logo
Iconic Scottish landmark to open its doors for exciting first-of-its-kind tour

Iconic Scottish landmark to open its doors for exciting first-of-its-kind tour

Scottish Sun11 hours ago
Some lucky guests will get the chance to win an amazing experience
FINGERS CROSSED Iconic Scottish landmark to open its doors for exciting first-of-its-kind tour
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
SCOTS will be able to get a one-of-a-kind tour of one of the country's most iconic landmarks.
Punters will be able to get an inside look of the Queensferry Crossing later this year.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
4
The Queensferry Crossing will be opening its doors to the public
Credit: AFP
4
Punters will get to see parts of the bridge normally closed off
Credit: Alamy
4
The tours will be over one day
Credit: Getty
The bridge is the newest of the Forth Road Bridges and connects Edinburgh to Fife across the Firth of Forth.
It was completed in August 2017 and is used by 80,000 drivers every single day.
But there are parts of the UK's tallest bridge completely unknown to the public, but they will soon get a chance to find out about them.
BEAR Scotland, the firm operating the bridge, are offering free guided tours as part of their Doors Open Day.
Staff will be taking members of the public around the area they normally don;t get access to.
The tours will be visiting parts of the Queensferry Crossing normally closed to the public, including inside the the box girder deck and the central reservation where the bridge's cable stays are anchored.
All of the tours will last 90 minutes and will be held on September 27.
But people wanting to go will need to be quick as there are only 180 spaces available.
They will be given out through a random ballot which will open later this month.
The ballot will be shared on the Forth Bridges and South East trunk roads X accounts.
Everyone who attends will have the chance to enter a charity prize draw for one of five trips for two to the top of the Queensferry Crossing's main towers.
Despite the free price tag, anyone who gets onto one of the tours has been asked to donate to the BEAR Scotland's partner charity, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.
David Bishop, BEAR Scotland's South East Bridges Manager, said: 'For the past three years we've held successful Doors Open Day events at the Forth Road Bridge, and this year we want to offer a similar opportunity for members of the public to get behind the scenes at the Queensferry Crossing.
'The tours will give people an unprecedented chance to see the bridge up close in areas normally inaccessible to the public, and to learn from the engineers who manage and maintain this iconic structure.
'Last year's Forth Road Bridge Doors Open Day attracted over 12,000 applications, and we expect a similar level of demand for this event.
'Hopefully we can raise lots of money for a great cause in Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Magnificent Scots railway station considered to be one of world's most beautiful
Magnificent Scots railway station considered to be one of world's most beautiful

Daily Record

time12 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Magnificent Scots railway station considered to be one of world's most beautiful

Built in the 19th century Wemyss Bay became home to what many call the world's most beautiful station In the 19th century, Scotland underwent a leisure revolution. With the arrival of the railways and improvements in workers' rights, many Scots found themselves with both the time and the means to explore their own country for the first time. It was during this golden era that some of the nation's favourite holiday spots were born, either emerging as new resorts or growing from existing coastal towns. For Glaswegians, one of the most popular pastimes was heading "doon the watter", a trip to the Ayrshire coast or the islands of the Firth of Clyde. ‌ Back then, the journey was traditionally made by steamer. But with the rise of the railway, travellers could reach the coast far quicker before hopping aboard a connecting boat to destinations like Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. The departure point for this journey was the now-iconic Wemyss Bay in what is today Inverclyde. ‌ Though still a relatively small village, Wemyss Bay is home to what many believe to be the most beautiful railway station in the world. The original building, constructed in 1865 by Irish labourers, was a plain, square structure. But in 1903, it was replaced by a breathtaking architectural gem that still stands proudly today. Designed by architect James Miller in the elegant Queen Anne style, the station is crowned with a 60-foot Italianate clock tower. Step inside and you'll find a concourse bathed in natural light through a magnificent glazed, steel-trussed roof. VisitScotland describes it as a 'wrought-iron and glass palace'. Sunshine floods the circular booking office, while a gracefully curved ramp leads passengers down to the pier and the ferry across to Bute. ‌ Despite being granted Category A listing by Historic Scotland, the station was neglected for many years. Fortunately, it has undergone a full restoration and now also features a charming bar and bookshop. It continues to dazzle visitors, with many taking to review sites to sing its praises. On TripAdvisor, the station holds a glowing 4.8 rating, higher even than Edinburgh Castle. ‌ One reviewer wrote: 'One of the hidden gems on the national network. The architecture of this quiet station is stunning. "Sweeping curves and canopies. Connects with trains to Glasgow and ferries to the isles. Add in the cafe and bookshop and it is worth a visit in itself.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. ‌ Undiscovered Scotland goes even further, calling it 'the most beautiful railway station (and pier) in the world', noting: 'The station is beautiful not so much for its half-timbered mock Tudor exterior as for its glorious interior, which... is absolutely spellbinding.' Another visitor put it simply: 'This Grade A listed railway station is up there with the architectural best. It is a gorgeous example of Victorian engineering with a curved platform sweeping down to the ferry terminal. Don't miss the bookshop, café, bar or curved urinals.' The village of Wemyss Bay itself lies just to the north of the station, while Skelmorlie in North Ayrshire sits to the south. According to VisitScotland, Wemyss Bay boasts 'a selection of local shops and places to eat' and offers 'opportunities to go sailing in the bay'. For city dwellers looking to escape, it's less than 30 miles from the centre of Glasgow and takes just an hour by train, making it an easy trip to one of Scotland's most beautiful and underrated destinations.

