Yesterday saw 1,000 exclusive tickets go on sale for a once in a lifetime chance to scale the heights of the Forth Road Bridge.
The one-off tower-top trips, which will take place in July and August next year in the run-up to the 10-day Forth Bridges Festival, a key part of the Homecoming Scotland 2014 calendar, also celebrate the 50th birthday of the bridge.
Tickets, sold on a first-come, first-served basis, are priced at £120 plus £2.95 booking fee each.
Those fortunate enough to secure places will ascend by lift and ladder 156 metres above the Firth of Forth, where they will be met by stunning panoramic views of Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.
But even if you aren’t lucky enough to get a ticket, there’s still a chance to celebrate the iconic landmark in style as tomorrow, November 1, 96 tickets for an Ultimate Bridge Experience, on September 9 or 10 next year, will go on sale.
Priced at £180 plus £2.95 booking fee per ticket, these packages will give visitors the chance to enjoy the bridge from a variety of new perspectives on land, sea and high above the road.
As well as a tower-top trip, this definitive experience will include the chance to see first-hand the hidden engineering of the Bridge by viewing the anchorages beneath, lunch with a view in a local restaurant and a boat tour of all three bridges, including progress on the new Queensferry Crossing, due to open at the end of 2016.
Lesley Hinds, convener of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, said: “As the Forth Road Bridge prepares for its golden milestone, we are thrilled to be able to invite people to get closer to it and experience it for themselves.
“The Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Bridge are symbols of Scottish engineering excellence and a trip to the top of the towers will give visitors an unrivalled opportunity to appreciate the majesty of both bridges like never before.
“Revenue raised from the sale of tickets will go directly towards funding a range of free events in the Forth Bridges Festival programme. This means everyone can join in the celebrations and we look forward to welcoming the world for this very special occasion.”
Tickets are being sold via the website www.forth bridgesfestival.com The Forth Bridges Festival will take place from September 4-13, 2014, with a full programme of events to suit everyone. Full details and the programme can be found on www.forthbridges festival.com