Saturday 31 May 2014

SATURDAY CRITTERS - Carrick-a Rede Rope Bridge

Journeying further north I came to the National Trust Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which is a famous rope bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.  

The last time I visited and crossed the bridge was about 35 years ago with my 2 small daughters and it had only 1 handrail and very rickety!  I have to admit, it was very scary and when over on the island I would have given anything if a helicopter had come to lift us off instead of crossing back again!



In this shot below you see where you pay.  Last time I did not remember walking so far as I did to the bridge so these are the shots as I took on the walk to and from the bridge.  By the way I am linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS and you will see birds a little later in the post.


You cannot see the bridge in this shot.


I cropped it in so you could see the bridge we are heading for.



The island in the background is Rathlin Island that I have had posts about last year when I took a group of birders to stay overnight.






As I hang over the edge of the cliff, I get another shot of the bridge even though I still have quite a distance to go.


Down, down I go and it has just occurred to me I will have to come up, up UP again!!  Never mind, it will be worth it. Are you still with me?





Now looking at this photograph, I hope you understand why I was terrified walking over this bridge 35 years ago with my very young children.



WOW!  I am made it to the bridge and I am ready to cross it.  Now this time it looks safer with 2 rails.  However, although I didn’t have 2 small children with me, I now had a camera and binoculars and was determined to take shots as I walked over as it swayed!  I was not able to hold on so I had to watch my balance.



I don’t know whether you can read this sign but it says there are no fences on the island.  Be careful!!









I’m over and this is the shot looking back. Did you follow me across?




Shag breed on the island.





Razorbill



Kittiwake




Oh dear, now I am over the bridge again and it is a long haul up. For those of you who have just turned in to THIS post, I started my journey on Monday’s post, about 6 hours ago in reality!!  So I am getting tired!



Kittiwake above and Fulmar below.




Mostly Razorbill in the water although there were Common Guillemots
 also nesting on the island.


That is Sheep Island in the distance.



A Rock Pipit 


Well that was a wonderful experience and now I am finally heading to my accommodation at the White Park Bay Youth Hostel.



I will leave you with these views as I stood at the Hostel looking down over this magnificent beach that the National Trust manage.


Well I hope you all made it back over the bridge and enjoyed the experience, views and birds on the way.

I have a video which can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/7i2PvnPNbdU

If there is a black space, click it and the video will appear.



Many thanks to those who have travelled with me over the past week and I hope you are enjoying the journey.  Tomorrow I will have a rest and leave you a Sunday Thought, however on Monday, I will continue my journey and show you all that I found when I was staying at the Youth Hostel.

So until then, I thank you for visiting and leaving comments and hope to see you again as we travel on to Donegal and eventually to Tory Island.

62 comments:

  1. Beautiful, but very, very scary. Then and now. I am not sure I would have had your courage or your balance - and thank you (so much) for doing it for us.

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    1. Well one of had to go over to get the shots!!! Glad you enjoyed the post anyway. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  2. Hi Margaret! I am behind you on the bridge! Do not you see me? :)) Great, great views! Have a nice weekend!

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    1. Hi Ileana Of course I see you! thanks for crossing with me today, it was aa bit scary but we made it and BACK!! Thanks for your comment. I am off today with my church walking group so have a wonderful weekend.

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  3. Oh Margaret, I crossed the bridge with you, what a walk that was. I would just love to see this magnificent scenery for myself. I doubt that hubby would accompany me as he was getting sweaty palms just reading your post.

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  4. Hi Linley Ah well, we could leave him on the other side and give him a wave!! Now when are you coming?? Glad you enjoyed the post. Have a great weekend.

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  5. I don't usually do bridges like that--although I am getting better about it!--but that looks like a pretty decent bridge. I truly enjoyed going across with you. The scenery is simply amazing!

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  6. Looks like a movie with all those pictures show. Very nice shots !

    Tomás

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  7. The bridge is worth the walk on it's own. Looks a wonderful place.

