Stirling Bridge, spanning the River Forth
From the Golden Gate to Madison County, there is something undeniably romantic about bridges – spanning waterways, bringing people together, forming elegant yet purposeful arcs across our landscapes. Any visit to Stirling would be incomplete without a visit to Stirling Bridge, a historic landmark in the story of William Wallace, but there are many other bridges of note for visitors looking for a day trip to remember. Here are a handful close to Stirling.
Stirling Bridge: Stirling Bridge played a central role in the victory of William Wallace over the combined English forces of John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, and Hugh de Cressingham, in 1297. In a bold piece of warcraft, and despite being outnumbered, the young William Wallace held fast to the north (around the Abbey Craig, where the Wallace Monument now stands) until a large chunk of the English forces had crossed the River Forth using the narrow bridge. Bearing down from the north, the Scottish forces then fell upon their stranded opponents – effectively cutting them off from reinforcements behind – and winning the battle. The bridge you see now is not the original: this one was built in the 14th century, but lies upon (or very close to) the site of its antecedent, whose remnants still lie beneath the waters of the Forth. The present bridge is easily accessible by foot from Stirling city centre, and makes a thought-provoking visit from which to note the vantage points afforded by the Abbey Craig, used by Wallace in planning attack, as well as the defensive position of Stirling Castle. Visit the bridge, and the Wallace Monument, to fill one perfect day out.
The Forth Road Bridge, Scotland’s ‘Golden Gate’
The Forth Road Bridge: As striking as the Golden Gate, and with much more grace, the Forth Road Bridge recently celebrated its 50th birthday with a spectacular festival in September. The elegant suspension bridge spans the Firth of Forth, and was opened in 1964 to connect Edinburgh (via South Queensferry) to Fife, thereby replacing an ageing ferry service which formerly carried out the task. The bridge shares the waters of the Forth with its older counterpart, the Forth Rail bridge, which was completed in 1890 and, though more workmanlike in design, has its own charm for those seeking a striking photo. Underneath the shadow of the bridges, South Queensferry (just 29 miles from Stirling) is worth a day trip in itself for a pub lunch, a walk round its cobbled streets, and an ice cream with great sea views. Or make a day of it by taking one of the popular cruises that leave from the jetty to sail under the bridges and onward to Inchcolm Island and Abbey. Couples can even leave a lasting memento of their Scottish trip by having their names engraved on a padlock which can be locked, forever, onto the parapet of the Forth Road Bridge. Details here: http://www.forthbridgesfestival.com/events/mark-your-spot-on-the-forth-road-bridge/
The Avon Aqueduct, near Linlithgow, West Lothian
The Avon Aqueduct: Cheekily included in our blog on bridges, but definitely worth seeing, the Avon Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct on the Union Canal and lies just 21 miles from the heart of Stirling, in Linlithgow, West Lothian. It is the second longest and tallest aqueduct in Britain, built after an original design by Thomas Telford himself. There are several ways to get great views of and from the Aqueduct. Park near Linlithgow Canal Basin, or take a train from Stirling (Linlithgow station is just a minute’s walk from the canal), before joining the towpath on foot, heading west. Alternatively, enjoy one of the Canal Centre’s Aqueduct Cruises, leaving at 2pm on weekends. The cruise stops on the aqueduct for passengers to disembark and marvel at the views and the silence. Perhaps not for those with vertigo, but the canal volunteers do serve coffee and biscuits on board to calm even the most frayed nerves. Lastly, those who are really not keen on heights can get a true sense of the aqueduct’s size from beneath it, by taking the secluded and beautiful riverside walk around Muiravonside Country Park. Again, this country park is a great day trip in itself, especially if you are travelling with kids.
For those who want to explore Scotland’s bridges further afield, see:
- http://www.scotlandsoldestbridges.co.uk/the-collection.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_the_United_Kingdom#Scotland
Photo Credits:
- Stirling Bridge: by David Meisner at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
- The Forth Road Bridge: by Simon Johnston [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
- Avon Aqueduct: by R Pollack, via Wikimedia Commons.