Crossing the Forth

The Forth Estuary presents a formidable natural barrier to overland travel between northern and southern Scotland. For centuries, a safe passage across the river has been vital to the economy of Scotland. 
 
Until the construction in 1936 of a swing bridge at Kincardine, 25 miles west of Edinburgh, the only available bridge over the river was at Stirling, a further 10 miles upstream. Train and vehicle ferries from Granton to Burntisland and Queensferry to North Queensferry were the only means of crossing the lower Forth until the opening of the iconic Forth Bridge to rail traffic, in 1890. 
 
In 1964, the Forth Road Bridge opened to road traffic and in 2017 this was joined by a new road bridge, the Queensferry Crossing. At Kincardine, the swing bridge was augmented by the Clackmannanshire Bridge in 2008.
 
This gallery presents a selection of images of these important links in Scotland's infrastructure.