Long or high railway bridges you can walk over

[Dr Hoo]

Causey Arch, at Tanfield. The grand-daddy of them all. OK, it’s only one massive arch but stunningly impressive from all angles.

 

[aavm]

Thanks all - have updated the list at the top.

Any more

Probably out of scope, but canal viaducts have a footpath too.

Aqueducts

The idea of a 'canal in the sky' was ridiculed initially both by engineering sceptics and the canal builders themselves. Despite this, dozens of canal aqueducts have survived to become among the most inspiring of our waterway landmarks.

canalrivertrust.org.uk

Worth mentioning as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is great to walk over - high and narrow - esp. when canal boats are using it

 

[Pinus contorta]

Has anyone mentioned the Castlefield linear garden that has recently been opened. The line that used to lead into the Manchester Central station?

 

[Pacef8]

I was meant to be going on friday but its booked up for the next month.
Look up martin zeros piece on youtube about it.

 

[30907]

Hewenden Viaduct on the former GNR Bradford-Keighley line linear path
Martholme Viaduct, Great Harwood, on the former N Lancs Loop (still access one end only AFAIK)

 

[Tester]

Martholme Viaduct, Great Harwood, on the former N Lancs Loop (still access one end only AFAIK)

Definitely - don't even think of getting on/off at the north end!

 

[Railsigns]

Hawarden Bridge.

 

[Pacef8]

Yes but only the cycleway side now.

 

[john77]

The Cawledge Viaduct on the Aln Valley Railway between Alnmouth and Alnwick in Northumberland is 23 metres high and 123 long, and believed to be the world’s oldest masonry heritage railway viaduct. It has a foot/cyclepath down one side. More details here...https://www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk/support-us/cawledge-viaduct-appeal/

 

[Dr Hoo]

There's a walkway across the north face of Corby Bridge over the River Eden, adjacent to Wetheral station on the Newcastle-Carlisle Line. (Not marked on maps as a public right of way.)

 

[bramling]

Definitely - don't even think of getting on/off at the north end!

Is that the one with the objectionable caravan park alongside the formation?

 

[Ken H]

Apperset Viaduct. You can get on it off the minor road from Apperset that joins the Hawes -Ingleton B road.

Location Map.

Streetmap.co.uk provides on-line street level maps for the whole of the UK

www.streetmap.co.uk

 

[HSP 2]

IIRC the Leven viaduct between Lancashire and Westmoreland had a day when you could walk over it. It was Christmas day but I think that you could only go from Arnside to Grange, keeping right line running!
The path is still on the bridge but I'm not sure if you can still do the walk.

Does this viaduct count as it's not high or that long at about 1/4 mile ish. You would get some very good views from it.

HSP 2.

 

[Morayshire]

North Water Viaduct just to the north of Montrose. Decent views up and down the North Esk valley.

 

[2392]

What about the High Level bridge in Newcastle?

There's aslo the Queen Alexandra Bridge in Sunderland too. Which is/was a double deck road/rail bridge too.

 

[The exile]

Which long or high bridges/viaducts can you walk over?

Estuary bridges:
Barmouth Estuary Bridge in mid Wales (recommended)
Pont Briwet Bridge, North Wales (the original wooden bridge was lost during the construction of its replacement, now a road - rail bridge)

Viaducts: This page lists 10 *disused* viaducts : https://industrialtour.co.uk/blog/top-10-accessible-railway-viaducts-uk/
Bennerley (Notts.)
Cefn-Coed (South Wales)
Conisbrough (near Doncaster)
Cullen (NE Scotland)
Cwm Prysor (Bala, Snowdonia)
Larpool (Whitby)
Logierait (nr Perth)
Monsal (Peak District) - and the Monsal line path
Pensford (nr Bristol) no access
Thornton (nr Bradford)

Also:
Hockley Viaduct, Winchester (disused)

And, in London (neither long or high, but interesting):
Putney (District Line), Hungerford (Charing Cross), Blackfriars Bridge Station, Barnes Bridge

There is (was?) a Feb-22 plan to have a "visitor experience" walk over the Forth Bridge nr Edinburgh.

Any more?