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  8. Wow, what a bridge! What a wonderful experience! Definitely worth it when I see the bird pictures but I don´t think I would have dared. I wish you a good weekend and thanks for your visit to my blog!

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  9. Hello Margaret, yes I crossed the bridge with you! That was fun..The views are beautiful and I love all the birds..Wonderful series of photos and video. Thank you so much for linking up to my critter party. Have a happy weekend!

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  10. I remember walking over that bridge in 1964. It looks a lot more sturdier than the one I remember lol
    This post brought back some memories Margaret. :-)

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    1. HI Keith you are the only one of bloggers that have crossed the bridge before even it was 50 years ago. Now it must be time to revisit the Emerald Isle again soon or has Wales totally stolen your heart! Many thanks for comment. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  11. Oh, and yea, it is a Rock Pipit :-)

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    1. HI Keith Many thanks for clarification and I have removed (I think )now.

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  12. Stunning photos.
    Beautiful birds.
    I would not be able to walk over that bridge. I think you are very brave.
    Thank you for sharing.
    val

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  13. the views and birds are fantastic Margaret though not sure I'd want to follow especially. I might have shirked that one...

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  14. I have actually heard of this place! How fun to get to shoot these cliff dwellers.

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  15. Oh Margaret- did you feel that tug? That was me hanging on to your shirt tail! How scary, but also exciting!

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  16. And I crossed the bridge too Margaret though It was easier to do virtually. I suspect I might never have done it for real as I have no head for heights and I would have missed so much. Loved your photos and video!

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  17. Great post Margaret and yes I crossed with you :) No way I would have done that in real life though. Felt dizzy just looking at the photos. You certainly have some courage!!

    Beautiful photos of a very scenic coastline. What a lovely area to visit and walk. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Fascinating. Thanks for the tour.

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  19. beautiful, rugged place! the bridge looks much more secure, now. :)

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  20. Beautiful and scenic place.

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  21. That looks like a fabulous place to go. Such diversity in bird species. That bridge though, would have me a little nervous.

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  22. Fantastic views! That trail and bridge look like my kinda hike. Thanks for sharing your journey.

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  23. I made it Margaret - there and back and what a wonderful walk it was. Full of interest, scenery and wildlife, but I can't believe they made me pay to cross that bridge when they should be paying me.

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  24. Gorgeous views! It's amazing how the birds nest on the cliffs like that.

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  25. Fascinating place but you'd never catch me near that bridge unless a roaring fire was chasing me across.

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  26. Beautiful images, the birds, they are everything, and the bridge, well, I would love to do it, if I wasn't baby, lol. Really great Margaret.

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  27. Thanks for the visit. Not a good bridge for me so I'm glad to enjoy your pictures of the other side. - Margy

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  28. Hello Margaret! The coast is gorgeous and I love the birds. I'm not very fond of hights though and that bridge looks scary. I'm not sure I would dare to cross it. Happy weekend!

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  29. You are much, much braver them me! I am very afraid of heights. Goodness, I couldn't believe you went on it again. The things we will do for our blogs. It does look a bit safer, but gosh! Were you scared this time?

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  30. Stunning pictures. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful Sunday, Inge

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  31. Oh...Challenging question... Here I am! I'm amazed by the landscapes and magnificent views... I'll just take a "look" at from distance due to your lovely photo instants, my kind of instants, this mix of waters, rocky lands and dark blue sky... I am so stunned to observe that weather is alike in many parts of the world (and so changeable since a while). "Are you still with me?" gosh... how I love this question... So I think that I'll use the expression in the next post about "Vulcanii Noroiosi/ The mud Volcanos" - my posted journey from may... Those "common Guillemots" are common gulls/( pescarusi to me)?!
    Oh, Wonderful experience and so true "fun can be anywhere" and many thanks to you for this magnificient travel!! Please let me know about the next episode!Have a great weekend, too!

