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All the United Kingdom Scotland Garbh Allt Falls Bridge
AO Edited

Garbh Allt Falls Bridge

More than a century old, this cast iron bridge on the Balmoral Estate leads to nowhere.

Ballater, Scotland

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John Dacey
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The Garbh Allt Falls Footbridge.   Nigel Corby / CC BY-SA 2.0
The Garbh Allt falls from the bridge footpath.   rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
View of the falls above the bridge.   rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
View of the falls below the bridge.   rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
Footpath up to the bridge.   rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Deep inside Queen Elizabeth's Balmoral Estate is a beautiful iron bridge arching over the Falls of Garbh Allt. From the rough forest road, there is an easy footpath that leads to the bridge, but there is no path on the far side. Queen Victoria loved the falls and commissioned the bridge as a way to better enjoy the site and, in many ways, appreciate the falls more fully.

The bridge, formally described as a "cast-iron segmental bridge with decorative railings," was crafted by Blaikie Brothers of Aberdeen, Scotland, and carries a manufacturer nameplate attesting to it, dated 1878. The bridge is also known as Queen Victoria's Bridge to Nowhere. 

Above and below the bridge are stunning waterfalls and several contain natural pools for swimming. 

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Nature History & Culture Architecture Royalty Bridges

Know Before You Go

Know that this beautiful bridge and its falls are on the royal family's estate, private property, but are fully accessible by the public, if you know how to get there. The bridge does not show on Google Maps and despite many photos, there is no definitive address. It is deep within the royal estate.

There is no charge to access the site. The road is however a rough forest road, best navigated with a 4x4 vehicle. There is a small area to park off the road, but be careful not to block the roadway.

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Added By

rugby007

Published

December 31, 2021

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Sources
  • https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/hes/29699
  • https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200400445-garbh-allt-falls-bridge-crathie-and-braemar#.YbFTJVlOmUk
  • http://happypontist.blogspot.com/2012/09/scottish-bridges-50-falls-of-gharb-allt.html
  • https://canmore.org.uk/site/29699/balmoral-estate-falls-of-garbh-allt-footbridge
  • https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17574631
  • https://canmore.org.uk/site/29699/balmoral-estate-falls-of-garbh-allt-footbridge
Garbh Allt Falls Bridge
Ballochbuie Forest
Ballater, Scotland
United Kingdom
56.984879, -3.329413
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