Rumbling Bridge

The "lower" bridge, without parapets, was built in 1713 by William Gray, a mason from Saline. It is 22 ft long, 11 ft wide, and 86 ft above the average water level. The second bridge or Upper Arch (120 ft above the river) was constructed 34 ft above it in 1816 and gave it an easier gradient by removing the steep slope down to the old bridge. On 18 March that year there was "the greatest flood ever heard of or seen in Kinross; all the burns were brimfull". On 13 August, "a smart shock of earthquake was felt throughout Kinross at 11 o'clock at night. Plates rattled on shelves; chairs moved about and were thrown over; beds shook, &c." There was also a "wet and late harvest" during which there…

On 1 May 1863 Kinross railway line was extended to Rumbling Bridge and Rumbling Bridge railway station was built. The line was extended to Dollar on 15 April 1871. It had taken two years to complete this short, but difficult route. This opened the gorge up to curious Victorians travelling out from Edinburgh and the Rumbling Bridge Hotel was built. It was a very popular tourist destination even before the railway was built. The clear winding Devon," was celebrated by Robert Burns in his beautiful lyric, "The Banks of the Devon." Miss Charlotte Hamilton (afterwards Mrs. Adair), was the "Loveliest flower on the banks of the Devon" whom Burns met during a visit to the Cauldron Linn on Thursday…