Bridges in Scotland

At Food of Scotland we have been working all year to make sure that we have the stock you need to make the perfect Christmas gift to yourself or for a loved one.

Last year we had the busiest one ever with individual customers as well as corporate customers and early orders this year would have us think it is going to be no different. In the past (before lockdown) our website ran right up to the 20th of December which allowed customers to buy a last minute gift. Last year we had to close the site on Dec 10th as we could not book any more delivery slots. This was very frustrating for us as it meant many of our regular customers missed out on their annual Christmas gift opportunity. This year our courier APC says they are confident they have driver numbers to fulfill all orders. Our greater challenge this year is stock supply. Glass jars for chutney are in short supply. Certain cheeses which are labour intensive to produce are struggling with staff numbers to complete orders. CO2 for certain meat packaging has been in short supply.

This is really just a plea to get your orders in early to avoid disappointment.

If you are an existing customer you will see we have changed the names of all our pre-made hampers to reflect the stocks we know we are able to get. The new hampers are named after iconic Scottish bridges, which we thought reflected where the pandemic has left us all; stuck on one side and all desperate to get over to the other side and get on with the rest of our lives.

You will see images of the bridges we have chosen and a little description about them and where they are. Hope you find it interesting and helps you understand why we have made the changes we have this year.

All the very best from the Food of Scotland team

The Swilcan Bridge

St Andrews
Total Length 9.14m

The famous Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole of the Old Course at the Home of Golf. The bridge was originally built over 700 years ago so shepherds could move their flock across the Swilcan Burn which meanders through what is now the 1st and 18th fairways. Today the Swilcan Bridge, with the 'Auld Grey Toun' providing the most beautiful of backdrops, is one of the most iconic settings in golf. So much more than a little stone crossing, the Swilcan Bridge is the history of the game, it's the magic moments, it's felt the footsteps of the true greats.

The Squinty Bridge

Glasgow
Total Length 94m

Squinty Bridge is the affectionate local name for this striking new bridge, officially named the Clyde Arc, which opened across the river in 2006, and enjoyed some notorious initial teething problems that were supposedly due to its unusual angle – hence the name, which has stuck. The authorities will never rename it but calling the bridge by its proper name is the surest way to mark yourself out as a foreigner. Head along for a squint at it yourself and see what you think.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct

Glenfinnan Scottish Highlands
Total Length 380m

The Glenfinnan Viaduct attracts many thousands of visitors from around the world to experience the stunning scenery but also the special atmosphere. The famous Glenfinnan viaduct carries the railway to Glenfinnan Station across a 1,000 ft span, 100 ft above the ground.

The filming of the second and third Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban took place in this area with the Hogwarts Express calling at Glenfinnan!

The Kylesku Bridge

Sutherland
Total Length 400m

The Kylesku Bridge is a dramatic structure which curves majestically across Caolas Cumhann, the channel which joins Loch Cairnbawn with Lochs Glendhu and Glencoul, a quarter-mile (0.4 km) northwest of Kylesku in the Sutherland district of the Highland Council Area. Work began in July 1978 and the bridge was opened by The Queen on the 8th August 1984, replacing a succession of ferries which had crossed between Kyleskuand Kylestrome since the early 19th century. When this ferry was not running, the only alternative was a 100 mile (160 km) detour around the NW Highlands.

The Kessock Bridge

Beauly Firth
Total Length 1056m

Work started on the Kessock Bridge in 1976, and it opened in 1982. Its total length is 1056m and the central span is 240m long and raised high enough above the Beauly Firth below to allow ships to reach the docks at Inverness The weight of the central section of the bridge is carried by four towers, from which steel cables stretch down like the strings of a harp to the road deck below.

The arrival of the Kessock Bridge had two main effects. One was to place much of the Black Isle within easy commuting and shopping distance to Inverness. This has been one of the factors which has led to the remarkable growth of Scotland's fifth city over the intervening period.

The Ballachulish Bridge

Ballachulish
Total Length 294m

The Ballachulish Bridge is a bridge in the West Highlands of Scotland. It crosses the narrows between Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe, linking the villages of South Ballachulish and North Ballachulish. It carries the A82 road, the main route between Glasgow and Inverness. It was opened in 1975 and did away with the long queues of cars which waited for the ferries during the busy holiday season. It did away with the 17 mile round trip via the village of Kinlochleven.

The Queensferry Crossing

Firth of Forth
Total Length 2700m

The Queensferry Crossing opened to traffic on 30 August 2017. This forms the centrepiece of a major upgrade to the cross-Forth transport corridor in the east of Scotland. The 2.7km structure is the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world and also by far the largest to feature cables which cross mid-span. This innovative design provides extra strength and stiffness, allowing the towers and the deck to be more slender and elegant. The Queen opened the bridge 53 years to the day from opening the adjacent Forth Road Bridge in 1964.