South Queensferry Services - vantage point for bridge?

[Cock Womble 7]

Hello lovely Scottish people.

I am currently enjoying an overnight stay in your lovely land and will be travelling back down South (very) early tomorrow morning. My journey will take me over the Forth bridge and, as I just happen to have my DSLR with me, I thought I'd try to get some nice early-morning shots of the bridge(s).

Thing is, I'm in an artic, so getting as close as possible isn't an option. I just wondered if there was a decent vantage point from the Services at South Queensferry. Google Streetview seems to suggest there might be, but if anyone local can give me a definitive answer I'd appreciate it.

[tvrgit]

THere used to be a lorry park on the south side of the bridge, just to the east of where the Toll Plaza was. You got to it by following the road behind the shell station off the B800 (Used to be the A8000 if you have an old atlas!). The lorry park is shut now so I don't think you'd get an artic in.

You might be able to stop at the Shell Station and walk along for a photo - there is a viewpoint between the old bridge office and the new traffic control centre they are just building. Great view of both bridges from there.

The other option is to stop in the layby on the A90 on the north side of the bridge, and walk back a hundred yards or so. There's a pedestrian underpass under the end of the road bridge so you could get up onto the right side to photograph the rail bridge.

[sherman]

Your not going to get any decent shots tomorrow as its supposed to be pissing it down tomorrow morning. There is a big layby on the a90 just to the north of the forth road bridge as you approach from the north that the wide loads use to ask permisson to cross and normal artics use for over night. You could stop there for a few minutes and walk over the bridge on the footpath to get a picture.

[Davie]

Yes, agree with what's been said. Headed south bound eitehr stop in the layby just after the junction for Rosyth Europark then walk alongto the bridge (5 mins walk) where you can then walk over the east side of the bidge and get superb views of the Forth Bridge, or go down the stairs, under the road bridge and there's a vantage point in the grounds of the Queensferry Lodge Hotel. Or... drive on over the bridge, come off at the first slip then left and left again into the Shell station and park up or follow the access road into the old truck park where you can then walk back down onto the bridge or if time allows, walk down into South Queensferry and along the front where you can stand right under the Forth Bridge.

Note: Forth Bridge = the rail bridge, ie THE bridge.

[Cock Womble 7]

Davie said:

Note: Forth Bridge = the rail bridge, ie THE bridge.

It's certainly the more picturesque of the two!

Thanks for the info chaps, I'll try the North lay-by route and probably pop into the Services for a coffee anyway so might as well check out the view from there too.

I'm up between Perth and Dundee at the moment, leaving here about 0400 tomorrow.

Fingers crossed for the weather (all the brochures said it never rains in Scotland...)

[Who me ?]

Years ago ( seems like centuries now) ,I lived in Inverkeithing ( Rosyth) , and we had a great view of the bridges. I'd suggest ,if you can get off into the local area on the north side, you might get some great views of the bridges .

[BillyWhizz888]

I agree I also drive hgvs

Coming south come off at the park n ride at inverkeithen, keep leftmost down slip and turn right and right and right. You'll be double backing on your self. Then turn left and take second exit at next roundabout. You should be able to swing round at next roundabout and park without being in the road and get some pics.

If you go across bridge come of the first exit and turn right follow along past bp and you'll come to a view point parking on your right though may be tight but if no cars parked in there should be room to park for a bit

[BREMBOV6]

Head over to North Quensferry then just keep following the road until you see the bridge. You will get some amazing pictures down here

[Davie]

First two are taken just on the road bridge on the north side, third is on the south side.







Definately potential but the weather can make or break it sadly!

And a shame you weren't closer tonight as it looks epic now that it's lit up again and teh scaffolding has all but gone...



Right under it is totally and utterly jaw dropping just now. Been around the bridge since I was about 5 but only recently saw it like this...





These were taken from the north side.

Excuse the crap image quality, day time ones are on a phone and night time... well the camera is way too complex for me so that was point and press and hope!

[sherman]

BillyWhizz888 said:

If you go across bridge come of the first exit and turn right follow along past bp and you'll come to a view point parking on your right though may be tight but if no cars parked in there should be room to park for a bit

Not a hope in hell you would get a hgv into thjs layby. Its tight in a car. Its angled the wrong way for you as well.
You cant see to much of the bridge from here either. Its good for viewing rosyth dockyard though. You can see the lumps of aircraft carrier sitting on the dock waiting to be put together by the sodding big blue crane. You can see the crane as you head south towards the bridge.

