Cross Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge In The Dead Of Winter
There’s a Discover Ireland ad that’s been running for a few years with an American couple (I think their names are something like Barb and Bob) crossing a rope suspension bridge over some seriously scary rocks in Northern Ireland. That bridge is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge located in Antrim and it suspends 66 ft/20 meters between cliffs at Ballintoy and Rocky Island and is 98 ft/30 meters above the rugged ocean below.
The bridge, which has taken many forms over the years, was built over 350 years ago and has been used mostly by fisherman until recently. Unbelievably, the bridge only had one single rail with widely placed panels up until 2000 when it was upgraded to a sturdier version. Today it’s a major tourist attraction (and no longer used by fisherman) and is crossed by over 200,000 visitors a year. There’s no need to be scared by the prospect of traversing it though. There has never been any instance of someone falling from the bridge; however, some people who have crossed it one way haven’t had the courage to cross back! (You can catch a boat back if fear really strikes you.) While I haven’t ever crossed the bridge myself, I’ve been told the area boasts some seriously beautiful scenery, rare stalagmites, and caves once home to boat builders. It sounds well worth a bit of fear for the experience and the views. (Side note: Sadly some of the landscape has been destroyed due to quarrying in the 1950s.)
Each year around October or November, the bridge is completely taken down and packed up. This year, however, the owners have decided to leave it be. The bridge, which can only be crossed by eight people at a time, will now be open year-round unless the wind speed (which is closely monitored) reaches a dangerous speed.
I would love to walk across the rope bridge in the dead of winter but admittedly the idea terrifies me. I visited the Cliffs of Moher one windy and dark February day and it was far more exciting than when I visited it on a sunny summer’s day. Perhaps a trip to Carrick-a-Rede this winter will be as memorable.
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interesting that they pack it up for the winter. i wonder what that process is even like. and who are the owners?
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