| Clachan Bridge | |
| Native Name: | Dhrochaid thar a' Chuain Sia |
| Native Name Lang: | gd |
| Coordinates: | 56.3178°N -5.5831°W |
| Os Grid Reference: | NM 78517 19700 |
| Other Name: | Bridge over the Atlantic |
| Upstream: | --> |
| Downstream: | --> |
| Material: | Stone |
| Number Spans: | One |
| Complete: | 1793 |
| Open: | --> |
| Dedicated: | --> |
| Toll: | No |
| References: | [1] |
The Clachan Bridge (also known as the Bridge over the Atlantic) is a simple, single-arched, hump-backed, masonry bridge spanning the Clachan Sound, 13km (08miles) southwest of Oban in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. It links the west coast of the Scottish mainland to the island of Seil.
The bridge was originally designed by John Stevenson of Oban (and not by Thomas Telford as sometimes quoted)[2] and was built between 1792 and 1793 by engineer Robert Mylne. The original design had two arches,[3] but it was finally built with a single high arch, of roughly 22m (72feet) span and about 12m (39feet) above the bed of the channel, to allow the passage of vessels of up to 40t at high tide. The bridge is still in use today, forming part of the B844 road, and is in the care of Historic Scotland.
Because the Clachan Sound connects at both ends to the Atlantic Ocean, and might therefore be considered part of that ocean, the bridge came to be known as the Bridge over the Atlantic (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: a' Dhrochaid thar a' Chuain Siar). Such an appellation has also been applied to certain other bridges having similar situations, such as the Brúgvin um Streymin in the Faroe Islands and between Lewis and Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides.
The south wall of the bridge has been colonised by fairy foxglove (Erinus alpinus).
Occasionally whales have become trapped in the narrow Clachan Sound. In 1835 a whale measuring 24m (79feet) with a lower jaw of 7m (23feet) was stranded having become trapped in shallow water and unable to reverse out. In 1837, 192 pilot whales were caught in a similar fashion, the largest being 8m (26feet) long.[4]
. W. H. Murray. 1977. The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland. London. Collins. 7th. 0002168138. 121.