[a11y_m]

If you've got time, in South Queensferry head all the way to the eastmost end of the town. Just where the Forth Bridge (i.e. the proper rail one) crosses above the road there's a left branch off the main road. It quickly deteriorates into a stty rough track but the initial bit is OK. Leads to great vantage point for the bridges.

You used to be able to drive your car down onto a slipway but they've added bollards to stop you doing so - spoilsports:


2009-01-31 (18) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr

[tvrgit]

BillyWhizz888 said:

If you go across bridge come of the first exit and turn right follow along past bp and you'll come to a view point parking on your right though may be tight but if no cars parked in there should be room to park for a bit

In an arctic? not a chance

a11y_m said:

If you've got time, in South Queensferry head all the way to the eastmost end of the town. Just where the Forth Bridge (i.e. the proper rail one) crosses above the road there's a left branch off the main road. It quickly deteriorates into a stty rough track but the initial bit is OK. Leads to great vantage point for the bridges.

You used to be able to drive your car down onto a slipway but they've added bollards to stop you doing so - spoilsports:

He's driving an arctic. Not a chance,,,

[Davie]

Ahhh, snap!



And it's also a really weird sensation to go right to the end of the slipway when the tide's out and then crouch down at the edge of wherever the water level is. Ie, a fair distance from the shore and surrounded on three sides. Maybe it just me...



Though not doable in an artic wagon...

Edited by Davie on Wednesday 19th September 22:36

[flat-planedCrank]

Don't they have coaches down on the South Queensferry front in-between the 2 bridges? Don't know how much more space you need for an artic

Good spot for photos though...


By motion-images, on Flickr

[IainW]

a11y_m said:

If you've got time, in South Queensferry head all the way to the eastmost end of the town. Just where the Forth Bridge (i.e. the proper rail one) crosses above the road there's a left branch off the main road. It quickly deteriorates into a stty rough track but the initial bit is OK. Leads to great vantage point for the bridges.

You used to be able to drive your car down onto a slipway but they've added bollards to stop you doing so - spoilsports:


2009-01-31 (18) by Ally Mitchell, on Flickr

I did wonder if there was a road that led down that way. I've always wanted a better angle of the rail bridge. Might go down there at some point soon and take some photos from that side. Already been down since they floodlit it and it looks stunning, even on a misty night.

Forth Bridges by IainW81, on Flickr

[Papa Hotel]

The Shell garage has a sign outside it saying it's shut as a truck stop and I certainly wouldn't take an artic down to the High Street although I regularly see clowns trying it and causing massive issues.

What I'd do is this...

Come left off the road bridge, go towards SQ then turn right at the roundabout to Tesco/Dakota Hotel. There is another smaller roundabout with the Dakota (stupid black cube) straight in front of you, go straight on. A lot of lorryers use a stretch of road to the left of this to park up. Drop your lorry there and text Papa Hotel, he'll come and get you and take you down to the sea front and some good vantage points. PM me if you want to do this.

[Yanayaya]

Davie said:

Ahhh, snap!



And it's also a really weird sensation to go right to the end of the slipway when the tide's out and then crouch down at the edge of wherever the water level is. Ie, a fair distance from the shore and surrounded on three sides. Maybe it just me...



Though not doable in an artic wagon...

Edited by Davie on Wednesday 19th September 22:36

I APPROVE!

[sherman]

BillyWhizz888 said:

If you go across bridge come of the first exit and turn right follow along past bp and you'll come to a view point parking on your right though may be tight but if no cars parked in there should be room to park for a bit

Not a hope in hell you would get a hgv into thjs layby. Its tight in a car. Its angled the wrong way for you as well.
You cant see to much of the bridge from here either. Its good for viewing rosyth dockyard though. You can see the lumps of aircraft carrier sitting on the dock waiting to be put together by the sodding big blue crane. You can see the crane as you head south towards the bridge.

[JM]

Davie said:

Note: Forth Bridge = the rail bridge, ie THE bridge.

It might be worth noting there is no place named South Queensferry while we're at it.

[a11y_m]

Missed the artic comment initially...