Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, one of the must-see sights along Northern Ireland’s spectacular Causeway Coastal Route, reopens in February for the brave-hearted.
Spanning 20 metres and suspended almost 30 metres above the crashing waves, the narrow rope bridge provides an adrenaline-charged passage to tiny Carrick Island, home to a single fisherman’s cottage that is over 400 years old.
Owned and maintained by the National Trust, it offers a breath-taking experience and equally breath-taking views.
The original bridge was erected over 250 years ago by salmon fishermen who needed to get to the island. Today’s structure is a lot more robust but still requires a spirit of adventure to cross.
Pre-booking online is essential for crossing Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, as there is a limit to the number of people who can cross in any given hour.
The bridge is situated along a 2km coastal walk offering great views of Rathlin Island and the Scottish Isles and the chance to spot guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars, as well as basking sharks and dolphins.
The walk begins at Larrybane Quarry, one of the many Game of Thrones filming locations that lie along the Causeway Coast and Glens and which can be explored on guided or self-guided tours.
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is just one of many superb stopping points along the Causeway Coastal Route, which stretches some 200km from Belfast to the walled city of Derry~Londonderry.
Just 11km along the coast from the rope bridge lies the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Giant’s Causeway. The unique landscape of basalt columns, formed over 60 million years ago, is Northern Ireland’s top visitor attraction and boasts an award-winning visitor centre.
A little way beyond that, the ruins of Dunluce Castle perch dramatically on a cliff edge and make for a great photo opportunity.
The Old Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, is also nearby. For over 400 years the distillery has been producing world-class whiskey. A tour of the distillery reveals how the craft of whiskey-making is carried out, explains the history of this famous brand and includes the chance to sample the golden elixir.
Beautiful beaches, pretty harbour villages and vibrant seaside resorts all lie within a short distance of Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge providing countless opportunities for sightseeing and exploring the delights of this remarkable coastline.
