Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Sean Lucas

The Giants Causeway

OK, so it’s not strictly a bridge, but you can’t make a list of bridge-like forms in the UK and Ireland without mentioning the Giants Causeway.  It’s formed of about 400 interlocking basalt columns and is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. In legend, the causeway was built by an Irish warrior named Fionn, in order to beat his Scottish challenger Benandonner. Fionn never faced his rival, but hid under a blanket and his wife Oonagh pretended that he was their baby. Benandonner is said to have seen this giant baby and fled in terror, imagining that Fionn must be huge indeed.

Chelmer Viaduct

A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. They are often used to allow for multiple types of traffic to cross across a space. They can span land or water. The viaduct at Chelmer is due for refurbishment to turn it into a greater beauty spot. The current viaduct and bridge are both due for replacement because of their great age. To remain a functioning bridge and avoid being slapped with a weight restriction, the viaduct needs to be overhauled. They will be redesigned by a leading architecture firm – turning this old viaduct into one of England’s more unusual bridges.

Reflections Bridge, Loch Awe Scotland

With a very evocative name, the Reflections Bridge at Loch Awe Scotland is situated in one of the top 5 most beautiful Lochs in the country. Loch is the Scottish word for lake, and there are very many lochs in Scotland. Loch Awe is the longest inland loch, but not the largest by surface area (that’s Loch Lomond), or the deepest (Loch Ness). It’s pretty narrow, which means that building a bridge from one side to the other is a possibility.  The Scottish lochs are known for their clear and still reflections, which makes the Reflections bridge a great place to take a camera and a must-see when visiting the North Argyll Glens.

Architectural landmarks are best when they complement nature and these bridges certainly do. Britain is known for the engineering explosion that took place in the 19th century and also for its stunning continuous coastline. There are 24 bridges in London alone and the longest of these is the Humber bridge.

Robert Jefferson is an English writer who likes writing about architecture, travel and unusual bridges.

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Panská skála is the best known and most visited geological reserves in the Czech Republic. This natural formation is known also to geologists abroad. The rock is often called the “organ” because the five and six-sided columns of up to 12 meters long look like the structure of organ pipes. Its current appearance got Panská skála by mining, which took place here until 1948. This high quality basalt was exported to the Benelux countries, where they used it to build the dam.

In 1953 Panská skála became National Natural Monument. Under the rock there is a small lake, which was created after the mining and is filled with rainwater. The summit offers a stunning view of the The Lusatian Mountains (in Czech Lužické hory) and of the National Park of Czech Switzerland (České Švýcarsko).

At the foot of the rock there is the Marian Column, which was built in 1739 in memory of two people who froze to death here.

You can find similar formations in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, named Giant’s Causeway.

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