The Union Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge which spans the River Tweed between Horncliffe in Northumberland, England and Fishwick in Berwickshire, Scotland. When it opened in 1820, it was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world.
At one side of the bridge is the sign for England.
Neither Eleanor nor I have ever visited Scotland so off we set across the bridge.
Eleanor got there first.
There are some wonderful views from the bridge, not that you'd notice from my photos. This was one of the extremely dull days we encountered on our holiday, as you can see. The sky was threatening rain.
The bridge was strengthened in 1902-3 and it has seen other repairs and renovations over the years too. It's now ready again for some further restoration work for which fundraising is underway.
So now, I can say at last that I've been to Scotland.
Don't forget about the swap I'm running. The Twelve Days Of Christmas Swap Sign Up is still open if you fancy joining in, just leave a comment on that post and I'll add you to the list. We've got quite a few people now signed up but it would be lovely to have more, especially international bloggers as we have quite a few people who are interested in swapping worldwide. It's a great way to make new bloggy friends too so don't be shy.
I can see why you put it on your list of places to visit. Shame that the weather wasn't a bit brighter. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting learning a bit more about the bridge but the fact that you can start off in England, hop across and you're in Scotland, added to the appeal. It was a shame about the weather but then, if it had been sunny we'd have probably been on a beach instead.
DeleteWe were at that exact bridge at Easter time. Isn't that funny that you, Anne and I have all visited the same place this year! :o)
ReplyDeleteI'd read about the bridge on Anne's blog otherwise I wouldn't have known about it. I'd popped Eyam in Derbyshire on my list of places to visit this year and then, before we'd managed to get there, I read at least two other posts about it on other blogs. It's funny how we bloggers visit the same places around the same time.
DeleteWhat an impressive bridge. I had never heard of it until just now, so I've learned something new. The skies do look rather threatening in your photos, I hope you didn't get wet! xx
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of it until I read about it on Anne's blog. It's great that funds are being raised to restore it, to think it's been there for nearly two hundred years, it deserves to be preserved.
DeleteI've never been to Scotland either, my list of places to visit in the UK is an ever growing one. I love the idea of crossing a bridge to get from one country to another xx
ReplyDeleteI can now always say that the first time I crossed from England over to Scotland, I was on foot. I read about so many great places on blogs that my list of places to visit grows longer and longer. I don't think there'll ever be a time when I run out of places to go.
DeleteI love visiting Scotland. One of my favourite places to go.
ReplyDeleteI've heard so many great things about Scotland, I'd love to take a holiday there.
DeleteI love the idea of crossing the bridge from one country to another. I love scotland too although it's quite a few years now since I last visited.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, that's what appealed to me when I first read about the bridge. I'd love to visit Scotland properly, I've heard so many good things about it and it looks absolutely beautiful.
DeleteYou can add me to the list of bloggers who have visited the same area recently - I think we were in the Northumberland/Scottish Borders region just a few weeks after you Jo! We went to Spittal beach, which I recognised from your photo (the one with the lighthouse), and although this time we didn't cross the Chain Bridge, we did pay a second visit to the nearby Honey Farm. Since Chris is a beekeeper, he likes to see how it's done on a huge commercial scale.
ReplyDeleteAs for Scotland, my heart will always belong to the Highlands, but I'd definitely recommend the Borders region too, if you don't want to go too far.
It's amazing, isn't it, how many of us have visited, each without the other knowing. I'd have liked to visit the Honey Farm too but Eleanor isn't keen (to say the least) on bees, I think it would have freaked her out, so we didn't bother. We did take another trip in to Scotland whilst we were staying in Northumberland, that's for another post.
DeleteI'm glad you managed to visit Scotland - even if you were only just over the Border! You should definitely plan a holiday in the Borders - there is so much to see!
ReplyDeleteWe did manage another couple of trips a little further in to Scotland whilst we were on our holiday, another post to come.
DeleteI'm impressed with you walking over the bridge, my knees would have been knocking!
ReplyDeleteA brief but very picturesque trip to Scotland.
Lisa x
Don't worry, I stayed in the middle. I like that this was my first step on Scottish soil.
DeleteThat's quite a walk to get to Scotland! It's a place I've never visited, but maybe one year I will get there ... we'll see.
ReplyDeleteMaintenance costs on any bridge must be quite high - but so worth it.
All the best Jan
I think it's definitely worth maintaining the bridge, there's so much history, it would be a shame to lose it.
DeleteAnother great place to have visited! Isn't it great to go to places you have seen on others blogs - I followed in your footsteps a bit last week! xx
ReplyDeleteI get so many ideas for days out from blogs so I'm always pleased when people blog about their travels. I'm looking forward to hearing about your holiday, Derbyshire is such a beautiful place.
DeleteI was lucky enough to visit England and Paris in the 00s...but I didn't get the chance to stop by Scotland. That would be an experience, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI don't really have an excuse for not visiting Scotland, it's not as though I live far away. I must make more of an effort to holiday there in the future.
DeleteCool bridge! Do they not have a line in the middle where you can put a dead body, like in the Danish version?
ReplyDeleteDead bodies and lines in the middle of bridges? Ok, now you've lost me.
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