How’s your head for heights? A narrow, swinging bridge, 20 metres long and suspended 100 feet above the rocks and sea below, links mainland Northern Ireland with a tiny outcropping of volcanic rock known as Carrick-a-Rede.
Many years ago it was a much more precarious crossing, when salmon fishermen would use the bridge to check their nets, before the catch here dried up. Today the bridge is one of the country’s most beloved visitor attractions - around a quarter of a million people every year make the trip across and back, though every now and again some lose their nerve and have to be rescued from the island!
One of the main reasons people cross the Carrick-a-Rede bridge is because of the area’s wild beauty. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest on account of the unique and diverse geology, flora and fauna present. Indeed, it is a popular haunt of birdwatchers who come for the kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills that nest here. On a clear day, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Scottish islands and the Causeway Coastline.
Found just outside Ballintoy, County Antrim, the bridge is open year-round subject to weather conditions - put it this way, you wouldn’t want to cross it in a thunderstorm - and a small fee is payable that contributes to its upkeep.
So if you’re a bit of a thrillseeker, why not channel your inner Indiana Jones and take the challenge of crossing this infamous chasm?
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