the visitors centre for £2 return or £1 single I think. Would recommend walking down for the views & getting the bus back as it's uphill!

rolo1_2

So if you get shuttle bus from Bushmills, what are the additional charges? - I assume you don't have to pay to get into the visitor centre/shop?

A.L.D.A

Do wish the National Trust would re-open the lower coastal path. It was by far the best part of the Causeway.

smsmith

anotherginger wrote: »

I got a response from the NT today, so good news is that it is still free to get to the causeway.

The 8.50 charge includes your parking, visitor centre and audio guide. This means that to park onsite you now need to pay the 8.50. Alternatively, as you say, you can park and ride from Bushmills.

Sorry if I'm being thick, but as a NT member what do I have to pay for?
Thanks

Coolhandluke

smsmith wrote: »

Sorry if I'm being thick, but as a NT member what do I have to pay for?
Thanks

Your petrol to get there,food in the restaurant but everything else is free to NT members :beer:

x12yhp

Coolhandluke wrote: »

Your petrol to get there,food in the restaurant but everything else is free to NT members :beer:

I do not believe this is necessarily the case. Prior to this whole change, NT members could NOT go free because the parking was borough council and not NT. As a member this peed me off repeatedly.

rolo1_2

I think the new pricing policy is not very fair (some would say it is sneaky)

If you are a NT member it is all free. If you arrive and don't need parking I think you can walk down to causeway for free. However if you want just a coffee at the cafe or to buy something in the shop it will cost an adult the full £8.50 for the 'Causeway Experience'

HeadAboveWater

They're probably charging to try and make back some of the money they spent on the centre. Which I guess is fair enough in a way, but that's it gone on the 'free-day-out-to-do-list' which is a bummer
I may stick to thumbing a lift and a picnic me thinks