Day Itinerary
8 Activities
Day 1
60 mi
Day 1. From Edinburgh to Glasgow
In 1769 Scottish engineer James Watt patented the first ever two-cylinder steam engine. This invention triggered the Industrial Revolution, which made Great Britain the largest and most powerful world power by the middle of the 19th century. The "heart" of industrialization was Scotland.
It was not only because of its natural deposits of coal, iron and other minerals, not because of its large workforce, but also because of its unique scientific and technological potential and the bright minds of scientists: physicists, chemists, mathematicians, whose knowledge and talent were developed in the walls of Scottish universities of St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. It is no coincidence that Edinburgh in the middle of the 18th century became one of the most significant centres of the European Enlightenment and remains so to this day.
In Britain began to build railways and bridges, new passenger, merchant and military ships were built and active trade with colonies began. The phenomenal economic growth was based on scientific and technological progress, which in turn was made possible by widespread compulsory education for all estates.
It was not only because of its natural deposits of coal, iron and other minerals, not because of its large workforce, but also because of its unique scientific and technological potential and the bright minds of scientists: physicists, chemists, mathematicians, whose knowledge and talent were developed in the walls of Scottish universities of St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. It is no coincidence that Edinburgh in the middle of the 18th century became one of the most significant centres of the European Enlightenment and remains so to this day.
In Britain began to build railways and bridges, new passenger, merchant and military ships were built and active trade with colonies began. The phenomenal economic growth was based on scientific and technological progress, which in turn was made possible by widespread compulsory education for all estates.
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09:4530 min
Forth Bridges Viewpoint
A thirty-minute drive from the centre of Edinburgh is an observation deck overlooking three bridges - three examples of advanced engineering from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries respectively.
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5.8 mi
15 min
10:3015 min
Forth Bridge
Most impressive is the Forth Bridge railway bridge, built in 1890.
The uniqueness of the bridge is in its design. It is the world's first 3-column metal bridge, with a 1,630-metre long monolithic railroad bed. The total length of the bridge is 2467 metres.
The uniqueness of the bridge is in its design. It is the world's first 3-column metal bridge, with a 1,630-metre long monolithic railroad bed. The total length of the bridge is 2467 metres.
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3.4 mi
10 min
10:5515 min
Forth Road Bridge
To the left of the railway bridge is the Forth Road Bridge, opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964. The introduction of the highway bridge ended the era of the ferry crossing, which had functioned at this site since the eleventh century.
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0.4 mi
5 min
11:2515 min
The Queensferry Crossing South
Last in the top three is the newest vehicular cable-stayed bridge of 2017 - Queensferry Crossing. The Ferrymuir Gait viewing platform is the perfect place to view the three bridges, the dockyard and port of Rosyth on the opposite shore, the Firth of Forth Bay and its north shore. It's a magnificent sight to behold!
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23.2 mi
40 min
12:201 hr
The Falkirk Wheel
"Of all the unusual and surprising objects the Queen has had to declare open during her reign, few compare in ingenuity and innovation to the Folkirk Wheel," The Times of 25 May 2002.
The Folkirk Wheel was the world's only revolving elevator for lifting and launching small craft. It was built on the eve of the millennium to connect two historic 18th and 19th century canals, the Union and Fort Clyde. Both canals were actively used in the past to transport passengers and freight.
The laws of Archimedes were used in the design of the bridge, as well as engineering solutions put forward by prominent Scottish scientists James Watt and Thomas Telford.
The Folkirk Wheel was the world's only revolving elevator for lifting and launching small craft. It was built on the eve of the millennium to connect two historic 18th and 19th century canals, the Union and Fort Clyde. Both canals were actively used in the past to transport passengers and freight.
The laws of Archimedes were used in the design of the bridge, as well as engineering solutions put forward by prominent Scottish scientists James Watt and Thomas Telford.
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22.1 mi
50 min
14:2030 min
Glasgow
Glasgow has changed nicknames more than once during its rich history. In the 18th century it was called 'The Second City of the British Empire', in the 19th century it was called 'The Workshop of all Europe'. By the end of XIX century Glasgow became the largest industrial and industrial centre where, in particular, all kinds of railway transport was produced: from horse-drawn trams to steam locomotives.
By the way, Glasgow metro is one of the oldest in the world.
By the way, Glasgow metro is one of the oldest in the world.
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3.3 mi
15 min
15:151 hr 30 min
Riverside Museum
Glasgow's Transport Museum has recently moved into a new state-of-the-art building designed by the talented Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. Both the museum itself and its neighbouring state-of-the-art 'space' concert venues, film palace and conference centre, 'financial district', trendy hotels, prestigious residences and the BBC Scotland Broadcasting Centre occupy what from the 18th century to the 1970s constituted Glasgow's port on the River Clyde.
The Transport Museum displays all sorts of trams, trolleybuses, steam locomotives, as well as historic cars, bicycles, motorcycles, underground cars, fire engines, ambulances and much, much more. The museum is interactive. It will be interesting for both adults and children to visit.
The Transport Museum displays all sorts of trams, trolleybuses, steam locomotives, as well as historic cars, bicycles, motorcycles, underground cars, fire engines, ambulances and much, much more. The museum is interactive. It will be interesting for both adults and children to visit.
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2.2 mi
10 min
22:0010 hrs
Dakota Glasgow
Dinner and overnight stop in Glasgow.
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