Nine of the best travel games to keep the kids busy on holiday
Nine of the best travel games to keep the kids busy on holiday

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Nine of the best travel games to keep the kids busy on holiday

One game is like Dobble taken up a notch HOLI-PLAY Nine of the best travel games to keep the kids busy on holiday Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEADING on a family getaway, jetting off with friends or going on a solo jaunt? You'll want to pack some travel games to while away the hours on the train or provide some poolside fun. Peter Jenkinson shares his top picks. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Don't Get Got! Travel Edition – £10, Oliver Bonas 9 Don't Get Got! is a real test of your aptitude for sneakiness Credit: supplied The game is all about completing secret missions and tasks by conning other players to fall into your trap – and it's a real test of your aptitude for sneakiness. Can you convince another player to call your mobile, or maybe get some sympathy for your imaginary dodgy leg? Each player starts off with six task cards and must complete three missions to win. Ingenious Single Player Travel Edition – £10.59, 9 Ingenious starts with easy and moves right through to Einstein level Credit: supplied Travelling solo and don't want to be staring at a screen? You can challenge your grey matter with this single-player game. Solo players must place the domino-style tiles in the right area to complete each of the 200 challenges. It starts with easy and moves right through to Einstein level. Othello On The Move – £9.99, 9 Othello On The Move could not be simpler to learn Credit: supplied This is right up there with the checkerboard classics and could not be simpler to learn. Two players compete by placing their circular tiles on the board, claiming the most spots and sabotaging the other player's efforts along the way. Your opponent, of course, is doing the same. Woman shares genius hack on how to create your own TV screen on a short-haul flight using the sick bag and it's a game changer Poetry For Neanderthals – £9.99, 9 Poetry For Neanderthals is packed with laughs Credit: supplied This is packed with laughs. Form into teams, then each player picks a card. Your team mates must guess what phrase or word you're trying to convey to them – using words of one syllable only. Happy Salmon travel edition – £9, 9 There is some physical activity involved in Happy Salmon Credit: supplied There is some physical activity involved in this one, though not too much. It's brilliant for quick bursts of noisy activity and plenty of belly laughs. Each player gets a stack of cards and you must find another player with a matching card. Complete that action before discarding the card and moving on to the next. The first player to get rid of all their cards takes the title. Azul Mini – £19.99, 9 Azul Mini is the perfect game for a slightly longer and more engaging play Credit: supplied Winning this strategy game is all about having the best tile arrangement – one that is fit for a palace. This is the perfect game for a slightly longer and more engaging play. The rules are simple, the quality of the pieces is superb and, overall, it's a beautiful game. Big Fish Little Fish – £10.99, 9 Big Fish Little Fish takes Dobble up a notch Credit: supplied Ever played Dobble, the symbol-matching game of quick reactions and utter frustration when you're not fast enough? This game takes that up a notch. Each player competes to find the largest, smallest or certain colour of an object on a card, and whoever is fastest claims that card. If you are presented with a fish, big or little, then you must complete the 90s dance move: big fish, little fish, cardboard box. 5 UP – £5.99, 9 5 Up is a tense game with simple rules Credit: supplied A tension-filled game where the rules are simple – all you must do is push your luck to the limit. You start with a pile of ten tokens and the aim is to get rid of them by rolling the dice and placing one token on the corresponding number on the play mat. Roll a five and you can get rid of a token immediately. Keep rolling the dice, but if the corres-ponding space is covered, you must take all the tokens from the mat. Sushi Go!, £7.99 – 9 In Sushi Go! your goal is to grab the best combination of dishes on the imaginary conveyor belt Credit: supplied In this fast-paced game your goal is to grab the best combination of dishes on the imaginary conveyor belt – according to the game cards. Gather groups of Sashimi or Dumplings to score big. You'll need a keen eye as the play moves around, and cards are passed between players. Play three rounds then tally up your treat totals

Exact length of time you stay happy after a holiday revealed – and it's MUCH longer than previously thought
Exact length of time you stay happy after a holiday revealed – and it's MUCH longer than previously thought

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Exact length of time you stay happy after a holiday revealed – and it's MUCH longer than previously thought

Taking on physical activities on holidays like snorkelling also help to disconnect BREAK BOOST Exact length of time you stay happy after a holiday revealed – and it's MUCH longer than previously thought Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLIDAY happiness lasts up to six weeks after we get home, according to a study. Researchers found our good mood remains for as long as 43 days — more than double the 21 days that experts previously thought. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A new study proves it is important for staff to take holidays as the after-effects can last for weeks Credit: Getty It means regular breaks from work are key to easing stress and returning fully-refreshed. The US research analysed data from 32 previous studies that tracked people's wellbeing before and after a holiday from work. It found they took more than six weeks to return to usual stress levels — double the three weeks recorded previously. No specific type of holiday was best but people were happier if they could disconnect from work and do physical activities such as hiking, sightseeing or snorkelling. Longer breaks were typically more relaxing but the benefits recorded afterwards dropped off more steeply. Study author Ryan Grant, a PhD student at the University of Georgia, said: 'Vacations create longer-lasting benefits than previously thought. 'Job demands and job stress are on the rise but people think that they can't take time off because they don't want to look bad or lose out on an opportunity for promotion. 'We think working more is better, but we actually perform better by taking care of ourselves. "We need to break up these intense periods of work with intense periods of rest and recuperation.' Writing in the Journal of Applied Psychology, he said of holiday highs: 'The decrease is not as steep and fleeting as previously thought. Five stunning, little-known holiday destinations 'If you're not at work but you're thinking about work on vacation, you might as well be at the office. 'Vacations are one of the few opportunities we get to fully just disconnect from work.' Most full-time employees in the UK are entitled to 28 days of annual leave per year. Brits go abroad a combined 86million times a year and millions of us also take staycations at home. Our favourite destinations for a foreign holiday, according to the Office for National ­Statistics, are Spain, France, Italy and Greece.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store