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  32. I've followed you around blogland and commenting this weekend and kept reading 'are you brave enough to cross the bridge"...I just HAD to see for myself this bridge. Yes, I'd cross it...definitely!!! Afterall, I crossed the Royal Gorge Bridge that spans a river and a railroad far far below us. No problem!!

    And the glorious images...wow. This was an awesome adventure Margaret...I thank you for it all.

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  33. I enjoyed the rope bridge walk, the scenery and the bird life. Excellent post Margaret

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  34. Wow! What a place and gorgeous photography and wonderful wildlife ~ Happy Weekend ~ xoxo

    artmusedog and carol (A CreativeHarbor)

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  35. Stunning a great place, the cliff is fascinating.

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  36. Oh I could not walk that...but wonderful scenery

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  37. You are a brave and adventurous lady! Great balance too, to manage those shots on a swaying bridge. We have a suspension bridge here (Capilano) and I've discovered that I'm not afraid of heights so it wasn't too scary walking along beside you. Most enjoyable in fact. Your birds look similar to ones we have here, but they have different names. For example, the Shag Breed looks very much like our cormorant. Thanks for the amazing guided tour!

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    1. HI Carol I do hope you were not beside me otherwise we both would have fallen down through the rope bridge. There is only room for one person to stand on those boards, one foot on each. Shag and Cormorant are in the same family. Thanks for your comments.

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  38. I didn't follow you, I was walking beside you ;)

    Amazing images of this very beautiful spot!!

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    1. Hi Debbie Now that is a lovely thought however there is NOT enough room for you or anyone beside me on those boards. Thank you for your comments.

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  39. What a fascinating place to visit! The bridge looks very scary to cross and I can't imagine doing it years ago with small kids and only one handrail! Beautiful views! Wow! I enjoyed this very much!

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  40. Beautiful photography!
    These scenic shots are breathtaking, Margaret..
    I would have to do all my sightseeing from the near side of the bridge - you would not find me crossing it!

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  41. Gorgeous scenery and fabulous photos Margaret! Lots of terrific birds on the other side, but I'm sorry, there is no way I could cross that bridge!

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  42. This has been a lovely trip through your blog Margaret,great photos.............i'm not sure about the bridge either.

    peter

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  43. Would I like to cross that bridge with you? YES! A lovely group of birds await on the other side!

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  44. I'll be honest and admit that while I might be brave enough to go over the bridge, I'm not sure I would stop and take pictures along the way. But the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for taking us along with you on this journey.

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  45. That was amazing Margaret. I did cross the bridge with you ... And I might even do it in real life if I were lucky enough to be there. Bill said they couldn't pay him enough to cross it! But he loved the pictures as I did

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  46. This is was such a treat!
    The views and the photos are so breathtaking.
    Thanks a lot for taking us along with you.
    Peace :)

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  47. It would be quite an adventure - but not so keen if it was wet and windy! Amazing landscapes.

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  48. That gorgeous coastline is calling me! :)
    Not sure I could follow you across the bridge but I would want to. I feel pretty sure I would not have crossed the old one.

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  49. What an amazing bridge and scenery; And birds are fantastic, Rock Pipit is first for me p;)
    Enjoyed the tour with your pictures ♡♡♡
    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  50. Now that's a bridge! Not what I was expecting when I started reading this post. Truly breathtaking :D)

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  51. Such a beautiful landscape! Your photos ... fantastic! So wonderful views! But one thing ... this bridge ... I´m not sure if I would be able to walk over it!

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  52. Exceptional photos Margaret . . . WOW . . . it must be on our list for next time.i

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  53. Beautiful country! But I don't care how beautiful the view or what kind of wonderful wildlife might be on the other side, I would NOT have crossed that bridge. I would have had to crawl. I have a huge fear of heights!

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  54. What beautiful images you have taken! I love the bridge and would've been across it happily ... not sure I would've liked the old one-handrail bridge though! Very brave of you to have crossed that with two small children. Wendy x

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  55. Oh no! Do I hear the Indiana Jones theme playing?

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