Queensferry
Approx. Time: 1 hoursActivity Level: Easiest
Queensferry, an attractive and historic town on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, stands between the two spectacular bridges that span the Forth. Both structures are among the largest bridges in the world. The Forth Railway Bridge, opened in March 1890, was eight years in the building and contains almost 54,000 tons of steel. At the time it was the biggest bridge in the world and the sheer scale of its cantilever design immediately made it the engineering wonder of the age. The second bridge, Forth Road Bridge, which opened in September 1964, is a suspension bridge and offers an interesting architectural contrast with its more massive neighbor. It is one-and-a-half miles long - slightly shorter than the rail bridge. The main towers are 500 ft high, and the central span between the towers is 3,300 ft long. Both bridges emphasize the historical importance of the Forth crossing: the opening of the Forth Road Bridge finally brought to an end a ferry service that could be traced back 800 years.
One should not miss the Queensferry Museum, which, housed in the Burgh Chambers, has exhibits reflecting the life and work of Queensferry down the centuries, including its local industries and crafts. One of the most unusual items in the museum is a life-size model of the 'Burry Man', a weird figure who represents a tradition far older than anything else the visitor will encounter in Queensferry. The Burry Man appears in the streets of Queensferry once a year, during the annual Ferry Fair in August. He is clothed from head to foot in a special suit, to which burrs have been attached by the hundred (burrs are the spiky seedcases of the burdock plant). The custom is so old that no one knows its origin or purpose, but it is thought to relate to a pagan ritual invoking good fortune for the community - perhaps for a good harvest. The whole town turns out to watch the Burry Man's progress through the town.
Courtesy of the British Tourist Authority