Wondering how the new Forth Crossing is coming along?
The north tower of the new Forth bridge rises above its caisson. Workboat Tracey S approaches. pic.twitter.com/lE3wFbfHnw Pic: @BrianDonovan2
— The New Forth Bridge (@NewForthBridge) February 9, 2014
Now who can remember the name given to the new structure…..? It was revealed in summer 2013 when the First Minister announced it after a public vote which attracted entries from almost 40,000 people. The bridge is due for completion by the end of 2016 and is to cost between £1.45 to £1.6bn.
The Queensferry Crossing will be just under 3 km long and will be designated as a motorway, thus no cyclists will be allowed on the roadway. It will have two general lanes with hard shoulders and there will be wind shielding which ought to protect traffic more from the effects of high winds than the Forth Road Bridge.
The Forth Bridges Festival which takes place later this year will celebrate 50 years since the Forth Road Bridge was opened by the Queen in 1964.
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Our main photo today shows Princes Street Gardens getting a makeover two years ago. Meanwhile, out at Hopetoun House they have a fine garden, but it is the wild part you are invited to visit next weekend.
“With the grounds not officially open until Easter, this is a special one off walk before the season starts. As part of the Scottish Snowdrop Festival join our Ranger as we explore Hopetoun’s Grounds and witness the beautiful, white carpet of snowdrops on the woodland floor.
Grounds Open 10.30am-4pm
Grounds admission Charge is £4.25 adults, £2.50 children
The Guided Walk takes place from 2pm – 3.30pm and is free with admission charge. Booking Required.
Meet at the Car Park
The Stables Tearoom will be open for a cosy stopping point after your walk. Tea, coffee and a selection of traybakes as well as lovely homemade soup and sandwiches will be available from 10.30am – 4.00 pm. Make sure you pop in to experience some of our famous home-baking.
Booking is required for this walk. Please call our ranger team on 0131 319 3956 or email ranger@hopetoun.co.uk to secure your place.This Project is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage.”
The audit, commissioned by RCAHMS and Historic Scotland, has unearthed an enormous amount of new and additional information, allowing the records of 830 buildings and places to be created or updated – more than double the number expected at the outset.
You can view all of the records on the Canmore database and they include improved selections of images of air stations, hospitals and prisoner of war camps all over Scotland. There are images of Redford Barracks which is of course still in operation despite warnings as to its closure by the Ministry of Defence.
Allan Kilpatrick of RCAHMS said:- ‘Scotland was on the front line during WWI. St Kilda was bombarded by a German U-boat and Edinburgh was bombed by a Zeppelin. The naval bases on the Forth, Cromarty and Scapa Flow were essential to protect Britain’s navy and her shipping. Large parts of the landscape were transformed by structures designed to repel any invasion or attack, and it is remarkable just how many WWI remains can be still be seen today. Having these records online and in one place, provides a perfect starting point for further study.’
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Hurry to catch the last few days of the Dunmore Scotland pop-up shop which is at The Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel at Edinburgh’s West End this week (excluding Wednesday & Thursday).
The pop up shop is on the ground floor of the hotel, through reception.
Friday 7 February – Sunday 16 February (excluding 12th and 13th)
10am – 6.30pm daily
The Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh
10% of sales will be donated to Maggie’s Centre.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
