Irish Volcanoes. 185 



almost inaccessible, is reached by a narrow and fearful bridge, 

 consisting of two planks fastened on ropes stretched across from 

 the mainland to the rocky islet. The ropes are, of course, parallel, 

 and are drawn as tight as possible, but the frail structure 

 swings with every breath of wind. There is nothing abso- 

 lutely dangerous in this bridge to one accustomed to walk on a 

 plank, and not afraid of the temptation to throw himself over a 

 precipice ; but as it is not every one who is able to look down 

 upon the roaring waves at a depth of 75 feet while being swayed 

 backwards and forwards by the wind, it is probable that few 

 visitors will be tempted to cross this bridge for the sake of 

 having to come back again. The length of the bridge is about 

 20 yards. The fishermen of the neighbourhood set their lob- 

 ster pots at the foot of the isolated rock, and dry their nets on 

 its sides. They at least have no fear of accident. 



Besides the fringe of small rocks, close to the shore, there 

 are larger islands a little way out at sea. One of these, Rath- 

 lin, is of considerable size, and exhibits the same arrangement 

 of white cliffs topped with black basalt that has been described 

 as characteristic of the coast of the mainland. The basalt, 

 however, is not columnar. 



Ballycastle is a pretty and well-placed village, close to 

 the sea, not far from Fairhead. It lies in a little recess, 

 and the promontory of Benmore or Fairhead, the north- 

 easterly extremity of Ireland, juts out very boldly as the con- 

 tinuation of a line of hill, mountain, and moor. Iron and coal 

 have both been worked in the neighbourhood, and the ores of 

 the former metal are still found in abundance, but the fuel is 

 bad in quality and small in quantity. The higher hills, or 

 mountains of this part of the coast, rise above the extreme 

 point to which the basalt reaches, and thus form a picturesque 

 break in the landscape. 



The whole coastline from Fairhead southwards is grand and 

 picturesque, though, perhaps, somewhat overrated in the 

 accounts given by guide-books, and in picturesque descriptions 

 of Irish scenery. From near Fairhead, where the road leaves 

 the coast and crosses the moors to Cushendun Bay, there are 

 fine views obtained of the Scotch coast, including the Mull 

 of Cantyre and the conical island of Islay. In other respects 

 thereis nothing worthy of special note, except the fact that 

 the high ground over which one passes is no longer basalt, 

 but some old slaty rock, round which, as an island, the ancient 

 lava has probably flowed. The higher parts of these old 

 islands are now from 1500 to 1800 feet above the sea, but long 

 since the lava flowed they have been partially under the sea, 

 and have received a thick coating of sea-sand and gravel on 

 their flanks. This is seen in many detached hills. 



