Gobbins Path
The Gobbins Path in Islandmagee, County Antrim, was a dramatic coastal walk which was a popular tourist attraction in the early 20th century. Plans have been confirmed to re-construct it and open it to the public once again.[1]
Construction and popularity
Built by civil engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, this scenic path included staircases along the cliffs, dramatic tubular and suspension bridges and caves and tunnels carved through the rock. It eventually stretched more than three miles.
Bridges were constructed in Belfast and floated out from Whitehead on barges before being lifted into position, high above the sea. The first section of the path opened in 1902.[2]
According to an advertisement of the time, the 'new cliff path along the Gobbins Cliffs, with its ravines, bore caves, natural aquariums ... has no parallel in Europe as a marine cliff walk'.[2]
Wise, chief engineer for the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, tied in promotion of his Gobbins path directly to rail travel. Visitors would arrive at the BNCR station in Ballycarry and then either walk there or be taken onwards by jaunting car.[3] For several decades, until the outbreak of the Second World War, the Gobbins was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Northern Ireland.[4]
Closing of the path
Wise had died in 1906, leaving plans for an extension of the walk which were never realised. Even in its heyday, annual maintenance on the path was a substantial cost. Rockfalls, regular storms and the remote location added to the difficulty.[2] The path was last repainted in 1936.
During the Second World War, the Gobbins was temporarily closed.[4] After the war, the Ulster Transport Authority took on the job of reopening it and strengthening most of the bridges, but in 1954 high costs forced them to abandon the task. For several more years the path remained open despite lack of regular maintenance. It finally closed in 1961 due to coastal erosion.
The Gobbins today
Although technically closed, the path is still somewhat accessible. Most of the railings and bridges have collapsed, but it is possible to get as far as the first bridges. At the start of the walk, part of the path is completely missing requiring some climbing or swimming. Another part of the path has disappeared requiring some scrambling.
Planned re-opening
In June 2012, the local council sanctioned a £6 million deal which would lead to the Gobbins Path being reinstated. The Scheme started in autumn 2012.[1] This two-phase plan includes rebuilding the path and bridges plus a new free cliff-top path, visitors' centre, café and playground.
The National Trust owns the land and £3.5 million will be provided by the Euopean taxpayers’ money.
As before, much of the engineering will be constructed off-site and transported to the path by barges. Work will only take place in autumn and winter due to the colonies of nesting sea birds on the cliffs, which are protected during breeding season.
Outside links
- Location map: 54°46’60"N, 5°41’30"W
References
- RPSI History/ Has a section about the Gobbins cliff path, Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, 2008-10-12, http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/whitehead/, retrieved 2008-10-12
- £6m plan for historic cliff walk, BBC News, 2008-09-11, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7606909.stm, retrieved 2008-09-13
- Cormacain, Paul (2004-01-02), When the Gobbins were a bigger draw than the Giant's Causeway, Lisburn Info, http://www.lisburn.com/archives/history/country_matters/country-2004/when_the_gobbins_were_a_big_draw.html, retrieved 2009-05-15
- BBC Coast - The Northern Ireland Coast, BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/coast/programmes/06-northern-ireland.shtml, retrieved 2008-09-13