A rope span sways above the Atlantic, where fishermen once balanced.
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8 hr 30 min
A full day along Antrim's wild coast — UNESCO basalt columns, clifftop castles, and Game of Thrones scenery.
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9 hr 30 min
Discover the Causeway Coast on a guided 9.5-hour journey from Belfast to Northern Ireland's most legendary sights.
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7 hr
Intimate small-group day trip along the Causeway Coast, taking in the Giant's Causeway and rope bridge.
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8 hr
Private 8-hour Northern Ireland tour: castles, the Giant's Causeway, whiskey & a rope bridge
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Salmon fishermen first strung a rope across the chasm to Carrickarede island in 1755, a single hand-line slung thirty metres above the swell. The carrick a rede rope bridge they improvised was a working tool, not a spectacle — a means to reach nets set where the Atlantic herring ran thickest.
The fishery closed in 2002, its salmon long gone, yet the crossing endures as one of the Causeway Coast's defining landmarks. Limestone cliffs, basalt headlands, and Rathlin Island on the horizon frame the volcanic shoreline. Visitors arriving on a carrick a rede giants causeway tour, a giants causeway carrick a rede day trip, or a wider antrim coast combo tour come for the same vertigo the fishermen knew. The carrick a rede rope bridge now hangs under the care of the National Trust, a relic of labour turned into passage across open water.
"What the fishermen built to reach their nets, the world now crosses for the view."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive between 09:30 and 11:00, when the slot is quietest and the £16 admission covers both parking and the crossing. From the entrance on Whitepark Road you walk roughly a kilometre along the clifftop path, gulls wheeling below, until the chasm opens.
You queue, then step onto the planks. The carrick a rede rope bridge gives slightly underfoot, twenty metres of cable and timber, the Atlantic churning thirty metres down. You pause mid-span — most do — gripping the rope as Rathlin Island sits low on the water. On the island side you scramble the short rise for the view back, then recross. A belfast to carrick a rede tour can fold this into a single coastal day, but the crossing itself takes only minutes you will remember.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
The bridge is 20 metres long and just 1 metre wide, suspended 30 metres above the Atlantic on wire ropes; the load limit is 8 pedestrians at one time, making the single-file crossing feel genuinely exposed.
The small rocky island at the far end of the bridge has been used by salmon fishermen since at least 1755 and contains a single surviving fisherman's cottage; Atlantic salmon once migrated past in numbers large enough to sustain a seasonal industry.
The National Trust tearoom at the car park occupies a converted stone weighbridge building and serves as the main visitor hub; it is the only covered refreshment facility on the entire site.
The 1 km path from the car park to the bridge passes through an Area of Special Scientific Interest; kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots, and razorbills breed on the sea stacks and ledges visible from the path between April and August.
From the bridge and the island, Rathlin Island is clearly visible 6 miles to the north-east, and on a clear day the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland appears on the horizon roughly 20 miles away.
Every Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | From | Duration | Transfers | Pickup | Lunch | Tax inc. | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Skip-the-line Most popular
Giant's Causeway & Coastal Castles Day Tour from Belfast
|
Belfast | 8 hr 30 min | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €41 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Giant's Causeway Full-Day Tour from Belfast
|
Belfast | 9 hr 30 min | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €28 | Book → |
|
Guided Experience
Belfast Small-Group Tour: Giant's Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
|
— | 7 hr | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €102 | Book → |
|
Premium Combo
Giant's Causeway & Carrick-a-Rede: Private Day Tour
|
— | 8 hr | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €550 | Book → |
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Practical details for Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
119A Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, Ballycastle, BT54 6LS
Main car park entrance; present your pre-booked ticket here to check in
Open in Google MapsTake the B15 from Bushmills (7 miles west) or from Ballycastle (5 miles east); car park is well signposted on the Causeway Coastal Route
Wear sturdy, closed-toe footwear with good grip, as the coastal path to the carrick a rede rope bridge involves uneven terrain, two long sets of steps, and steep slopes. Waterproof layers are strongly advised year-round given the exposed Atlantic location; even on sunny summer days, wind chill on the bridge can be significant.
There are no bag-screening procedures at the site, but large luggage, pushchairs, and bulky items are impractical on the narrow coastal path and bridge crossing, which is only 1 metre wide. Visitors are encouraged to use the car park and leave oversized bags in their vehicles.
Photography is permitted throughout the site and on the rope bridge itself; the National Trust encourages visitors to capture and share the Causeway Coast scenery. Drone use is not permitted within the National Trust managed area without prior written approval. Tripods are awkward on the 1-metre-wide bridge deck, so compact cameras or smartphones are most practical.
The first 0.5 km of the coastal path, including an accessible telescope viewpoint, is suitable for wheelchair users; a manual wheelchair is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis from the Weighbridge Tearoom. Beyond this point the route to the rope bridge includes steep slopes and two long sets of steps, making independent wheelchair access to the bridge itself not possible. Sensory bags for visitors with additional needs are available to loan from the Booking Hut in the main visitor car park.
