Ballater Riverside Bridge

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

2025

Client: Ballater & Crathie Community Council

Infrastructure · Foot & Cycle

This new pedestrian bridge is proposed near the south end of Ballater Golf Course to improve access and withstand severe flooding. The design reuses existing steel sections, supported by robust concrete abutments clad in reclaimed local granite for both strength and visual integration.

Illustration of a small wooden bridge over a stream, with the terrain and water depicted simply; architecture by MOXON Architects.

The bridge alignment and approach embankments connect to an existing Core Path; while the weather-resilient deck incorporates self-draining details and replaceable components, ensuring long-term durability, low maintenance, and cost-efficiency.

A minimalist architectural model with a wooden bridge structure over a white base, with a black and gray area, architecture by MOXON Architects.

A wooden footbridge over a river with rocks and grassy banks, surrounded by trees under a cloudy sky, architecture by MOXON Architects.

A wooden footbridge crossing a shallow creek with rocks on either side, surrounded by grassy areas, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Two heavy-duty concrete abutments secure the bridge during extreme events - permanent elements are designed to withstand a 'Storm Frank-like' event, with landscaping and earthworks acting as sacrificial protection. These abutments will be clad in reclaimed granite to improve flood resilience and blend with the surroundings.