Added (thanks!):
Shin Bridge (Invershin, NE Scotland)
Medway Bridge (Maidstone East to Barracks)
Lady Bay Bridge (Nottingham, now a road bridge)
Carlisle Bridge, Lancaster
Nine Arches Viaduct (near Rowlands Gill in Gateshead, disused)
Buckingham railway viaduct (disused)
Glen Ogle viaduct (disused)
Hownsgill Viaduct (County Durham, disused)
Connel Bridge (Oban, now a road bridge)
Tay Viaduct (Perth city centre)
Smardale Gill Viaduct (Yorkshire Dales NP)
Meldon Viaduct (nr Okehampton, Dartmoor)
High Level Bridge (Newcastle)
Pontsarn Bridge (disused, north of Merthyr, S Wales)
Midford Viaduct (disused, S of Bath, no view as the sides are too high)
Wansford Rail Bridge (nr Peterborough)
Causey Arch (County Durham, disused, formerly a wagonway, there's a TV documentary about it)
Castlefield Viaduct (central Manchester, disused, linear park, NT, free but you have to book)

To the Midford Viaduct you can add Tucking Mill - about a mile closer to Bath.

 

[Tester]

Is that the one with the objectionable caravan park alongside the formation?

There is a caravan park but not sure about objectionable.

The problem is that, as well as a substantial fence, there is a large 'trench' across the formation immediately beyond.

It's worth the diversion - more of the formation is walkable than maps might suggest.

Here is the viaduct from below.....

 

[trebor79]

Newton Cap Viaduct just outside Bishop Auckland. Used to carry the Durham to Bishop Auckland line. Then was a foot/cycle path, and now carries the A689.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Not the UK, but this is a superb walk: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkway_over_the_Hudson

 

[TurboMan]

Midford Viaduct (disused, S of Bath, no view as the sides are too high)

It may have changed, but the last time I was there, you could see easily over the west parapet, but there was a post and wire fence along the edge of the cycle path preventing access to the east parapet. Although if you go to the southern end of the east parapet you can just about get the same view looking northwards back towards Midford station and over the GWR viaduct, as seen at the start of the Titfield Thunderbolt where the Somerset & Dorset train passes over the GWR train.

Also on the S&D, Ham Wood viaduct north of Windsor Hill tunnel (just north of Shepton Mallet) is accessible, both on top and from below in Ham Woods, although technically both require a slight deviation from the public footpath.

 

[steamybrian]

It’s not really long or high though is it?

Have you walked over it.?
Can you define long or high?

 

[AlterEgo]

Have you walked over it.?
Can you define long or high?

How about you make your case for this small bridge in Maidstone to be either long or high?

 

[Skyblue67]

The Treffry Viaduct (and aquaduct) at Luxulyan, Cornwall.

 

[StoneRoad]

Can I suggest the "Alston Arches" & the Lambley Viaduct - both on the closed Alston to Haltwhistle branch ?

The former is a maybe to me as it isn't that long or high, but you can certainly walk it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Had a quick scan and I don't think it was mentioned yet. There's a footbridge alongside (attached to) the viaduct carrying the WCML over the River Lune in Lancaster, so you can walk across that, and it is quite high and fairly long too!

It's called Carlisle Bridge and can be seen at this Google Maps link:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Pinus contorta]

Had a quick scan and I don't think it was mentioned yet. There's a footbridge alongside (attached to) the viaduct carrying the WCML over the River Lune in Lancaster, so you can walk across that, and it is quite high and fairly long too!

It's called Carlisle Bridge and can be seen at this Google Maps link:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

#7
Added bonus it's tidal!

 

[aavm]

Not the UK, but this is a superb walk: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkway_over_the_Hudson

Thanks all. Going through your suggestions.

Also not in the UK is the Myra Canyon (Kettle Valley Railroad) walk near Kelonwa in BC, Canada with 18 wooden trestle bridges, 2 steel bridges, 2 tunnels, and bears
I was there but didn't get to do it. Family!

 

[supervalkoinen]

Short but high - over the Dee between Chester and Saltney, adjacent to the racecourse, with no access during race meetings.

 

[Stuwhu]

There is a 23 arch viaduct in Bollington, Cheshire you can walk or cycle over (on the Middlewood way)

 

[nlogax]

Also not in the UK is the Myra Canyon (Kettle Valley Railroad) walk near Kelonwa in BC, Canada with 18 wooden trestle bridges, 2 steel bridges, 2 tunnels, and bears

Damn it.. that's one I wish I knew about when I was in the area!