The city centre of Edinburgh sits atop a dramatic landscape of ancient volcanic plugs, river-cut ravines and glacier-carved valleys that has formed over many millions of years.
These obstacles have necessitated the construction of numerous man-made bridges that traverse Edinburgh’s unique topography and stitch the Scottish capital together. From the creation of the first crossings over the meandering Water of Leith to the construction of the original North Bridge in the 1770s, we take a look at more than a dozen bridges to be found within a mile’s radius of Edinburgh Castle.
The original North Bridge was constructed between 1763 and 1772 in order to connect the Old Town of Edinburgh to the New Town which was being built to the North. This first stone bridge was replaced by the current structure in 1897.
One of Edinburgh's newer bridges, this footbridge was constructed in the late 1990s to help bridge the gap over the West Approach Road and connect Edinburgh's growing financial district.
Built in 1906, the Leamington Lift Bridge spans the Union Canal at Fountainbridge. It was originally located over Fountainbridge itself at the present day Lochrin Basin.
The current Waverley Bridge was built between 1894 and 1896 and forms part of the roof of the present railway station.
Situated in the heart of the picturesque Dean Village, Bell's Brae Bridge was built in the 18th century.
The current stone-built "Stock Bridge" crossing dates from 1801 and spans the Water of Leith.
