Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope
suspension bridge near
Ballintoy,
County Antrim,
Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. The site is owned and maintained by the
National Trust, spans twenty
metres and is thirty metres above the rocks below.
[1] Today the bridge is mainly a tourist attraction, with 247,000 visitors in 2009. The bridge is now open all year round. Carrick-a-rede means 'rock in the road'. It is thought
salmon fishermen have been erecting bridges to the island for over 350 years. It has taken many forms over the years. In the 1970s it featured only a single handrail and large gaps between the slats. A version of the bridge, tested up to ten
tonnes, was built with the help of local climbers and
abseilers in 2000. A subsequent design was engineered in 2004 and offers visitors and fishermen alike a much safer passage to the island. The current wire rope and
Douglas fir bridge was made by
Heyn Construction in
Belfast and erected early in 2008 at a cost of over £16,000.
[2] Although no one has fallen off the bridge, there have been many instances where visitors, unable to face the walk back across the bridge, have had to be taken off the island by boat.[
ci The area is exceptional in natural beauty with stunning views of Rathlin Island and
Scotland. The site and surrounding area is an
Area of Special Scientific Interest, with unique
geology,
flora and
fauna. Underneath large caves are visible, which once served as home for boat builders and as shelter during stormy weather.
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| Yes, there are palm trees in Ireland and in Northern Ireland! |
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| The rope bridge was closed--we think because it was quite windy that day. |
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| Noel, Anja, and John |
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| Noel, Karen and John |
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| Anja, Karen and John |
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| Anja and Noel |
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