Before I go on a trip or move someplace new I start researching where exactly I want to visit. My trusty Lonely Planet displays a gorgeous picture of a rope bridge on the cover of its Ireland guide. I knew immediately it was a place I wanted to go! A dangling rope bridge in Northern Ireland called Carrick-A-Rede, salmon fishermen originally bridged the gap in the mid-1700s. Today, thousands of tourists line up to walk the coastline and buy tickets to cross the expanse to the small island.
The Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge stuns in pictures but must be visited in person to truly savor the extraordinary experience. The bridge sways slightly as you cross from one side to the other. If you are afraid of heights and can’t muster the courage to cross the bridge, it is still a lovely walk on trails along the coastline up to the crossing area. There is no charge to walk the trail up to the bridge. The water below is a beautiful crystal clear green and blue. You can see caverns below, a beach and sheer cliffs. You can buy tickets online for the bridge or when you arrive. It can get busy during the summer months so you’ll want to get there early in the day for tickets.
One of the things to keep in mind is that high winds can close the bridge from time to time. There are also no fences on the island and if you have younger children you’ll want to keep an extra close watch. All that being said, it is stunning and well worth the visit to go see it.