Mobile signal can be unreliable in this coastal rural area; visitors who pre-booked carrick a rede rope bridge tickets online are advised to download or screenshot their ticket confirmation before arriving. The Weighbridge Tearoom area has the best signal on site.
Children under 5 cross the rope bridge free of charge, and family ticket options are available. The 15–20 minute coastal walk from the car park to the bridge is suitable for older children, though the final approach involves steps that require careful supervision. A play area is located in nearby Ballintoy village, less than half a mile away, for younger children who may not wish to cross the bridge.
The Weighbridge Tearoom at the car park serves hot drinks, snacks, ice cream, and light refreshments, with both indoor seating and takeaway options. No food or drink outlets are located on Carrick-a-Rede Island itself, so visitors should plan accordingly, particularly during busy summer months when the tearoom can be crowded. Visitors are welcome to bring their own snacks and drinks for the coastal walk.
Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the outdoor site, on the coastal path, and inside the Weighbridge Tearoom. However, dogs are not permitted to cross the rope bridge itself for safety reasons. Water bowls may be available near the tearoom; bringing your own is advisable.
Timed entry slots must be pre-booked online; online sales close one hour before each time slot, so same-day booking is only possible with advance planning. Groups of 15 or more arriving by coach must pre-book with the Carrick-a-Rede booking office directly at [email protected] at least 72 hours before visiting. National Trust members and Neighbour Pass holders gain free access but must still pre-book their timed slot.
119A Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, Ballycastle, BT54 6LS
Main car park entrance; present your pre-booked ticket here to check in
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Wildflowers line the coastal path, seabirds are nesting on the cliffs, and visitor numbers are lower than peak summer.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
The first hour after opening is the quietest and cheapest time to visit the carrick a rede rope bridge; the £16 standard rate applies rather than the £18 July–August peak rate, and the coastal path is noticeably less crowded.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
A small, photogenic limestone harbour used as a Game of Thrones filming location; free to visit
Flexible, no hidden fees.
The National Trust operates a no-cancellations/no-refunds policy on pre-booked tickets, except where the site closes due to circumstances beyond visitors' control — in that case a full refund is issued for the affected time slot. If the rope bridge closes due to high winds on the day of your visit, a full refund is provided to visitors who pre-booked via the official National Trust website.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Traditional inn in Ballintoy village offering rooms and a pub restaurant, the closest hospitality to the rope bridge site
The carrick a rede rope bridge is open daily from 09:30 to 17:00. Timed entry slots are available throughout the day and online sales close one hour before each slot, so plan your visit accordingly.
Tickets for non-member adults cost £16, which includes reserved parking and the bridge crossing. In peak season (July and August) the standard rate rises to £18, though the early 09:30–11:00 and late 15:00–17:00 slots remain available at the lower rate during those months. National Trust members and Neighbour Pass holders cross for free but must still pre-book a timed slot.
Yes, pre-booking is essential, particularly from May to September when capacity fills quickly. Tickets are available at nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/carrick-a-rede; same-day tickets are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed.
The first 0.5 km of the coastal path, including an accessible telescope viewpoint, is accessible for wheelchair users. A manual wheelchair is available free of charge from the Weighbridge Tearoom on a first-come, first-served basis. The final approach to the bridge involves steep slopes and two long sets of steps, so independent access to the bridge itself is not possible for wheelchair users.
The National Trust operates a no-cancellations/no-refunds policy on standard pre-booked tickets. The exception is an unexpected site closure — if the rope bridge closes due to high winds on the day of your visit, a full refund is automatically issued to visitors who booked via the official National Trust website.
Dogs on leads are welcome on the coastal path and inside the Weighbridge Tearoom, but dogs are not permitted to cross the rope bridge itself for safety reasons.
Arriving at the 09:30 opening is the quietest and most cost-effective window for visiting this iconic Northern Ireland rope bridge, as midday slots attract the highest footfall. Spring (April to June) offers lower crowds, nesting seabirds on the cliffs, and pleasant coastal walking conditions.
Photography is fully permitted throughout the site and on the bridge. Drone use requires prior written approval from the National Trust, and tripods are impractical on the 1-metre-wide bridge deck.
Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes with good grip — the path to the bridge includes uneven rocky terrain and two flights of steps. A windproof waterproof layer is essential regardless of season, as the bridge is fully exposed to Atlantic weather.
The Weighbridge Tearoom at the car park serves hot drinks, snacks, sandwiches, and ice cream, with indoor seating and takeaway options. There are no food outlets on Carrick-a-Rede Island itself, so eat or buy refreshments before crossing.
Translink Ulsterbus service 402 (the Causeway Rambler) stops at Whitepark Road, directly outside the site, running hourly and connecting to Giant's Causeway (15 minutes) and Ballycastle. Trains from Belfast and Londonderry reach Coleraine, from where a bus connection continues to the coast.
The rope bridge pairs naturally with Ballintoy Harbour (less than 2 miles away), Dunseverick Castle (10-minute drive), White Park Bay beach, and the Giant's Causeway, which is 7 miles west. Carrick a rede rope bridge tours departing from Belfast typically combine two or three of these in a single day.
