The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Five footbridges to watch the waters flow by
‘WHEN you cross a bridge, you take a break from this world,” wrote the Turkish novelist Mehmet Murat ildan. We could all probably do with such a break right now, so in this time of lockdown, and as we enter the New Year, pick out a local footbridge, peer over into the water below and let yourself be mentally swept away.
BELHAVEN BRIDGE, EAST LOTHIAN
Some call it the bridge to nowhere. But, actually, it does go somewhere, it’s just that the somewhere sometimes disappears. On the sands of Belhaven bay, pictured above, straddling a channel the Biel Water stream, is an extraordinary, lonely-looking footbridge that disappears underwater at each high tide. At low tide, it’s possible to walk over the bridge, crossing the stream on to the sands beyond. Come high tide, only the top of the bridge is visible.
BRIDGE OF THE CORRIESHALLOCH GORGE, WESTER ROSS
The dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge, is spanned, ledge to ledge, by a suspension bridge from which walkers can peer down at the giddy drop of mighty Falls of Measach as it tumbles the 150ft to its base. The 82ft crossing was built in 1867 by Sir John Fowler, one of the designers of the Forth Bridge, and is decidedly springy and sways slightly in the breeze – so to fully appreciate its jaw-dropping drama, you have to have a bit of a head for heights.
BRACKLINN FALLS, CALLANDER
From this wooden master-structure it is possible to look down on the stunning Bracklinn Falls, dropping through the steep gorge below. The bridge is relatively new and reached by a forest track. In 2004, a long-standing steel bridge was washed away, and was later replaced by this pointed, arched crossing, highly commended in the international Footbridge Awards.
One visitor described it as a “mini punctuation mark”. Though small, the bridge represents a triumph of construction. The location of the gorge - in mature woods with no road access – meant it was difficult to transport material and equipment in, and the tree trunks and other materials were delivered in by quad bikes and four-wheel drives.
THE SQUIGGLY BRIDGE
This being the nickname of pedestrian crossing of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, more formally known as the Tradeston Bridge. Created to aid the regeneration of Tradeston by giving it a direct link to the city’s financial district, it is a distinctive landmark on the Clyde. Brutally minimalist, but also sensual in its curving, like a current over the water, it was opened in 2009, cost £7 million to construct and was designed by the engineer group Halcrow with architects Dissing + Weitling, Look down on it and watch the mighty Clyde, with all its connections and history, flowing to the ocean.
BRIG O’DOON, ALLOWAY
The 15th century cobblestone bridge that in Robert Burns’ Tam o’Shanter is the brig that Tam races across on his trusty mare, Meg, as they flee witches and warlocks. The late Medieval bridge crosses the river Doon at the south end of Alloway and is such a famous landmark that it even features on a Scottish £5 note. The structure was rebuilt in the 17th century, but soon replaced by a newer bridge when it couldn’t take the traffic. A place to flee the pandemic when we finally get out of lockdown.