Forth Bridge – Inverkeithing, Scotland - Atlas Obscura
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Forth Bridge

Inverkeithing, Scotland

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

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View from rail car SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Rail crossing at sunset SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
With the train going northbound unimoggers (Atlas Obscura User)
March 2023
View from Inverkeithing Station platform SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
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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/

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