Medieval bridge
Brig o' Doon
The steep single-arch bridge where Tam o' Shanter escaped the witches.
The bridge is thought to date from the early 15th century and is first recorded in 1512. Its single arch spans 72 feet (22 m) with a rise of 26 feet (7.9 m).
A new road bridge was built downstream in 1816. The old one was sold to its builders as a quarry for stone, until money was raised to buy it back.
Look at the cobbles. They run in a cranked line, from an old belief that this would stop witches crossing. The bridge appears on Bank of Scotland five pound notes of 2007 and 2016.
- First recorded
- 1512
- Span
- 72 ft (22 m)
- Listed
- Category A
- Entry
- Free
Nearby
- Burns Monument and GardensMonument and gardens · 116 m away
- Ayr Rugby Club, MillbraeRugby club · 177 m away
- Alloway Auld KirkRuined kirk · 225 m away
- Robert Burns Birthplace MuseumMuseum · 225 m away
- Alloway to Burton path and NCN 7Traffic-free path · 252 m away
- Alloway Railway Tunnel and muralCycle path and mural · 319 m away
Where this comes from
Listing data from OpenStreetMap, way 1154402291, last edited 31 March 2026. Something wrong or missing? Fix it on OpenStreetMap and it shows here after the next update.