Bracklinn Bridge

Bracklinn Falls is a stepped waterfall in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, formed by the Keltie Water north-east of Callander. The site is a remote but popular visitor destination with paths following the river on both sides to form a 5km loop between upstream and downstream crossings. A bridge has existed here at least since the early 19th century and a timber replacement was removed in 2021 due to deterioration, testifying to the harsh conditions in this rural location. In 2022 The National Park Authority commissioned a new pedestrian bridge to re-establish the circular trail, requiring a 120-year design life and a low-cost, low-maintenance construction. The picturesque site demanded a sensitive design response to context as well as a resilient technical solution.

The design is a ‘walk-through’ structure constructed of perforated weathering steel, with longitudinal beams doubling as pedestrian parapets. A series of folded Z-profile panels along each edge are bolted together through intermittent U-frames to create a continuous spanning structure. The parapets lean out from the deck to provide a generous spatial environment for users. FRP decking and stainless-steel handrails complete a simple elemental composition.

The perforated material reduces weight and adds transparency, with larger openings in the centre of the structure where the forces are less creating a mid-span ‘window’. In views along the bridge the upstands appear reassuringly opaque but in lateral views the opacity dissolves to reveal the landscape and falls below. Seen from the surrounding landscape the bridge is extraordinarily transparent, seemingly composed only of the triangulated margins between perforated areas. The bridge hides in plain sight, demurring to its dramatic context but providing a confident architectural intervention in challenging circumstances.

The design was informed by exceptionally constrained access for construction via a forestry track and a steep winding footpath that severely restricted plant and component sizes. Accordingly, the bridge was designed as a modular construction, comprising 2.7m long elements delivered and erected with the aid of only a midi-excavator. The structure was built in sections on one side of the falls and pushed incrementally across the gap on temporary rails.

Team

• Client: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority

• Main contractor: Cake Industries

• Structural engineering and design lead: Cake Engineering

• Architecture: Beam Architects

• Independent checking: Format Engineers

• Installation: BigCat Contracts

• Photographs and video: Timelapse Scotland and Paul Saunders

Awards

• Bridges Awards Winner, The Bridges Design and Construction Award (Under £10 million)- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2025
• Footbridge Awards, Shortlisted- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2025 
• International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering Awards Winner, Pedestrian Bridges- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2024
• NCE Bridges Awards: Shortlisted, Active Travel Bridge- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2024
• Civic Trust Awards: Highly Commended- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2024
• Structural Awards: Shortlisted- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2023
• Scottish Design Awards: Gold Award (Projects under £200,000)- Bracklinn Falls Footbridge 2023