Crossing Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge with Kids (Even Toddlers & Babies)
We recently returned from visiting Northern Ireland with kids (5-year-old & 2-year-old) and we had such a great time. Be sure to check out my guide to visiting Northern Ireland as a family for all of our favorite things we did plus a map, a 5-day itinerary, where to stay, and more.
One of the most iconic things we did in Northern Ireland was to cross the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge from mainland Northern Ireland to the small, fishing Island called Carrick-A-Rede Island.
Being scared of heights and traveling with two young kids I almost immediately disregarded the rope bridge as an option for our family. However, once our 5-year-old saw photos she desperately wanted to visit and I had to figure out if we were even allowed to cross this bridge in Northern Ireland with kids.
Thankfully, we ended up taking the walk to the Carrick-A-Rede Bridge and crossing it as a family and I’m so glad we did! It was one of the highlights of Northern Ireland for us and I think it’s a must-do experience along the Causeway Coastal Route.
This guide to the Carrick-A-Rede-Bridge with kids will answer the questions I had before we visited the rope bridge and it will answer some questions that I didn’t even know we SHOULD have had.
Questions such as: are kids allowed on the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge? And okay, they are allowed, but is it ACTUALLY safe for kids to cross the bridge (that’s how my mind works at least)? Plus, logistical questions about tickets and the length of the walk to the rope bridge that I hadn’t even considered (spoiler alert: it’s a bit of a walk for little legs, but worth it).
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Quick Rundown of the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Along the Causeway Coastal Route
The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge is located along the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland. It’s a rope bridge with wooden planks connecting the cliffs of mainland Northern Ireland to the cliffs of a small, fishing island called Carrick-A-Rede Island (hence the name of the bridge).
The bridge is about 65 feet long and suspended about 100 feet above the sea. It was first erected in 1755 by salmon fishermen who wanted to get out to Carrick-A-Rede Island without relying on boats to reach an area of water full of salmon.
Keep in mind, that the first version (and probably multiple versions after) was a much more dodgy version than the bridge that stands today.
Today, the bridge is very safe and sturdy and a very popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland. I would say that this bridge and Giant’s Causeway are two of the absolute must-do activities if you are planning to visit the area as a family.
Are kids Allowed to cross the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?
Yes! Kids are definitely allowed to cross the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge.
As I mentioned, I wasn’t even considering doing the rope bridge as a family because (first off) I’m quite scared of heights and (second off) I just didn’t know if it was safe for kids. However, once my 5-year-old saw photos of the rope bridge she just HAD to do it.
Thankfully, she helped me overcome my fear of crossing the bridge and it was a fun experience for all of us! She walked right out on the bridge and even looked down the whole time to enjoy the views of the water down below. She’s very much unlike me who kept my eyes on the prize at the end of the rope bridge the entire time 😅.
Turns out kids are not only allowed but welcomed (as evidenced by the pictures of kids crossing the bridge on their website and the kids-priced tickets). But there are just a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before taking your family to Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, especially if you are traveling with young kids like we were.
- Children are NOT allowed to be held in your arms while crossing the bridge (for obvious safety reasons of them falling over the rope’s edge). This means that if you are traveling with young ones who cannot walk or are not brave enough to cross on their own, you will need to wear them in a baby/toddler carrier. If you need one, Tula carriers are our go-to carrier that we love.
- Strollers are not allowed on the bridge.
Is the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Safe for Kids?
As long as you follow the rule that you are not allowed to carry children in your arms, then yes, the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge is safe for kids! Our 5-year-old had no problem crossing but even though our 2-year-old loves walking, my husband was sure to wear him across the bridge.
There is also a very steep staircase you must descend before you cross the bridge which may be difficult or scary for some little ones (another reason we wore our 2-year-old).
When looking at pictures online, I was a little worried that the edge between the wooden planks and the rope handrails had large openings that my child’s foot could possibly fall through if they stepped off the plank.
However, that (of course) isn’t the case. There is a thick, rope netting all along the edge of the planks making it impossible for a foot (no matter the size) to fall through. You can see the netting in the photo above.
Is the Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge Scary?
So, I’m pretty terrified of heights. Like, my hands start sweating when I just think of a cliff’s edge. But I had a pretty easy time on the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. I just didn’t think too much about it focused my eyes on the end of the bridge instead of everything underneath me.
Plus, I had my 5-year-old leading the way and it’s much easier to be brave when your 5-year-old is cheering you on.
When multiple people are walking across the bridge, it does feel a little bouncy which I didn’t love. But there wasn’t really any swinging side to side, just a bit of bounciness.
If you or someone in your group doesn’t feel up to crossing the bridge, remember that they can still enjoy the lovely coastal walk to see the bridge and then wait for the rest of the group while the group crosses. They would not need to purchase a ticket to cross the bridge since they wouldn’t be crossing.
The person not crossing could even take the short walk to the viewpoint of the bridge that forks off right at the end before you get to the bridge to see the rest of the group cross.
How long does it take to Cross the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?
The rope bridge is about 60 feet long and really only takes about 20 seconds to cross. However, if you are visiting in the summer, there can be a queue of up to 30 minutes to have a turn to cross the bridge (and remember, you’d be waiting on both sides of the bridge).
