Slender steel pylons, cables and latticework carry a memorial footbridge that replaced Pitlochry’s long-lived ferry crossing in 1913.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1913
- Architect / designer
- Lanarkshire Steel Company Ltd; erected as a memorial to Lieutenant Colonel George Glas Sandeman
- Type
- Steel pedestrian suspension bridge with lattice parapets and finialled pylons
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB39858)
- OS grid reference
- NN 94002 57665
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Three-stage steel pylons rise above the deck and terminate in small finials. Suspension cables support a narrow girder span with lattice parapets, while a maker’s plate records Lanarkshire Steel Company and an inscribed plaque explains the bridge’s commemorative purpose.
Its story
Monks of Coupar Angus established a ferry at Port-na-Craig in the medieval period. The final ferry journey took place on Empire Day 1913, when the new bridge opened in memory of Lieutenant Colonel George Glas Sandeman of Fonab.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a well-preserved early-twentieth-century suspension footbridge that combines local transport history, memorial purpose and attractive industrial metalwork.
What to notice
- The staged pylons and small finials framing each end of the crossing.
- Lattice parapets that keep the steel structure visually light.
- The maker’s plate and memorial inscription recording manufacture and dedication.
Reading the surroundings
The bridge carries a public pedestrian route. Follow any temporary closure or maintenance notice, allow others room to pass, and keep clear of cables and structural fittings.
Timeline
- 12th century A monastic ferry began serving the river crossing associated with Port-na-Craig.
- 24 May 1913 The last ferry journey preceded the ceremonial opening of the new footbridge.
- 9 June 1981 The bridge entered the statutory list at Category B.
- 2026 The crossing remains part of Pitlochry’s public walking network.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Sources differ in the title given to the woman who opened the bridge, so this record avoids attaching a disputed title to the ceremony.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Port-na-Craig Suspension Bridge, LB39858 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Pitlochry Festival Theatre: walking route from the station — Current route information identifying the iron suspension bridge between the town and Port-na-Craig.
Location
OS grid reference NN 94002 57665 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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