Cannington Viaduct

This circular walk visits the historic Cannington Viaduct near Lyme Regis.
You can start the walk in the pretty village of Uplyme from the village hall. Head west past the cricket pitch to meet up with Cannington Lane which can then be followed towards the viaduct.
Completed in 1903, the Grade II listed stands 92 feet high as a pioneering example of mass concrete engineering.... It once carried the "Lyme Billy" steam trains on the branch line between Axminster and Lyme Regis until the railway's closure in 1965. A notable feature is the brick reinforcement within the third arch, added during construction to stabilise the structure against shifting soil. Although the viaduct remains a striking landmark, it is situated on private land with its trackbed securely fenced off, meaning there is no public access to walk across the top. 
You can continue your walking in the area on the Uplyme to Lyme Regis Walk.

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Lyme Regis to Charmouth Lyme Regis to Golden Cap Lyme Regis to Seaton Undercliff Walk Lyme Regis to West Bay Walk Uplyme to Lyme Regis

Photos

Cannington Viaduct. This 600ft long viaduct was opened in August 1903 to carry steam trains on the branch line from Axminster to Lyme Regis. It was one of the first two railway viaducts in the UK to be constructed entirely from mass concrete that had not been reinforced, the other being the Borrodale Viaduct. Unfortunately the builders encountered subsidence and had to fill-in and reinforce the arch on the left. Sadly the line was closed in 1965 and this is all that remains except for the original Lyme Regis Station, which was rescued and now used as a buffet at Alresford station in Hampshire.

Trackbed Cannington Viaduct

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Cannington Viaduct.gpx