Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

FUR THER AFIELD  75

4 Forth Bridges
Lothian. 3 @ Dalmeny,
Inverkeithing.
The small town of South
Queensferry is dominated by
the two great bridges that span
1.5 km (1 mile) across the River
Forth to the town of Inverkeithing.
The spectacular rail bridge, the
first major steel built bridge in the
world, was opened in 1890 and
remains one of the greatest
engineer ing achievements of
the late Victorian era. Its massive
can tilevered sections are held
together by more than eight
million rivets, and the painted
area adds up to some 55 ha
(135 acres). The saying “it’s like
painting the Forth Bridge” has
become a byword for non stop,
repetitive endeavour.
The neighbouring road bridge
was the largest suspension
bridge outside the US when it
was opened in 1964 by Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Leger’s The Team at Rest (1950), Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art The two bridges make an
im pressive contrast, best seen
3 Dean Village Antiques, curios, vintage clothes from the promenade at South
and jewellery can Queensferry. The
Northwest of the city centre.
be found in the town got its name
This interesting, tranquil area shops on the south from Queen Margaret
lies in the valley of the Water side of the river in (see p65), who reigned
of Leith, just a few minutes’ St Stephen Street. with her husband,
walk northwest from Charlotte The riverside walk King Malcolm III, in
Square (see map p58). A series of con tinues north- the 11th century. She
water mills along the river have east, close to the used the ferry here
been replaced by attrac tive Royal Botanic on her fre quent
buildings of all periods. Garden. The city journeys between
Access to Dean Village can be centre is just a Edin burgh and the
gained by walking down Bell’s short walk away, royal palace at
Brae from Randolph Crescent. via Royal Circus 17th-century stone houses on Dun fermline in Fife
A riverside walk threads its way and Howe Street. the historic Bell’s Brae (see p128). From
between the historic buildings, Queensferry you can
crossing the river on a series E Scottish National Gallery of take a boat trip down the
of footbridges. Upstream from Modern Art River Forth to visit the island of
Dean Village the riverside walk 75 Belford Rd. Tel (0131) 624 6200. Inchcolm with its well -preserved
leads in a few minutes to a Open daily. & special exhibitions 12th-century abbey. A new Forth
footbridge and a flight of steps only. 7 - road-bridge, the Queensferry
giving access to the Scottish ∑ nationalgalleries.org Crossing, opened in 2017.
National Gallery of Modern Art
and its sculpture garden. The
main access for vehicles, and
less energetic pedestrians, is
on Belford Road.
Downstream from Dean
Village, the riverside walkway
passes under the magnificent
high level bridge designed by
Thomas Telford. It then passes St
Bernard’s Well before arriving in
the urban village of Stockbridge. The huge, cantilevered Forth Rail Bridge, seen from South Queensferry

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