We happened to be going under the new Forth Road Bridge on our way to Norway the day they opened it to foot passengers (for the one and the only time.) Our eldest son and his intended entered the draw and won tickets for that. I don’t think they’re in these photos. (Forth Road Bridge in background in first one.)

Before we set sail, HMS Prince of Wales, the second new Royal Navy aircraft carrier, could be seen from the dock at Rosyth:-

Queensferry Crossing from the River Forth:-

From below:-

Bridge Support from the river:-

East side, from the river, looking south:-

East side, from the river, looking north, Forth Road Bridge to right:-

Until recently the River Roch through Rochdale town centre had been covered over for decades – almost a century. It’s been opened up now and the river looks well. A town always seems better for a river running through it.

Bridge in Rochdale town centre, Art Deco former Regal Cinema, now The Regal Moon, in background:-

Bridge in Rochdale town centre from opposite side, Town Hall in background:-

Rochdale Town Hall and Square:-

One side of Rochdale Town Square (to the right in previous picture):-

Rochdale’s most famous daughter is perhaps, Gracie Fields. There is a statue of her, complete with old style microphone, in the town square:-

Different angle. Town Hall in background:-

The Rochdale trams are colourful; well, bright:-

We couldn’t go all the way up to the Pentland Firth and not visit Thurso, the northernmost town on the British mainland.

This bridge over the river Thurso takes you from the east (left in the picture) into the town centre:-

The War Memorial is located in Sir John’s Square. Dedicated to “those from the parish of Thurso who, in the war of 1914-1919 laid down their lives for God and country and the cause of freedom. We thank God on every remembrance of them.” The 1939-1945 plaque lies below the dedication:-

North face. Great War Names:-

West face. Great War names:-

South face. Great War names:-

Detail:-

Photos from March 2017. Gap finally closed.

From South Queensferry:-

New bridge in full, Forth Road Bridge to right:-

From approach road to North Queensferry, Forth Road Bridge in background:-

Northern support pillar and cable stays:-

Northern cable stay tower:-

All three cable stay towers:-

South cable stay tower and support pillars. Work still being done where gap was closed:-

There are two bridges over the burn at Kemback. This one is up the village a bit:-

This one is just by the junction of the road which goes to Cupar eventually:-

While we were coming back down from the church these aeroplanes flew overhead:-

From Kyle of Lochalsh we travelled over the sea to Skye – not in a bonny boat but via the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh.

On the way on to Portree I spotted a lovely old bridge over the River Sligachan. I made sure to stop on the way back to photograph it.

It was an atmospheric day with mist shrouding the hills and rain making fitful appearances:-

Just off to the left there was a smaller bridge over a smaller burn:-

Reverse angle of old bridge. The newer bridge over the Sligachan can be seen through the first arch:-

The newer bridge:-

Newton Stewart has a lovely situation sitting by the banks of the River Cree:-

Unfortunately the river sometimes comes a bit too close. In this photo you can see work on flood defences at centre right:-

There is a lovely bridge over the river:-

It seems to be a good place for birds:-

Heron just to right of and above centre:-

The plant growth was making this chimney loook dodgy, though!:-

Kirkcudbright (pronounced kir-could-bri) is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, though before local government reorganisation its county was Wigtown and Kirkcudbright.

The river Dee runs by the town and there is a rather lovely bridge over it.

Wider view:-

I was looking for a building that no longer exists and wandered across the bridge in the search and so found this plaque:-

Bridge from Kirkcudbright harbour:-

Wider view again:-

The River Nith runs through Dumfries (in Dumfries and Galloway, south west Scotland.) In the town two bridges span it.

Newer bridge:-

Older bridge:-

Some lovely willow trees droop over the river just above the bridge:-

Famously a weir interrupts the river’s flow just opposite the town’s main riverside area (and car park which the river has visited often in the past.) The old bridge can be seen off to the centre right here with the weir in the centre ground:-

Close up of weir and old bridge:-

Bridge over the Wick River; on road into town just at edge of town centre:-

Bridge near Harbour:-