Old Bridge of Livet - Glenlivet, Scotland
N 57° 21.259 W 003° 20.174
30V E 479769 N 6356877
The Old Bridge of Livet, also known as the Packhorse Bridge, is located near the village of Glenlivet, Scotland. It was orphaned in 1829 when damaged by floods.
Waymark Code: WMMDA4
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/04/2014
Views: 1
"The oldest surviving structure to cross the River Livet is a Packhorse Bridge, lying a few hundred metres upstream of the modern road bridge. It is easily accessible, with a small car park off the B9008, but the bridge is in a rather precarious condition so can no longer be crossed.
The bridge originally consisted of 3 stone arches, the central one crossing the main river channel and the others providing extra capacity in floods. Unfortunately, they were not quite sufficient and the arch on the southern bank was washed away in 1829. The surviving arch on the north bank appears to be a much flatter arch than the central arch, with all three being supported by natural outcrops of bedrock. Today, it is only the arches that survive. Any spandrels or parapets built up around the roadway have long since collapsed and disappeared. It is primarily for this reason that the bridge is considered dangerous to cross, as the arch structures have little support.
The bridge is believed to date back to the late 16th Century, despite its similarities with the structures of General Wade half a century later. It is suggested that it was constructed by the laird at Blairfindy Castle (near the Glenlivet Distillery), and the narrow roadway almost certainly rules it out as a military road bridge."
--Source (
visit link)
A historical marker at the site provides the following additional information:
The Old Bridge of Livet
In its original form the 'Bridge of Livet' spanned the river in three graceful arches, the arch on the left river bank unfortunately being lost in a great spate during the 1829 floods.
Because of its style the bridge has often been wrongly attributed to the work of General Wade. Although little is known of its date of origin it is more probable that it was associated with nearby Blairfindy Castle - the ancient hunting sea of Castleton - which dates from the 16th century, some 150 years before General Wade began his famous road building programme in Scotland.
Moray District Council carried our restoration and repair works to the bridge during 1985 and further damage and erosion can be avoided with your help.
Please take care of yourself and the bridge by keeping off the structure.