Clachan Bridge (Bridge Over The Atlantic)

Clachan Bridge spans a narrow stretch of water between the mainland of Scotland, around 13km south west of Oban, with the Isle of Seil and you would be forgiven for thinking it was just an ordinary, if pleasingly arched, bridge. It is in fact world famous for being the Bridge over the Atlantic.

Just to be clear it does not span the entire 4800km between Scotland and the USA, that would be a hell of a drive, but it does span the Clachan Sound, which is a narrow tidal channel whose waters flow into the Atlantic Ocean at both its northern and southern ends. This makes it a much more manageable drive and a very easy walk!

While some may think this is a bit tenuous, technically the bridge does cross a narrow sliver of the Atlantic Ocean. The bridge itself is a Category A listed structure, meaning it is of national or international importance, and is of a simple design. A single, high, segmented arch spans the inlet giving it a distinctive hump backed look, which was needed to allow small boats to pass beneath it at high tide, an important consideration for maritime traffic.

It is less considerate for vehicles though as when you drive over it there is a moment where all you can see over your bonnet is the sky and there are a few terrifying seconds where you have no idea if the car has taken off or there is anything in front of you!

Clachan Bridge was built between 1792 and 1793 as a response to the burgeoning economy of the Isle of Seil and nearby Easdale Island. Both islands had a thriving slate industry which was used in the UK and beyond for roofing due to its high quality. Prior to the bridge access would have been via ferry, which is slower and weather dependant. Robert Mylne (Blackfriars Bridge in London) is widely credited as being the engineer responsible for its construction.

Just next to the bridge stands the historic Tigh an Truish Inn, Gaelic for “The House of the Trousers”. An odd name but one that tells of its link to the Jacobite Risings and their aftermath. In 1746 the Jacobite forces of Bonny Prince Charlie were defeated at Culloden and the British government introduced the “Dress Act” which banned the wearing of kilts and tartan, in an effort to supress Gaelic culture. Islanders who were travelling to the mainland would stop at Tigh an Truish to change out of their kilts into trousers to avoid arrest. They would then change back on their return.

The bridge is also of ecological importance as each May there is a blooming of the rare Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus). The plant is very small and grows in the gaps between the stones, and has a lovely purple flower that is striking despite its size.

While visiting the bridge won't take you long, you can certainly spend the rest of the day on the Isle of Seil and there is some incredible scenery, especially around Puilladobhrain, or "Pool of the Otter". We saw no otters but it was still stunning. You can also visit the village of Ellenabeich and look out over Easdale Island, home to a number of now flooded slate quarries. It is also the home of the annual World Stone Skimming Championships! We had a try but our efforts were not championship worthy.