Victoria Bridge Mar Lodge Estate

The Victoria Bridge was built to provide convenient access to the Mar Lodge Estate. It links the main road from Braemar directly to the estate. It replaced a less substantial wooden bridge that was built in 1848, where an original boat crossing once existed.

The original 1848 wooden bridge was built by the Duke of Leeds. You may be wondering what on earth was the Duke of Leeds doing building a bridge at the Mar Lodge Estate! Well, the 7th Duke of Leeds and his wife leased the Old Mar Lodge from the Earl of Fife from around 1834 for about 20 years and enjoyed hosting shooting parties on the estate.

By 1905, it was clear that a studier replacement was necessary, so this time they weren't going to mess around. The bridge is a lattice girder bridge, primarily made of cast iron with significant stonework supports. It was built by the owner of the estate at the time, the Duke of Fife and the Princess Royal Louise.

It is now maintained by the estate owners the National Trust for Scotland.

The bridge commemorates both Queen Victoria in 1848, who reigned when the original bridge was built, and her son King Edward VII in 1905 who was monarch when the current replacement was built.

The bridge is a Category B listed building with Historic Environment Scotland.

As the Mar Lodge Estate is crucial to the existence of the bridge, let me walk you through a brief history:

The estate was originally part of the much larger Earldom of Mar.

The estate was known to forfeited from John Erskine (6th Earl of Mar) in 1716, due to his participation in the Jacobite Rising.

The next owners of the estate were James Erskine (Lord Grange, brother of the Earl of Mar) and David Erskine (Lord Dun).

By the 1730's, the entrepreneur William Duff of Dipple (1st Earl of Fife) had purchased Dalmore which incorporated the Mar Estate.

It was in 1800's that the Duff's made the estate a popular venue for shooting and fishing.

By 1879 Alexander William George Duff inherited the estate, and he went on to marry Princess Louise, hence the royal connection. The Victoria Bridge was built during his time here.

Also a brief history of Mar Lodge itself:

Mar Lodge I (Dalmore House) was built in the mid 1750s. The lodge was rebuilt in 1770 after sustaining damage in a fire, only to be be severely damaged in the 'Muckle Spate' flood in 1829.

The building was demolished and New Mar Lodge (Corriemulzie Cottage) was built to replace it. That building was also destroyed by fire in 1895.

At which point the Duke and Duchess of Fife built the current and third Mar Lodge. Queen Victoria herself lay the foundation stone in 1895 for her granddaughter and Duke of Fife, and the current Mar Lodge was completed by 1898.

It is currently used as an exclusive venue for weddings and corporate events.

At the Braemar side of the bridge, you are probably curious as to the function of the small building. It is in fact a single storey classical Gate Lodge. This lodge was built in 1895, but is thought to replace a less substantial building that served as a shelter at the old river crossing point.

The lodge, also known as a toll house, would be the first building that guests would see when visiting the estate, which explains its grand appearance.

The lodge is also a Category B listed building with Historic Environment Scotland.

From the bridge the views to the east are towards Braemar and the distant hill with the mast is Marrone.

Please be careful not to block the road if you are stopping for a quick visit. If there is no room, then continue up the road to a layby not too far up the road to the west.