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Carrick-a-Rede Review

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Carrick-a-Rede

Address: 8 km (5 mi) west of Ballycastle on B15, Ballycastle
Phone: 028/2073-1582

Category: Bridges/Tunnels
Location: Ballycastle

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Fodor's Review:

Off the Ballycastle coast in Larrybane you can see the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which spans a 60-foot gap between the mainland and tiny Carrick-a-Rede Island. The island's name means "rock in the road" and refers to how it stands in the path of the salmon that follow the coast as they migrate to their home rivers to spawn. For the past 150 years salmon fishermen have set up the rope bridge in spring, taking it down again after the salmon season ends. The bridge is open to the public—more than 227,000 visitors cross it (or at least take a look at it) each year—and has some heart-stopping views of the crashing waves below. A new bridge costing £16,000 was erected in 2008. For an exhilarating cliff-top experience the rope bridge walk takes some beating.

Cost: £3.70
Open: Mid-Mar.-June and Sept., daily 10-6; July and Aug., daily 9:30-7:30

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