Carrickarede is not a very large island
we are not alone
a pair of kittiwakes
the shoreline to the east
almost there to join the queue
the restored fishing facilities. From here they lowered their rowing boats
time to go back, the bus is waiting
guillemots and razorbills are busy at the foot of the hill
the Carrick a Rede rope bridge
Carrickarede is an islet just off NI's rugged northern coast. It is the weathered remnant of a 60 M year old volcanic plug.
In
the 1750s fishermen found out that it was a good place to catch
Atlantic salmon en route to the local spawning
rivers.
For easy access from the mainland a 20 meters long rope bridge, dangling 30 meters above the treacherous waves was
build.
But by the early 21st century the salmon had changed their migratory track and the fishing business stopped.
The
place is now owned and maintained by the
National Thrust and has become a tourist magnet with almost half a million visitors
per annum. In high season people line-up on both sides of the bridge to brave the not so dangerous crossing.
From the parking
lot it is a 1 km very scenic trail to the waiting line at the rope bridge.
Several species of seabird call Carrick
a Rede home, like kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills and in the water you may spot the occasional dolphin.
We crossed
that bridge in June 2018.
from the parking lot the trail hugs the shoreline
the trail goes up and down and can be slippery when wet
looking 30 meters down