Forth Bridge voted 'greatest man-made wonder' in Scotland

The Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland at sunset

The Forth Bridge has won yet another award, this time being voted Scotland’s “greatest man-made wonder”.

The railway bridge, which opened in March 1890, beat off competition from the likes of Edinburgh Castle, The Kelpies and the Glenfinnan Viaduct to win the VisitScotland title.

The poll of more than 2,000 people across the UK was carried out as part of the Scottish Government’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

The Forth Bridge received 30% of votes, followed by Edinburgh Castle on 13%.

Other structures recognised were Stirling Castle, the Falkirk Wheel, the Caledonian Canal, the Scott Monument, Bell Rock Lighthouse and Melrose Abbey.

It is the latest title awarded to the bridge over the years, the most significant of which was its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

The VisitScotland survey also found that almost 60% of people across the UK have made an “architectural pilgrimage” – travelling just to see a famous building or landmark.

A similar number said that a destination’s architecture and design plays an important role when deciding where to go on a short break.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “It is no surprise that our awe-inspiring Forth Bridge has taken the top spot in this research, and it is wonderful to see that new man-made wonders like The Kelpies are already proving a hit with visitors.

“2016 has shone a significant spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-range of activity designed to boost tourism in Scotland.

“I hope many people continue to make architectural pilgrimages to Scotland throughout the rest of this year and beyond to discover some of our truly remarkable sights.”

Here are some more iconic structures in Scotland:

Engineers set for bonus if new Forth bridge is completed ahead of schedule

Where to see 10 of the world’s biggest statues