Peebles is a town of bridges. There are twenty within the area and each one of them is uniquely different. They all have a history that tells about how they were created, whose idea it was to build them, and more. It is during the Peebles Arts Festival that you can take a walking tour of these bridges. Are you willing to walk around to see the 20 bridges in Peebles?
The Bridges
Most people who visit Peebles, know about the larger bridges, such as the Tweed Bridge, since it is still commonly used by vehicles to cross the river. There are other hidden gems though, and many stories about their existence. Among the stories of these bridges is the footbridge which was built by John Hay of Kingsmeadows. He built the bridge purely to keep people from walking in front of his window on Sundays when they were heading off to church. However, if you do not know the bridge’s location, you may never see it. He was also responsible for what most consider to be one of the first suspension bridges in the UK. It was a wire bridge that was downstream of his home. Tragically, that bridge washed away many years ago. Mountain bikers are the main ones who get to see the bridge known as Janet’s Brae. There are also railway bridges to see, an old timber bridge, and the Fotheringham Bridge to name a few.
The Tour of Bridges
During the Creative Peebles Festival, you will have the opportunity to see the bridges on a 4.5-mile hike. It takes approximately two and a half hours to walk, but most visitors say that it is very much worth the effort. A lot of these bridges are beautiful in their own right and offer amazing views of the area. You simply have to be able to see the beauty in their architecture.