Ireland is notorious for its unpredictable weather. In fact, I highly recommend carrying the following items with you at all times: wool socks, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a scarf. You just never, ever know.

And sadly, Mother Nature decided to unleash her atmospheric wrath just as I was scheduled to visit the perilous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland with Shamrocker Adventures. Not that I particularly minded, though.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m scared shitless of a long list of things—spiders, masks, clowns, speeding cars, the dark—but heights has got to be at the absolute top of that list. And a dangling, ethereal-looking rope bridge suspended over a churning ocean was pretty much the exact blueprint for exacerbating that fear.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: Quick Story

You see, Carrick-a-Rede is not just a regular bridge. Oh no. For over 350 years—and up until shockingly recently—the bridge was essentially just a few flimsy wooden slats tied together by a single handrail. It was used by local fishermen who needed to get over to the tiny island of Carraig a’ Ráid to fish for abundant Atlantic salmon. You really have to tip your hat to those courageous men, literally risking their lives 100 feet up in the air for the sake of a fish!

Saved by the storm

As we approached the cliffside, the wind was howling. The official sign came into view: Bridge Closed Due to High Winds.

“Strong winds today? Is it not safe to cross the bridge? Aw, that is such a shame! No, no, I assure you sir, I don’t mind at all. I completely understand. I’ll be on my way then!”

A quick close-up picture and I was out of there.

Honestly, just crouching down by the edge of the cliff to take a photo had me trembling uncontrollably. One wrong step or a particularly aggressive gust of wind could have thrown me straight off the mountain cliff—no wonder the bridge was closed!

Even though I wouldn’t have crossed that bridge even if my life depended on it (curiosity did kill the cat, right?), I’m still so glad my guide pushed us to walk down to the lookout.

The scenery along the Antrim coast is breathtaking. I had no idea water in Ireland could be that vivid shades of turquoise—if it wasn’t for the bitterly cold wind knocking the air out of my lungs, I might have mistaken the view for the Caribbean!

The dramatic, rugged coastline of Northern Ireland makes for an immensely photogenic trek, making it an absolute must-do on any Irish road trip.

How to Visit Carrick-a-Rede & The Causeway Coast

If you want to experience the wild Antrim coast for yourself (and test your own bravery on the bridge), booking a day tour from Belfast or Dublin is by far the easiest way to do it without worrying about navigating narrow single-track coastal roads:

From Belfast: The Giant’s Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge Day Tour takes you along the scenic Causeway Coastal Route, stopping at the rope bridge, the iconic basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway, and the ruins of Dunluce Castle.
Luxury / Small Group: If you want a more intimate experience with extra time for photos, check out this Giant’s Causeway & Antrim Coast Luxury Tour from Belfast.
From Dublin: If you’re based in the south, you can still easily catch the highlights on a full-day excursion like the Giant’s Causeway & Northern Ireland Day Trip from Dublin, which covers both the rope bridge lookout and the city of Belfast.