The Forth Bridges

The two bridges spanning the Firth of Forth connect Edinburgh with the rest of Scotland. These beautiful structures side by side were both important acheivements of Scottish industry.The iconic and instantly recognisable Rail Bridge, which you see on the card, was the first bridge in the world built on the Cantilever principle, and the world’s first major bridge constructed form steel. Even today it is the second widest spanning cantiliver in the world. It is built of iron, and held together with 6.5 million steel rivets. They say it is always being painted, as when you finish at one end it’s already time to start again at the other!!It still plays an important part in the train routes of Scotland and the UK.

The road bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1964, and at the time had the widest central span in Europe. From tower to tower measures more than 1000m, and the main cables are composed of 12,500 tiny cable strands, cased in steel to protect them from the elements. There is a footpath and cycle path all the way across affording some spectacular views up and down the Firth of Forth as you walk towards Fife. It gets quite windy too sometimes!!

www.forthbridges.org.uk

Highland Experience Tours

This fun and friendly Five Star award winning Highland tour operator is one of the best there is. You can trust the team to show you the very best that Scotland has to offer, whatever your budget and however much time you have to spare. Offering a variety of fascinating trips around Scotland from a day at Rosslyn Chapel (of Da Vinci code fame) to a 5 day adventure to the Scottish Isles, you are guaranteed a great time, with great company, accommodation and food along the way and they can even create custom trips for you.

See the website at www.highlandexperience.co.uk or drop in to their office on the corner just below St. Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile to find out out more.