Interactive 50-state rockhounding map, locations, rules and field guides
REVIEWED LOCATION
Giant's Causeway — Protected Basalt World Heritage Geology Rockhounding Status & Field Guide
The Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland’s flagship columnar-basalt geosite. UNESCO records that historic removal of souvenir stones ceased after protection, so the explorer treats it as a red no-removal record.
Protected / viewing statusVery high evidencevisitor-centre map precisionCurrent review cycle freshnessImportant: Do not remove stones, chip basalt or insert objects into the protected columns.
What is here
Paleogene columnar-jointed basalt lava flows and coastal volcanic geology
Materials / interest: Basalt
Collecting and access
Protected geology viewing only. No removal of Causeway stones or geological specimens is represented.
Navigate to the official visitor centre or use public coastal paths; visitor-centre parking/services may require booking/payment even though pedestrian access to the stones can be free.
Detailed status
prohibited
Permission
Not flagged
Permit
Not flagged
Fee
Not flagged
Guide
Not flagged
Booking
Not flagged
Surface collecting
no
Hammering
no
Digging
no
Safety
Exposed Atlantic coast, wet and slippery basalt, steep paths, waves and cliff hazards.