South Queensferry, Edinburgh

One of the most spectacular man-made landmarks in Scotland is the Forth Rail Bridge. The bridge is 2.5 km long and the world’s first major steel bridge, with its gigantic girder spans of 521 m. It ranks as one of the great feats of civilization. It was begun in 1883 and formally completed on 4 March 1890.
It was constructed by Tancred–Arrol and robustly designed by civil engineers Sir John Fowler and Benjamin Baker in the aftermath of the Tay Bridge disaster*.
The bridge crosses the River Forth between South Queensferry and North Queensferry, and still carries the East Coast mainline railway north from Edinburgh to Perth and Dundee.

(*At approximately 7:15 p.m. on the stormy night of 28 December 1879, the central navigation spans of the Tay bridge collapsed into the Firth of Tay at Dundee, taking with them a train, 6 carriages and 75 souls to their fate.)

Viewed from South Queensferry, the Forth Rail Bridge, is, as you can see from the picture, a marvel of Victorian engineering. Best seen from the outside, as when you travel over it, all you really see is a lot of girders!

Railways stations at either end are Dalmeny (south side) and North Queensferry (north). Services cross the bridge from Edinburgh to Fife/Perth/Dundee/Aberdeen.

Much more recent than the rail bridge, the road bridge is a suspension bridge opened in 1964, another fine piece of engineering. Better views than the rail bridge whilst crossing it, and you can walk or cycle across (which I have never got round to doing yet). Tolls (currently 80p for cars, I think) only operate northbound.

Forth Road Bridge is a big suspension bridge built over Firth of Forth. It was built between 1958 – 1964 and as it was opened the car ferries ceased to operate. The towers of the bridge are over 150 meters high and the mainspan is 1008 metres long and the sidespans are each 408 metres long.
It is possible to walk over the bridge (I didn't) but it is often very windy. For cars going north a toll must be paid.

One of the many rocky islands that dot the Firth of Forth. Incholm Island is, now, uninhabited except for the Keeper of the Island and Incholm Abbey. Founded in 1123, it is the best preserved medieval monastic complex in Scotland. Most of the surviving structures date from the 13-15th centuries. Cruise boats leave Hawes pier in South Queensferry - approximately 3 hour round trip. As well as the Abbey, you are likely to see plenty of birds and nesting grey seals.

Built in the 19th century, the railway bridge that spans the Firth of Forth is an extraordinary structure, whether seen froma distance or, even better, from immediately below it on the shoreline. It is constantly being painted - by the time it has been finished, it is need to start again and has become a common metaphor - as never ending as the painting of the Firth of Forth bridge.
Take a bus to South Queensferry (the town on the southern shore) from Edinburgh and combine with a trip out to Incholm Island (see next of the beaten track) and lunch at one of the many pubs.

Forth Railway Bridge was opened in 1890 after 7 years in the building. At that time it was the biggest bridge in the world and the first major steel bridge containing almost 54,000 tons of steel. It was quite an engineering feat and expected to ‘last ‘forever’.

The bridge spans 2.5 kms and has a double track. It was featured in Alfred Hitchcocks movie "The Thirty-Nine Steps".

West of Edinburgh, spanning the Firth of Forth between South Queensferry and North Queensferry.

*Cramond:
A small but beautiful village in the suburb of Edinburgh city .
*Leith
The port / habour down at Leith walk , where you can see the Royal Yacht Britannia , Ocean Drive .

For more info , please check out my off the beaten path travelogue .