![The bridges at Rumbling Bridge Gorge - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/The_bridges_at_Rumbling_Bridge_Gorge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2055419.jpg)
Rumbling Bridge is a small village built on both side of a gorge of the
River Devon, which formed the boundary between the historic counties of
Perthshire
Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...
and
Kinross-shire
The County of Kinross or Kinross-shire is a historic county and registration county in eastern Scotland, administered as part of Perth and Kinross since 1930. Surrounding its largest settlement and county town of Kinross, the county borders Per ...
and is now within the combined
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross ( sco, Pairth an Kinross; gd, Peairt agus Ceann Rois) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Fife, Highland and S ...
council area, Scotland, where the
A823 leaves the
A977
The A977 is an A road in Scotland, connecting the Kincardine Bridge in Fife to the M90 motorway at Kinross.
Route
The A977 runs between the M90 junction 6 and a roundabout at the southern end of the Kincardine Bridge
Places along the route
The ...
.
It lies roughly 1 mile equidistant from
Muckhart
Muckhart ( gd, Muc-Àird) commonly refers to two small villages in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, Pool of Muckhart ( gd, Poll Mhuc-Àird) and Yetts o' Muckhart. Muckhart is one of the Hillfoots Villages, situated on the A91 around northeast of D ...
to its north,
Crook of Devon
Crook of Devon is a village within the parish of Fossoway in Kinross-shire about west of Kinross on the A977 road. Its name derives from the nearly 180-degree turn, from generally eastwards to generally westwards and resembling the shape of a s ...
to its east and
Powmill
Powmill is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies at the junction of the A823 and A977 roads at the southwest of the region, approximately southwest of Kinross and east of Dollar.
The famed Rumbling Bridge over the River Devon li ...
to its south. It is named after an unusual double bridge, which gives off a distinctive rumbling reverberation at lower levels. Comprising only a few scattered houses until the mid-20th century, most property in the village dates from the 1970s onwards.
The bridge
![Rumbling Bridge - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Rumbling_Bridge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_717709.jpg)
The "lower" bridge, without parapets, was built in 1713
by William Gray, a mason from Saline. It is long, wide, and above the average water level.
The second bridge or Upper Arch ( above the river) was constructed 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 was snow on four occasions from deep.
The river
Unlike the Rumbling Bridge over the
River Braan
The River Braan ( gd, Breamhainn) is a tributary of the River Tay in Scotland.
Within the county of Perth and Kinross, it flows 11 miles (17 km) eastwards from Loch Freuchie, near Amulree, and joins the River Tay near Dunkeld.
Etymolog ...
near
Dunkeld
Dunkeld (, sco, Dunkell, from gd, Dùn Chailleann, "fort of the Caledonians") is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The location of a historic cathedral, it lies on the north bank of the River Tay, opposite Birnam. Dunkeld lies close to t ...
, the River Devon cannot be canoed. There is a good, well maintained path round the upper gorge built by the armed forces. About above the bridges is the Devil's Mill waterfall. At the Devil's Mill, the river runs through a rocky channel into a deep
basin, descending into a cavity beneath where the rushing of water produces a sound which the 1838 guidebook ''The Scottish Tourist'' compares to "that made by the machinery of a mill in motion".
The best view of it is from the south bank.
Scenery
Taking the footpath east from here will take you right through to the
Crook of Devon
Crook of Devon is a village within the parish of Fossoway in Kinross-shire about west of Kinross on the A977 road. Its name derives from the nearly 180-degree turn, from generally eastwards to generally westwards and resembling the shape of a s ...
. From west of the Rumbling Bridge there is no safe path although an 1838 guidebook ''The Scottish Tourist'' says that "the best view of the finely wooded cliffs connected by the Rumbling Bridge, is from a gentle eminence immediately below and opposite to it, upon the north bank. The river, both above and below, bounding from rock to rock, each forming a little cataract, creates a constant tumbling noise; hence the name of the Rumbling Bridge. From the clefts in the face of the rock grow bushes and trees, among which daws and hawks nestle, and from these they are incessantly sporting, thereby giving a pleasing animation to the scene."
![Cauldron Linn waterfall on the river Devon - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Cauldron_Linn_waterfall_on_the_river_Devon_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1947928.jpg)
The lower gorge is not easily accessible although
Caldron Linn ( below Rumbling Bridge), accessed through fields by Powmill, is worth the effort and the slippery descent to reach it.
The gorge is fairly dangerous. In May 1849, a young boy James Anderson was killed after falling from the high rocks to the west of the Rumbling Bridge while
birdnesting.
And on 6 August 2002, after heavy rains and flash flooding, 16-year Alix-Ann Aisin MacKay fell into the gorge and died whilst trying to cross it with friends.
Environs
The
Scripture Union
Scripture Union (SU) is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization's stated aim is to use the Bible t ...
runs an activity centre in the nearby Naemoor House (formerly
Lendrick Muir School
Lendrick Muir School was a Scottish residential school for children of above average intelligence, aged 11–19 (originally 7–18) or latterly children with dyslexia, located in Perth and Kinross on an unclassified road from Rumbling Bridge to C ...
). Lendrick Muir School was funded by the Colin Nikolic Foundation, run by the former pupil and Head Boy of Lendrick Muir School.
Tourism
On 1 May 1863
Kinross
Kinross (, gd, Ceann Rois) is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, around south of Perth and around northwest of Edinburgh. It is the traditional county town of the historic county of Kinross-shire.
History
Kinross's origins are connect ...
railway line was extended to Rumbling Bridge and
Rumbling Bridge railway station
Rumbling Bridge railway station served the village of Rumbling Bridge, Kinross-shire, Scotland from 1863 to 1964 on the Devon Valley Railway.
History
The station opened on 1 May 1863 by the Devon Valley Railway
The Devon Valley Railway ...
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
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
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
Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...
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 30 August 1787. She was at that time residing at Harvieston, near Dollar.
Famous Residents
*Dr
Grace Cadell
Grace Ross Cadell (October 25, 1855 – February 19, 1918) was a Scottish doctor and suffragist, and one of the first group of women to study medicine in Scotland and qualify.
She was, with Elsie Inglis, one of the initial entrants to the Ed ...
(1855–1918), Scotland's first female surgeon and an active leader of the suffragettes lived her final years at Mosspark, Rumbling Bridge, and died there in 1918.
References
* Clackmannan and Kinross: by J.P.Day B.A. B Sc., 1915
* Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: NT 01655 99486
* The Annals of Kinross-shire: Part I: 490AD–1861AD by Dr Ebenezer Henderson, F.R.A.S., LL.D
* The Annals of Kinross-shire: Part II: 1862–1870 by Mr R. L. Wright
* Black's Picturesque Tourist Of Scotland: Published 1861 By Adam and Charles Black
* The Scottish Tourist And Itinerary: Published 1838 by Stirling and Kenney
{{authority control
Villages in Perth and Kinross