Thankfully, when we visited in April, there was next to no queue to cross. But the workers did say the line can get incredibly long during the summer months. You may want to try and visit first thing in the morning and on a weekday to avoid having to wait in a long queue if you are traveling in the summer.
Can I take Pictures while on the Carrick-A-Rede ROpe Bridge?
Yes and no. Depending on how big of a queue there is, you may be a bit rushed by the workers encouraging you to cross the bridge quickly.
We had almost no queue when we visited the bridge, and I was able to snap 2-3 very quick pictures. However, even with next to no queue, the workers were still encouraging us to keep walking so as to not make anybody wait.
Can you Walk around the Island (Carrick-a-Rede Island) that the Bridge Takes you To?
Yes! Carrick-A-Rede Island is very small with one path that leads across it which only takes a couple of minutes to walk (as I said, it’s small). But you get some lovely views of the water and sea cliffs and you can see the old fishermen’s cottage that remains on the island
Something we were grateful for was that there was still great fencing along the path on the island so that we didn’t have to worry about our 5-year-old walking on her own.
Once you get to the end of the path on the island the fencing turns more into a rope between sticks in the ground. I appreciate this to help keep people contained, however, we were sure to keep our daughter close to us in that area just to make sure she didn’t wander off and under the rope towards the cliff edge to explore.
Do I need to Purchase Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Tickets in Advance?
Yes! You need to book tickets in advance for crossing the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge (especially if you’re visiting in the summer). Tickets do sell out and you may not get a chance to cross the bridge if you don’t book in advance!
We visited Northern Ireland in April and we actually didn’t book tickets in advance and got a little worried because as we drove up to the parking lot there were signs saying to have our pre-booked tickets ready to show 😬. Thankfully, it wasn’t too busy and we were able to purchase tickets onsite.
You can purchase tickets to cross the bridge on their website here. Adults are £14- £15.50 and kids are £7- £7.75 depending on the season or you can purchase a family ticket for £35- £38.75.
If you do not plan to cross the bridge but still want to enjoy the coastal walk and see the bridge you can just pay £10 per car for parking. The bridge tickets are only for crossing the bridge and are only needed right at the entrance to the bridge.
Is it a long walk to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope bridge?
Something I hadn’t considered was how long the walk was from the parking lot to the rope bridge. The walk from the parking lot to the bridge is about 1.5 miles roundtrip. Thankfully, this wasn’t a problem for us as our 5-year-old enjoyed the walk and we had our baby carrier with us for our 2-year-old once he got tired of walking.
Although the path follows the edge of the cliffs, there is a fence the entire way so it’s totally safe for kids to walk on their own. It’s nice to experience a fun cliff walk with children without having to worry about them wandering off.
However, on the walk back as we approached the 1.5 mile mark, our 5-year-old was dragging her feet a bit but there wasn’t much complaining. We just took it slow and enjoyed the views of the cliffs & water, the plants along the trail and anything else she found of interest.
is the Trail to Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Stroller Friendly?
The path is only stroller friendly for part of the way (the website says it’s accessible for 0.3 miles). after that there are some larger hills and some long sections of stairs. There also isn’t really anywhere to ditch your stroller along the trail if you try and then decide it’s not worth it.
So I recommend bringing a baby/toddler carrier instead of a stroller (because you’ll also need to wear your littles in a carrier across the bridge if they can’t walk it on their own- remember, no carrying in arms).
If you’re looking for a great carrier for babies up to preschoolers- check out Tula Carriers. We love ours. You can also read my full review of the Tula preschool carrier that we used all over Scotland when my daughter was 4 years old.
Is it worth it to walk on the trail to the rope bridge but not cross?
Definitely! This was not something I had even considered before visiting, but then I realized the walk is one of the best parts of the experience. You don’t actually see the rope bridge until the very end of the walk.
The entire walk is worth it and I recommend taking it even if you don’t want to cross the bridge or they are sold out of bridge tickets but have room for parking etc.
You have beautiful views of the water and cliffs the entire way. At one point, you can even see Scotland way off in the distance. Plus, it’s cool to see the bridge and learn about it’s history even if you don’t want to cross. You can take the fork to the right at the very end before the bridge to have a nice view of the bridge from the trail.
What Should I Wear to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?
Just like anywhere along the Northern Ireland coast, it can be quite chilly at the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. In fact, sometimes it gets so windy that they have to close it for crossings. And that wind can be a chilly, bitter wind.
We visited in April and wore sweaters, light puffy jackets and hats. Even if you are visiting in the peak of summer, you will stay have high chances of rain and wind so I recommend packing some layers and a windbreaker so that you don’t have cold kids (or parents) on your hands.
What Facilities are at the Carrick-A-rede Rope Bridge?
There is a big parking lot, toilets, a few picnic tables at the start of the trail and a small cafe serving drinks, sweet treats and a few light meal options.
After our experience at the rope bridge, we took a short, 7-minute drive down the road to Bothy Coffee which is a much bigger cafe with a yummy menu of brunch/lunch items, baked goodies and drinks that I recommend. However, I can’t compare it to the Carrick-A-Rede cafe as we didn’t try anything there.
And that’s everything I think you need to know about crossing Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge with children! These are all of the questions I had plus some of the questions I didn’t even know to ask beforehand.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about visiting this Irish rope bridge with kids or visiting any other parts of Northern Ireland with kids. I’ll be sure to get back to you!
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