It’s amazing to see all the bridges in Scotland. Plan your next vacation by admiring the architectural and structural prowess displayed within the most stunning Scottish bridges, which range from the ultra-modern to ones as old as the land they connect.
1. Forth Bridge
The Forth Bridge is Edinburgh’s version of the Golden Gate and a brilliant emblem of Scotland. This famous cantilever railway bridge, which connects South and North Queensferry, was constructed using steel, granite, and 6.5 million rivets. It is used by 190 to 200 trains every day.
After it opened in 1890, this masterpiece by Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker became the UK’s first significant steel-built building. Unsurprisingly, Scotland’s best man-made wonder of 2016 was the beautiful Forth Bridge.
2. Swilcan Bridge
Don’t let its diminutive size diminish its celebrity status. The Swilcan Bridge casts a shadow across the Swilcan Burn between the first and eighth fairways of the Old Course at St Andrews Links golf course. This tiny Roman arch bridge is famous among golfers and makes for a great “Kodak moment.”
Golfing champions and admirers alike travel from near and far to pay their respects at this historic bridge. The Swilcan Bridge, which dates back at least 700 years, was built to let shepherds lead their sheep across a burn.
3. Brig O’Doon
The Brig O’Doon, a medieval steep humped single arch bridge in Ayrshire not far from Alloway, is old and steeped in history. This intriguing composition, which dates to the early 15th century, is well known for its inclusion in the final stanza of Tam o’ Shanter, a well-known work by Scottish Bard Robert Burns.
Tam flees on his horse Meg after seeing a most horrifying demonic scene—a haunted chapel filled with witches, warlocks, and the devil playing bagpipes—only to find a witch hot on their heels. Tam outruns the witch by making his getaway across the dependable Brig o’Doon.
4. Clyde Arc
The Clyde Arc, a continuous rainbow over the River Clyde in Glasgow, has a curved shape. The slanted crossing adds to the structure’s inventiveness and is the reason why locals call it the “Squinty Bridge”! Glasgow was illuminated by this contemporary marvel in 2006, which was built to last up to 120 years.
5. Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Glenfinnan Viaduct, which rises out of the gently undulating West Highland terrain near Loch Shiel’s tip, is arguably one of Scotland’s most famous bridges. Its numerous appearances in the Harry Potter movies and its spectacular 21 arches both play a part in this. The renowned West Highland Line is welcomed by this lovely bridge, which was built in 1901, and it offers breathtaking views of Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Monument.
6. Sligachan Old Bridge
It’s not surprising that the Sligachan Bridge is associated with folklore, given the spectacular Cuillin mountains that serve as its backdrop. This historic small bridge is located in a community on the Isle of Skye and is a popular starting place for climbers, explorers, and wanderers. The Old Bridge is a stunning sight, offering a secure passage over the alluring seas of Skye.
7. Brig o’ Balgownie
There is nothing more remarkable than taking in the Brig o’ Balgownie’s myriad reflections as they dance across the lake. The Brig o’ Balgownie, also known as the Bridge of Don, stands guard over the River Don in Old Aberdeen and dates all the way back to the 13th century.
The bridge, which has a single gothic arch, was built in 1320 from granite and sandstone. This old bridge has witnessed everything, from enormous armies looking for a quick crossing to a busy commercial route.
8. Kylesku Bridge
Kylesku Bridge in Sutherland crossed Loch a’ Chairn Bhain and was carved out of concrete with a sympathetic design, taking the place of the ferry that ran between Kylesku and Kylestrome.
A beautiful example of a box girder bridge is this slim, almost alien-like building that sympathetically curves to blend in with its picturesque surroundings. Kylesku Bridge, which was built in 1984 and is understated yet simplistically beautiful, is strong enough to withstand high Scottish gusts of up to 100 mph.
9. Clachan Bridge
The Clachan Bridge, which has proudly stood close to Oban in Argyll since the 1700s and is decorated by the odd foxglove colony, is an outstanding masterpiece. Built with a single arch, this sturdy stone bridge with humps can support huge ships, some of which weigh up to 40 tonnes.
This charming bridge spans the Clachan Sound, a body of water that is bordered on both ends by the Atlantic Ocean. Because of this, the Clachan is affectionately known as the “Bridge Over The Atlantic.”
10. Tay Bridge
The Tay Bridge, a mesmerizing and majestic structure that rises from the Firth of Tay, provides a railroad connection between Dundee and the Fife district of Wormit. When the entire structure collapsed into the river following strong winds in 1879, taking down a train and its passengers with it, it was a tragic event and a serious technical disaster.
The second bridge, which is still in use today, was built using iron, steel, concrete, and 3 million rivets and debuted as a double-track crossing in 1887. The Tay Bridge was given a significant facelift in 2003 that included replacing hundreds of thousands of rivets and manually removing 1000 metric tons of bird droppings.
