The Shoreline between Nature and Society, a Changing Heritage - Vulnerability of Coastal Ecosystems and Adaptation - page 174

isolation of the site has helped in preserving it from human impacts.
The latter can, however, be found all around in the area in typical
forms; such as Portrush with its beaches on the west, its golf courses
that extend all the way to the shoreline to the south, and
finally Ballentoy further east. The majestic basalt promontory
dominates these features from afar. The road leading to the Giant's
Causeway is narrow and ends in a parking lot of reasonable size, as
demure as it can be. The walker then enters the area of the Giant's
Causeway: a low building with large windows welcomes the visitors
to the right, providing leaflets with information on the site and
souvenirs. A mandatory element of the leisure civilization, where the
worst can be found alongside the best. Finally to the left, in a long
room partitioned by panels, the show begins: geological cross-sections
and historic reconstructions (up until the Catholic rebels). This is
called making good use of the natural beauty: the exhibition can be
visited before walking through the site, or it can be done after a long
walk to better seize the interest of what is being shown. Each visitor is
free to choose. We are free to watch a movie where fantasy overlaps
with realism. The owners of the site do not impose any order, but do
offer, in the religious silence of a museum, “an area of outstanding
scenic beauty”, a crowning jewel of man in the United Kingdom and
in the world, the Giant's Causeway. After the exhibition, walkers can
follow the paths and enjoy nature. The bravest walkers can take the
whole tour while visitors who are in a hurry or tired can choose
shorter options, such as the path leading to basalt sea-polished slabs. It
is recommended to use the brochure that helps in recognizing
Hamilton's Seat and Chimney Tops; with a bit of luck, a peregrine
falcon might be spotted among the 50 species that occupy the site. The
National Trust welcomes each year several hundreds of thousands of
visitors. Everything is clean, well organized, didactical and dynamic.
Protecting and promoting the coastline, and designing it for that
purpose are truly Anglo-Saxon traditions. It is not enough to open the
coast to the public, but explanations are provided as to why we should
be proud of this heritage, why the latter should be respected and,