Photos

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope suspension bridge near, Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
You can't see bridge on this photo. It is on the right side. It links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. Can you see tiny people on it?

It is thought salmon fishermen have been erecting bridges to the island for over 300 years. It has taken many forms over the years. In the 1970s it featured only a single handrail and large gaps between the slats.

The current bridge, tested up to 10 tonnes, was built with the help of local climbers and abseilers in 2000. Although no one has fallen off the bridge, there have been many instances where visitors, unable to face the walk back across the bridge, have had to be taken off the island by boat. The bridge is owned and maintained by the National Trust, spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.

Today the bridge is mainly a tourist attraction, with 140,000 visitors in 2005. It is still used by fishermen during the salmon season, which lasts from June until September, however there are now very few salmon left.

In the background you see Rathlin Island, population 75.