The single handrail bridge was subsequently replaced by a two hand rails attached to the footwalk by ropes spaced around a metre apart. The current 'caged' bridge was installed by the National Trust during Easter of 2000 as a further health and safety measure. Today it is impossible to fall off the bridge unless you climb over the rails, though it is still an exhilarating walk across.

Although no-one has ever been injured falling off the old bridge, there have been many instances of visitors being unable to face the return walk back across the bridge, resulting in them being taken off the island by boat. A collection of old photographs in Sheep Island View Hostel show a local man doing various stunts on the bridge which include riding a bicycle across it and performing handstands on a chair in the middle.

To preserve the depleting salmon stocks a buy out of commecial nets around the coast took place in 2001, today the bridge is no longer seasonal for fishermen but marketed as a tourist attraction with a charge to cross it. The heritage of that time is being preserved on the island by the National Trust who have renovated the small bothy and are having replica drontheim boats built by a local boat builder.

The area is exceptional in is natural beauty, to the left as you come down the steep hill is Larrybane headland which once stretched out towards Sheep Island and had a promontory fort on the top dating to 800AD, underneath are large caves which once served as home to boat builders and a safe resting place from winter storms.

During the 1950's blasting, quarrying and shipping of limestone removed most of Larrybane Head, it is well worth a walk down to the old quarry area as some incredible views can be enjoyed from here.It is also wonderful to see nature and wildlife reclaiming the old site, orchids and butterflies are plentiful in summer here.