Getting to the Giant's Causeway?
 

Hopefully this isn't a rather obvious question, but how difficult is it to get to the Giant's Causeway from the car park area? Is it a long walk, or are the basalt columns right off of the parking lot? I'm trying to envision what the area will be like and how much time to plan on spending...

Right kcapuani, this is what my Thomas Cook Drive Around Ireland has to say:

Giant's Causway -
There are two approaches. It's an easy half-mile walk on the road leading down from the visitors centre (take the shuttle bus if you prefer). Alternatively, a longer path takes you along the top of the cliffs and down the Shepherd's Steps - all 162 of them - where you'll have splendid views of the cliff-face colomns known as the Organ.
It's worth walking the extra 547 yards (500m) to the Port Reostan viewpoint for a spectacular vista back across the causeway.
Near here, at Port na Spaniagh, is the wreck of the Spanish Armada galleon, the Girona, whose treasure horde can be seen in the Ulster Museum in Belfast.

Hope that helps.

I didnt find it difficult - then I am fit and able. I cant say that I saw people struggle to explore it. Are you quite frail or in a wheelchair - in which case it may be more of a challenge?

Thanks for the replies. We're in good shape, just wondering how much time to allocate to this portion of our trip since we also wanted to do the Rope bridge and Dunluce Castle in one day.

You can do them all in a day. Allowing 15 minutes for walking down to Giant's Causeway, another 15 for walking back up, then 30-45 minutes in the visitors' center for tea and cakes and looking around (or an hour if you want to have lunch) plus an hour climbing around on the rocks - you should be able to see as much as you want of the site in 2.5 hours. Carrick-a-Rede (rope bridge) and Dunluce Castle are nearby. The walk down to Carrick will take 15-30 miutes depending upon your pace and how often you stop to look at the wildflowers. An hour for crossing the bridge and looking around the island will be more than enough time - it's a very small island. Dunluce Castle is interesting mostly for its setting. An hour here is more than enough time.

Here are some photos from my visits if you're interested: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1041636.html

Thanks for the details Julia - Your photos are stunning! I just bought a new Canon Rebel for our trip to Ireland and aspire to take photos like these. Since we'll be there in June, it looks like we'll see tons of flowers. I better brush up on my "macro" skills!