Not another bridge!!!

Yep – we did cross, drive under, over, past numerous bridges from ancient to modern and by the end of the journey Sue had lost count..

So even before we got to our first Airbnb we called at Trim – the bridge over the River Boyne dates from 1393 and is one of the oldest working unaltered bridges in Ireland..

At Newgrange (World Heritage location) a footbridge . . .

National Trust – Crom Estate out of Enniskillen . .

Derry (Londonderry if you wish) and the Peace Bridge spanning the River Foyle

After a few days without crossing or photographing another bridge . . .

Newmills Corn and Flax Mill out of Derry

On the way from the Burren to Limerick we paused for a riverside walk by O’Brien’s Bridge – O’Briensbridge-Montpelier – spanning the River Shannon

Out of Limerick we stopped by Desmond Castle at Adare

Riverside walk – Desmond Castle at Adare

So off we went to Killarney and the Gap of Dunloe . . .

Wishing Bridge #1
Wishing Bridge #2

At the end of our jaunting cart ride through the Gap we dined at Lord Brandon’s cottage – well the tourist caff anyway . .

Crossing the riverowenreagh

After which we boarded “traditional” boats (but with outboard motor of course) for a return journey across the three Killarney lakes

Brickeen Bridge

Not a bridge but I like the photo 😊

Next day out of Killarney and on the return from our excursion to Glengarriff – Ilnacullin Island we stumbled – well I did anyway – on the longest clapperbridge in Ireland near Ballingeary.

John’s Bridge in Kilkenny ca 1910, at the time the longest ferro-concrete arch bridge in the British Isles.

Tintern Abbey – remains of – and this bridge ca. 1565 – no one seems to know . . .

William Marshal and Isabel de Clare – she with the lands, he with the military prowess and political astuteness, enough to keep his head while serving 4 kings of England also responsible for “building” the oldest operational lighthouse – Hook Head

Dublin and the River Liffey threw up a couple of bridges, most notable the Ha’penny Bridge, built in cast iron in 1816. The builder/owner was allowed to charge a half penny to cross the bridge.

By this time of the day we were pounding the Liffey Boardwalk – long day!

And so to Scotland – the land of bridges and some great engineering . .

First stop Inverary on Loch Fyne – a sea loch

Garron Bridge ca. 1747

Mull – bridges – nah!!

En route Oban to Mallaig – ferry from Mull, ferry to Skye – we bypassed the Glenfinnan viaduct and the Harry Potter fans and made a photo stop along the way for viaduct on the same rail route

Skye – bridges – one or two . . .

Sligachan old bridge ca 1810–16, the work of that great engineer Thomas Telford – dip your face in the water for seven seconds and you will enjoy (???) immortality

And the new bridge . .

Back on the mainland after bidding farewell to some of the locals . . .

Eilean Donan – yeah I know but there is a bridge there

Heading further east and we checked out the Bridge of Oich ca 1855 – amazing what you can do with money made from brewing.

Sufffering withdrawal symptoms assuaged only by calling at The Balvenie we press on resolutely to Carr Bridge.

Packhorse Bridge ca; 1717 aka Coffin Bridge built to facilitate the movement of the dead across the river to the cemetary

Enough of the Cairngorms and, after a stop in Pitlochry for (another) tyre change and crossing yet another stone bridge – Kinkell Bridge ca. 1793 – and on to Drummond Castle and Gardens.

Edinburgh and how do you photograph this engineering marvel – crossed both north and south courtesy of Scotrail and then wandered off for some photo ops. Forth Rail Bridge 1890 – 96. Fascinating that the tubular members are formed plates riveted together. Six million rivets and counting . . .

And the 20th century road bridges – so long that the vehicles making the crossing appear to be “crawling” across.

Stirling Old Bridge ca.1500 – one of the centre arches was destroyed in 1745 to hinder the movement of Jacobite forces and rebuilt in 1749

Curious one this – after our exploration of Rosslyn Chapel we ambled DOWN the hill to Rosslyn Castle – the very little that remains to find it in a very indefensible location.

Dutch Bridge in Dawyck Botanical Gardne – why Dutch?? Does it resemble canal bridges?
Water from this reservoir is piped down the hill to power a hydroelectric generator – net grid consumption – nil.
Hyndford Bridge ca. 1773 over the River Clyde on the way to New Lanark

England – bridges – not much where we trawled . .

Lacock – beautiful little village with this bridge tucked away next to the church

Off to the Cotswold village that is not in the Cotswolds – Castle Coombe

Another long day requiring a refreshing ale and cider at The White Hart . ..

For your patience you will be rewarded by photos of the last bridges in the REAL Cotswolds . . .

Bibury

and Bourton-on-the-Water

Ha ha – lulled you into a false sense of security – Melrose Abbey was closed ???? So we detoured via the Leaderfoot viaduct ca. 1863 and Drygrange Old Bridge ca. 1176 – 80

On reflection the bridge builders had good grounding given the long history of building (castles) with stone, lime mortar and rubble fill . . .

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