In 2016, Scotland is celebrating a Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. The country has much to be proud of. Here we highlight five landmark attractions that reveal Scotland’s amazing engineering heritage.

Tay Rail Bridge

One of biggest engineering works in the late 19^th century, the 85-span railway bridge over the River Tay was designed by engineer Sir William Arrol (1839 – 1913). Arrol was the son of a spinner and was born in Renfrewshire. Visit the Tay Rail Bridge (see pic above)  during a walking holiday on the Fife Coastal Path [caption id="attachment_18989" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The Forth Bridge, South Queensferry.[/caption]

The Forth Bridge

Another great project from Arrol’s engineering business, the Forth Bridge was built between 1883 and 1890 as a rail passage over the Firth of Forth. At the time, the Forth Bridge had the longest single cantilever span in the world. You can see The Forth Bridge and the more modem Forth Road Bridge on a walking holiday of the John Muir Way. [caption id="attachment_18985" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Neptune's Staircase, near Fort William, on the Caledonian Canal.[/caption]

The Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal, linking the east and west coasts of Scotland, was constructed by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford (1757 – 1834) in the early 19^th century. The canal extends 60 miles from northeast to southwest. Only one third of the entire length is man-made, while the rest is formed by the natural lochs of Dochfour, Ness, Oich and Lochy. These lochs are located in the Great Glen. Telford was the son of an Eskdalemuir shepherd and served an apprenticeship as a stonemason before becoming famous civil engineer. Walk the Caledonian Canal on a self-guided Great Glen holiday. [caption id="attachment_18987" align="aligncenter" width="398"] The Titan Crane, Clydebank.[/caption]

The Titan Crane

The huge crane at Clydebank, near Glasgow, sits on the famous River Clyde. Built between 1906 and 1907, the crane was used to lift heavy equipment at the John Brown shipyard. The Grade A-listed crane opened as a visitor attraction in 2007, with a lift up to its 150ft high jib platform. In the summer, you can take a daring bungee jump from the top of the crane. [caption id="attachment_18986" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The Falkirk Wheel, central Scotland.[/caption]

The Falkirk Wheel

A more modern engineering creation, the Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift that transports boats between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal. It replaces a series of lochs and was opened in 2002. It reconnected the two canals for the first time since the 1930s as part of the Millennium Link project. The Falkirk Wheel can also be visited on self-guided walking holiday on the John Muir Way. We will be looking at more themes and places to visit in a special series of themed Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design blogs.