Forth Bridge – Inverkeithing, Scotland - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

Forth Bridge

Inverkeithing, Scotland

A remarkable feat of Victorian engineering across the Firth of Forth. 

View all photos
March 2023
With the train going northbound unimoggers (Atlas Obscura User)
408
110
Top Places in Scotland
The south face of the Ruthwell Cross in the apse.
The Ruthwell Cross
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Hirta Island Ghost Town
Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Devil's Pulpit
Craighat, Scotland
 See All

The Forth Bridge is among the world’s most well-known bridges. It’s regularly pictured on postcards and in books on Scotland and is heralded as one of the country’s most distinctive engineering accomplishments. The structure is comprised of a trio of bridges across the Fourth alongside the Forth Road Bridge and the recently constructed Queensferry Crossing.

The bridge links North and South Queensferry. It spans well over 8,000 feet and has been operational since 1890. It was the first major structure in the United Kingdom composed of steel. The Forth Bridge was also the longest single cantilever bridge in the world upon opening, currently, it’s the second-longest.

As one of many designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites across Scotland, the bridge continues to amaze visitors as a remarkable engineering structure from the Victorian era. Despite massive advancements in technology since it opened, the bridge remains mostly unchanged and still manages to facilitate 190-200 trains daily. 

Know Before You Go

There is plenty of parking on either side of the bridge in both North Queensferry and South Queensferry. You can get good views and pictures from either side. You can also get a unique perspective when crossing the bridge on the train from the North into Edinburgh.


The Maid of the Forth offers a variety of ferry services that take visitors underneath the bridge. This may include a stop at Incholm Island, home to a 12th century abbey founded by David I. https://www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/

Atlas Obscura Trips

Scotland : Highland Clans and the Trail of Tartan

Culture, history, and scenery with a globe-trotting bagpiper.
Book Now
victorian trains bridges history & culture
Community Contributors
grahamstewartwalker
Added by
grahamstewartwalker
SEANETTA
a
u
rbenn250
Edited by
SEANETTA, alittlebrowndog, unimoggers, rbenn250
Published
June 21, 2021
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
The Loony Dook
0.55 miles
The Burryman
0.78 miles
The Black Castle
0.79 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
The Loony Dook.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Loony Dook

Every New Year's Day, locals don gaudy costumes and dive into the frigid Firth of Forth.
Burryman Andrew Taylor parades through South Queensferry with his attendants.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Burryman

As part of an 800-year-old tradition, a man parades through town covered in a suit made out of spiky burrs.
The Black Castle in South Queensferry, Scotland.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Black Castle

This severely painted building has a twisted connection to the witch hunts of the 1640s.
Inverkeithing, Scotland

Inverkeithing Mercat Cross

Aside from denoting a public square or market, this medieval structure was also a sign of a town's prosperity.
Related Places
Arial view of the bridge.
Contoocook, New Hampshire

Contoocook Railroad Covered Bridge

The oldest covered railroad bridge still standing in the United States.
Keddie Wye
Quincy, California

Keddie Wye

A showcase of engineering might that was also symbolic of westward expansion.
Victorian Walkway
Whitehead, Northern Ireland

Victorian Walkway

This Victorian-era walkway is just one of the many 19th-century treasures in Whitehead.
Ashland Bridge
Wilmington, Delaware

Ashland Bridge

The smallest and oldest covered bridge in Delaware.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web