Scotland is home to many old and picturesque bridges, but none are quite like Overtoun Bridge.
At first glance, the Victorian-era stone bridge looks just like any other that you would find dotted across the country.
However, unlike any other Scottish bridge, pet owners walking by are urged to keep their dogs on a lead for one very unusual reason.
Overtoun Bridge, which is found near Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, is the site of a strange and unexplained phenomenon. Since the 1950s, there have been many reports of dogs either falling or jumping to their death from the bridge.
While the exact number of these incidents is unknown, it is estimated that the total number of dogs that have leapt off of the bridge over the years is in the hundreds.
The structure, which crosses a 50-foot deep gorge, has made headlines all over the world as a result of these unexplained dog 'suicides'.
One lucky dog who actually survived the leap back in 2014 was three-year-old spaniel Cassie. Her traumatised owner Alice Trevorrow told the Daily Record at the time: “We had just got out the car and Cassie immediately made her way to the bridge.
"She loves her ball and is normally looking at me waiting for it so it was very uncharacteristic. She turned her head, looked up and did this massive leap.
"I will never forget the awful whine she made as she jumped over. My son looked down and all he could see was a dot.
"She managed to get herself up and met my son, collapsing when she saw him. How she survived that, I’ll never know."
Locals have been left bewildered by these creepy incidents, and many potential explanations have been put forward.
One possible theory is that the foliage surrounding the bridge, which dates back to the 1890s, gives the impression of even ground, which may lead the animals to believe that there is no steep drop off the side. Others say that the strong scent of animals such as minks and mice below could explain why dogs are so eager to get to the bottom.
Many even believe that there may be a supernatural explanation for the phenomenon. According to some locals, Overtoun House is haunted by the spirit of the late Lady Overtoun, who spent the final years of her life grief-stricken following the loss of her husband in 1908.
There have been reports of a woman dressed in white roaming the grounds, and some even claim to have seen a pale white figure looking out from one of the house's windows. It is theorised that the ghost of Lady Overtoun could somehow be encouraging dogs to jump off of the bridge so that their owners could share in her sadness.
Whatever the explanation, if you're looking for a scenic walk with your dog this summer, perhaps it would be best to avoid Overtoun Bridge altogether.
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