SKYE BRIDGE

The Skye Bridge, which links the Isle of Skye to the mainland, was completed in 1995. It was built by a private company that had to pay for it by charging tolls to the people who used it. The tolls were very expensive, from £5.70 to £11.40 for one trip, making it the most costly road bridge in Europe at that time. Many people were angry about the tolls and did not want to pay them, leading to demonstrations, legal battles, and acts of defiance. Some people also felt that the bridge was a threat to Skye’s heritage and identity as an island.

The tolls were finally removed in 2004, after the Scottish Government bought the bridge from the private company for £27 million. The bridge became free for everyone to use, ending the long dispute and making Skye more open and affordable. The bridge is now a major attraction for tourists and a sign of Skye’s integration with the mainland.

On this night, the lights of vehicles crossing the bridge leave light trails highlighting the profile of the main span. In the background, you can see the Kishorn port and dry dock, with an oil rig looking rather like a rocket launcher.