How To Visit The Forth Bridge From Edinburgh!

Are you itching to get away from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh? Looking for a change of scenery and some fresh air? Then why not take a day trip over the iconic Forth Bridge? The bridge spans an impressive 2.5 kilometres, connecting South Queensferry on the south side with North Queensferry and Fife on the north. Built 115 years ago, it is one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks!

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The vast majority of people who visit Edinburgh tend to check out the most popular tourist attractions in the city, such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House and The Scotch Whisky Experience. However, there’s much more to the area than just the popular city attractions. Just a 40-minute bus ride from Edinburgh’s city centre, you can find yourself in South Queensway, a quaint little town on the River Forth with amazing views of the famous Forth bridges.

If you feeling energetic, you can walk across one of the bridges to get some of the best views, or you could take a boat trip and check out the bridges from the water.

The Forth Bridges:

The Forth Railway Bridge

The iconic Forth Railway Bridge was opened in March 1890 after taking eight years to construct. It was one of the most recognised engineering accomplishments of the Victorian era and is still one of the most recognisable structures in the world.

This famous red steel cantilever bridge spans 2467 metres across the River Forth and is still used today, linking Edinburgh to the highlands. In 2015, The Forth Bridge was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of only six such sites in Scotland.

The Forth Road Bridge

The construction of the Forth Road Bridge started in September 1958 and was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen on September 4, 1964.

At its opening, it was the longest suspension bridge outside the USA, with a length of 2.5 km. The bridge has since been strengthened to accommodate the extra weight of traffic that travels across the bridge today. As well as offering a passage for vehicles to cross the Forth, the bridge also has a walkway for walkers and cyclists to cross.

Queensway Crossing

The Queensway Crossing opened to the public in August 2017 and, at 2.7 km long, is the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world!

How To Get To The Forth Bridge

It’s easy to get to the bridges from Edinburgh city centre; hop on the Lothian number 43 bus and get off at Dalmany rail station. To make things easier, I suggest downloading the Transport for Edinburgh app. You can follow the bus route on a map on the app so you know when exactly to get off.

As South Queensferry is outside the Edinburgh city limits, you must buy the £ 5-day saver ticket that also covers the east of the county. You can pay directly to the driver or via the app (Please note, the driver will only take the correct fare, and no change will be given).

Once at Dalmany station, cross the road and head downwards through the housing estate; after about 5 minutes, you will come across a footpath to your right.

How to visit The Forth Bridge from Edinburgh!

Follow the footpath which leads you underneath the Forth Rail bridge.

Go down the steps, across the road and walk left along the coast for the best views of the Forth Railway and Road Bridges.

If you continue walking in this direction, you will walk along the Queensferry promenade and into South Queensferry town.

Other Things To Do In South Queensferry

Walk Across The Forth Road Bridge

If feeling energetic, you can walk through the town and, up towards the pedestrian entrance to the bridge and across the 2.5 km bridge leading you to North Queensferry. From here, you can then catch the train back across the Forth Railway bridge from North Queensferry station either back to Dalmany station for the bus back into Edinburgh or stay on for the train back to the city.

The walk across isn’t for the faint-hearted and is not advised if scared of heights. I’m not usually afraid of heights, but I did find it uncomfortable to go near the edge and look over the barrier.

Luckily, the walkway is quite wide, so you don’t have to walk next to the edge if you don’t want to. However, the views as you walk across are amazing, not only of the other bridges but of the surrounding area as well. The walk across takes about 30 minutes, depending on pace and fitness level.

Take A Boat Trip

You can take various boat trips from Hawes Pier at South Queensferry. Some trips take you along and under all the bridges to see them from a different point of view.

Other trips take you to the small Inchcolm Island in the middle of the Forth River, where you can check out the magnificent Inchcolm Abbey and have great views of the bridges. Unfortunately, I could not do either, as I arrived late in the afternoon and missed the last sailing.

For more information on boat trips, check out Maid of the Forth & Forth Boat Tours.

Cramond Island

You can also combine visiting the bridges with visiting the beautiful Cramond Island.

To do both trips in one day, I recommend taking the Lothian bus number 41 first to Cramond Island, spending the morning in Cramond, and then continuing on the Lothian bus number 43 to Dalmany station.

Are you looking for inspiration on things to do whilst in Edinburgh? If so, why not check out my other Edinburgh guides:

Final Thoughts

Visiting the Forth Bridge from Edinburgh is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and experience something different. It’s a beautiful location, rich in history and culture, that provides awe-inspiring landscape views. Whether you drive to South Queensferry or take the train/bus, you will have an incredible time. So why not add the Forth Bridge to your trip itinerary? You won’t regret it!

Thanks so much for stopping by; I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read and make it to the end! I have lots of exciting new content in the next few weeks, so make sure you pop back to catch up!

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Happy travels!