Best bridge

Just a wee humped- back 18th-century bridge, but this is pure chocolate- box stuff. A little way off from the A835 Ullapool road, on the right ( heading north) past Garve proper, it’s the centrepiece of a little-known leafy riverside walk, where the Black Water tumbles over rock slabs and Little Wyvis looms above. The bridge carried a military road, now a track, up from the north side of Loch Garve. Parking is signposted from the main road. Magical.

2 DUNANS BRIDGE, GLENDARUEL, ARGYLL

www.dunans.org

Virtually unknown Thomas Telford masterpiece from 1815, it graces the northern end of Glendaruel, one of the west coast’s loveliest southerly glens. This magnificent A- listed gem, said to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo, is of a unique triple- arched, rubble- built construction, commissioned by Johnathan Fletcher to provide access on his land to Dunans House, seat of the clan Fletcher. It is 50ft high and has gargoyles and eight hexagonal piers. Opened to public recently under Dunans Charitable Trust; as well as being of immense physical presence and beauty, one of Telford’s finest works.

3 SKYE BRIDGE

Not the most aesthetically pleasing structure, but worth a visit for the view from the middle; Lochalsh on one side and the hills of Skye in the distance on the other. A pleasant walk from Kyle and Kyleakin and a beautiful drive, more liberating by being able to wheech past the former toll office without having to pay 5.40 each way.

4 CLACHAN BRIDGE, SEIL

This has the distinction of being the only bridge to span the Atlantic. A lovely humpback structure, it dates from 1793 and links the island of Seil with the mainland – though whether Seil is actually an island is debatable. A highlight is the Highland Arts Exhibition, a slightly bonkers gallery and gift shop featuring the work of the late C John Taylor.

5 STIRLING

Which bridge in Scotland has more of an exciting history? OK, so it’s not the actual narrow bridge the English were forced to march over, to be slaughtered, but it stands roughly on the site of the battlefield and the bridge that replaced it is rather pretty. There are spectacular views towards the castle on one side and Wallace Monument and Ochils on the other.