Fodor's Expert Review Carrick-a-Rede

Adrenaline junkies love the rope bridge—off the coast at Ballintoy in Larrybane—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. The bridge is open to the public daily, weather permitting. More than 480,000 visitors cross it (or at least take a look at it) each year, looking down on heart-stopping views of the crashing waves 100 feet below. For an exhilarating clifftop experience, the rope bridge walk is hard to beat. The island's small two-roomed Fishermen's Cottage, where they mended nets and kept materials, has been restored and opened to the public on selected dates on weekends once a month. The whole area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its unique geology, flowers, and fauna. The area has also been identified as a dark-sky discovery site and with the absence of any light pollution is the ideal place to view the stars. If you need warming up after your walk, the Weighbridge tearoom serves snacks and hot drinks. Guided tours, costing an extra £3.50 and lasting 45 minutes, are also available at 3:30 pm each day. From May until August the rope bridge increases its evening opening hours—check the website for details.

It is strongly advised to book in advance online; there may be up to a three-hour wait at peak times.