The Giant’s Ring is a megalithic site dating from the Neolithic period. Located near Belfast in Northern Ireland, this is one of the most interesting sites to visit, but also one of the most mysterious, with its dolmen and magnificent tree just a few yards away… A magical place to discover for all lovers of old stones and history… A must-see in the region!
The Giant’s Ring is located near Ballnahatty, not far from Belfast’s Shaw’s Bridge, on a plateau overlooking the lovely Lagan River. Lost in the Northern Irish countryside, it’s made up of several elements dating from different eras.
It features a circular fence, 200m in diameter – an almost perfect circle, in fact! It encircles a 4-metre-high grassy slope with 5 entrances, only one of which dates back to prehistoric Ireland.
At the very heart of this embankment lies a small, off-center dolmen, located next to a gigantic tree affectionately nicknamed “the Guardian” by the Irish. This one dates back to the Neolithic period, making it the oldest feature on the site… It was even once covered, taking on the appearance of a cairn tomb. Today, the upper table of the dolmen has slipped slightly, but is still camped on top of the lower megaliths.
The visit is quite pleasant, and the silence of the place quite enchanting!