Telford Bridge at Tongland

Today's the day ..................…… for a high tide

You don't often get to see this view of the Thomas Telford Bridge at Tongland, near Kirkcudbright.

It's only at this time of the year when there are no leaves on the trees that you can actually see across to the bridge.  But it's not just that.  The bridge consists of a main arch that is 18.3m above the River Dee.  It is flanked by three narrow pointed flood-relief arches on each side.  It's only when there is a lot of water coming down the river - and when the tide is very high, that these arches come into play. 

The tides are very high at the moment and there has been a great deal of rainfall on the catchment area of the River Dee - and today was a day when there was a good reason for the flood-relief arches to be there.  It's probably one of the reasons why the Tongland Bridge has stood the test of time for more than 200 years ………………...