Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

En-route to Portrush, while driving the Antrim Coast, we stopped to see the Eastern-most tourist landmark on our list, the famed Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge (I better copy that so I don't have to type it very many more times).  The bridge was built by Scots-Irish Salmon fishers as a shortcut to get from the craggy rocks of the mainland out to the craggy rocks of the small islands jutting out into the sea.  These fishers used to run salmon nets in the sea inlets between these small islands, and the rope bridge gave them easy access.

View of the islands from a distance

It was a modest but beautiful walk from the car park to the bridge, over high cliffs in a light mist.  When we hit the perfect angle, we caught sight of a rainbow in the gloom reaching to the sea.  The photos make the weather look much more cold and miserable than it was.  The weather was rather warm and the winds only moderate, so don't be fooled by the darkness and rain in the photos.

Check my spelling with this photo

A Rainbow

First look at the bridge

The bridge is modern and maintained regularly, so there aren't any real safety concerns.  That is difficult to remember when looking at the bridge, especially if one looks down in the middle!  We crossed the bridge without taking any photos during the cross- we were focused on getting to terra firma on the other side.  We played around on the sea islands, enjoying the salty breeze and a look back at the rocky shoreline.

Obligatory Cory-Looking-at-the-Water Photo

After bounding along on the islands, we crossed the bridge back to the mainland.  This time, we got photos looking down the rocky death below and proof of us on the bridge.

Don't look...d'oh!

Sara crosses in the wind

Others on the bridge for perspective

When back on solid ground, we hiked up to the highest point on the trail for a look at what we had just done.  When we saw some other travelers on the bridge to give it height perspective, we were extra proud of ourselves for braving the cross and toughing it out on a magical day in Northern Ireland.

...Onward to Portrush!