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The Auld Brig's single stone arch over the slow, clear River Isla in Keith, between grassy banks and trees in leaf.
Morayshire

The Auld Brig, Keith

Moray's oldest dated bridge, a single hump-backed arch of 1609 over the River Isla.

Welcome

The Auld Brig is a lovely thing to come across in Keith, an old bridge of rough stone arching over the water.

Thomas Moray and his wife, Janet Lindsay, had it built, and their worn coat of arms is still on its east face, with a date stone on the west. The story goes that they paid for it from their own savings, out of kindness for the travellers they heard in trouble at the ford by their home. The bridge was mended in 1724 and again in 1822. Its arch spans about eight metres, and you can stop in the middle to look along the river. Strathisla Distillery is a short walk away, so the two make an easy pair for a morning in Keith.

A little further outHuntly Castle18 min by roadSee itHuntly Castle
Before you go

It carries a footpath, so you can walk over it.

Underfoot
Stone steps lead up onto the bridge from the lower, southern bank.
Protected
A listed building, Category A.

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Where it is

Between Regent Street and the old cemetery in Keith, just south of the A96 bridge over the Isla.

Close byKeith, Huntly and Dufftown.
  1. Strathisla's twin pagoda-roofed kilns and tall chimney behind a sunlit lawn, with purple heather in front and trees in leaf.Strathisla DistilleryA Speyside distillery on the River Isla at Keith, founded in 1786, whose single malt goes into Chivas Regal.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. The great recumbent stone at Rothiemay, packing stones at its foot and three standing stones of the circle in the field behind.Rothiemay Stone CircleA recumbent stone circle near Huntly whose great recumbent stone is carved with more than a hundred cup marks.9 miles 13 min by road
  3. Close-up of a bald eagle's white head and hooked yellow beakHuntly Falconry CentreA bird of prey centre in the hills west of Huntly, where owls, hawks, falcons and eagles fly in demonstrations from April to October.10 miles 17 min by road
  4. Weathered gravestones set into arched recesses within a ruined church wallDeskford KirkThe roofless ruin of a small late medieval church south of Cullen, with a richly carved sacrament house of 1551.10 miles 14 min by road
  5. Glenfiddich DistilleryGlenfiddich DistilleryThe family-owned distillery at Dufftown that William Grant built by hand in 1886, with tours, tastings, a cafe and the Malt Barn.10 miles 19 min by road
  6. Dufftown station sign mounted on a wooden shed with railway carriage alongsideThe Keith & Dufftown RailwayBritain's most northerly heritage railway, running old diesel trains through the whisky country between Dufftown and Keith, with cream teas on board.10 miles 19 min by road
Directions
Fiddlers, guitarist and harpist perform under purple lighting in a marquee tentAttractionsSpeyfest7.5 miles
The courtyard front of Balvenie Castle, the round tower and gateway of the Atholl Lodging rising over a cobbled yard, a well and a lawn under grey cloud.AttractionsBalvenie Castle10 miles
Sidings Cafe, MorayshireRestaurantsSidings Cafe10 miles
The dining room at The Bank in Huntly, a wall of lit shelves of whisky above tables laid with linen.RestaurantsThe Bank Café & Restaurant11 miles
BEINN Coffee & Books, MorayshireShoppingBEINN Coffee & Books11 miles
Dufftown's clock tower rising at the end of a parked high street, MorayAttractionsDufftown11 miles
A grey stone cottage with dormer windows and a black front door, climbing roses either side, set behind a lawn.RothiemayBailies CottageSleeps 6 · 11 miles
A stone cottage with a slated roof and a blue front door, climbing roses in pink and white flanking the porch.RothiemayButlers CottageSleeps 4 · 11 miles
A triangular timber cabin stands behind a wooden gate and post-and-rail fence, bare trees framing the entrance.RothiemayMidparkSleeps 2 · 11 miles

Recommend to a friend

The Daily for 23 October, from Scotland with love. Aerial view of a concrete road bridge with angled supports spanning a sea loch, twin cloud-wrapped mountain peaks rising behind autumn-coloured hills.

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the bridge, and when each is next free.

A single-storey lodge with a slated roof sits behind a stone wall and clipped hedge, mature trees shading the curving drive.Gate Lodge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Rothiemay
  • 10 miles from the Auld Brig
Check datesA triangular timber cabin stands behind a wooden gate and post-and-rail fence, bare trees framing the entrance.Midpark
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Rothiemay
  • 10 miles from the Auld Brig
Free 30 Oct – 1 NovA stone cottage with a slated roof and a blue front door, climbing roses in pink and white flanking the porch.Butlers Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Rothiemay
  • 10 miles from the Auld Brig
Free 9–12 NovA grey stone cottage with dormer windows and a black front door, climbing roses either side, set behind a lawn.Bailies Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Rothiemay
  • 10 miles from the Auld Brig
Free 31 Oct – 3 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in MorayshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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