Leonardo da Vinci and Mark’s bridge is opened by Newtonmore
Newtonmore now has its own da Vinci bridge on the Wildcat trail next to the Spey.
It’s all thanks to the enthusiasm and engineering expertise of villager Mark Thomas, a longstanding volunteer and Trustee of the Newtonmore Community Woodland and Development Trust.
The design is based on a doodle by Leonardo Da Vinci in the margins of another paper and it has been recognised for its innovation as a self supporting bridge.
As Ian Gibson explained: “Mark has always been an enthusiast for the bridge design and as far as he knows very few have been built.
When one of the Wildcat Trail bridges ended halfway up a tree in a flood last winter the opportunity was taken to give Mr Thomas free rein with the design for a replacement.
The bridge which now adorns the site is basically Leonardo’s design with some modern safety additions by Mark.
A few other volunteers put it together with him ‘in no time at’ all after he had specified all the individual interlocking pieces.
The bridge is already much remarked on and photographed and is a super added feature on the trail.
