Cliff Bridge

When sauntering around Scarborough and admiring the views, you should notice an elegant arched iron bridge. It can be seen from the North Bay, which is the main part of the town. Cliff Bridge is the jewel in the South Bay area of the town and creates fine photographic memories.

The Cliff Bridge dates to 1827 and spans the chasm between St Nicholas Cliff and the South side of the town where the Spa is.

Entrepreneurs took up the mantle and in the early 19th century, the inspiration of the Cliff Bridge Company was to build a bridge. They had acquired the lease for the Spa, formerly referred to as spaw. The valley that the gentry would have to negotiate to arrive at the Spa was an encumbrance, so the bridge was erected in double quick time and the budget doubled too. To compensate for this, a toll was introduced and was only removed in 1951.

Cliff Bridge is made from cast iron and is painted green with four braced arches. This is a rare example of such a multispan bridge of this age. It is over 70 feet high in the middle, which is about the height of the Kelpies, the two horses heads sculpture in Falkirk Scotland. The pillars are tapering plain ashlar with stone abutments.

It is worth taking the full tour of walking over and under the Bridge. You should notice that the St Nicholas Cliff end of the bridge splayed out, and looking underneath, you can see the iron workings.

There are some super views, there's the North Bay and Scarborough Castle, the Grand Hotel, and the Blue painted hollow gets your attention, it is the subway and toilets.

You are so close to the Rotunda Museum, it would be rude not to have a peep inside.

You can always check out the Fabulous North Map for other ideas. If you are up to it, there is a smashing walk to see three of Ray Lonsdale's superb works called Urban Artworks.