Northern Ireland | Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

To give a little background about this bridge, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge (pronounced as kerit-a-rid) is located in Northern Ireland, in County Antrim. It links the mainland to a nearby tiny island named Carrickarede (obviously, eyes rolling), which mean ‘rock of the casting’. It is 20m in length (not that long but as it is a hanging bridge, wobbly and the sea is beneath you…. It kinda felt long. Very long to be honest). And it is 30m in height, remember what I said earlier? The sea beneath you… yup. Scary is the right word. 

350 years ago this bridge was built to assist the fishermen to fish the Atlantic salmon, itu citenya.

Photo credit : https://www.ireland.com/en-no/amazing-places/carrick-a-rede/

The bridge is maintained by the National Trust (kira macam our Jabatan Warisan Negara (Department of National Heritage, you guys this jabatan exist kan)… So the place is well kept, with proper signage, maintenance and security/experience and professional team managing the bridge. The bridge is open all year round… subject to the weather lah, kalau ribut, taufan dan petir bagai confirm diarang tutup kan.

To view my Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge videos, please click HERE.

OK, to be honest, gayat (fear of height) is my middle name.

Kid you not.

On that “wondrous” day I accepted the challenge (despite no one actually dared me, challenge apakebenda sis) to walk across this hanging bridge and back. Yup! True! There's nothing to fear but fear itself (gitewwww). Plus the fact that I've paid £8 for this, so paksa diri jalan lah kan – DEMI SEBUAH CONTENT!

#TravelTips

1. Nearest town is Ballintoy.

2. Wear good walking shoes.

3. Allocate 1.5hour for this walk.

4. You will be challenged (if you are like me… non-walkaholic) with gravel paths, stone steps, steep slopes (near to the bridge), the rope bridge itself and gayat.

5. Bring a bottle of water… I got really thirsty halfway (before even reaching the bridge)

6. Do not worry, there is a proper carpark area.

7. Facilities such as toilets, souvenir shop, picnic area and café are available near the carpark area.

8. Make sure your mobile phone and camera is strapped and secured when crossing the bridge.

9. Quickly take your dramatic photo and move along as the queue can be very long. Don’t stand there to take 50 shots… like seriously.

10. Come early to avoid the crowd and so that you have more time for the coastal walk.

11. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge receives 2000 visitors per day during summer season.

12. Timed tickets were introduced in 2017 (do check before coming) and it limits the number of people who can cross the bridge during a specific time, number of people crossing is also managed (limited).

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

119a, Whitepark Road Ballintoy County

Antrim, Ballycastle BT54 6LS

United Kingdom

URL : https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede

Operating hours

January : 09:30 – 15:30

February : 09:30 – 17:00

March – June : 09:30 – 18:00

July - August : 09:30 – 20:00

September – October : 09:30 – 18:00

November – December : 09:30 - 15:30

Final access to Rope Bridge is 45 mins before closing time.

Closed 24th, 25th & 26th December.

Entrance Fee

Adult : £9.00

Kids : £4.50

Family : £22.50

Ticket is required if you plan to cross the bridge. No fee for the coastal walk.

Photo Credit : https://www.ireland.com/en-no/amazing-places/carrick-a-rede/