Long or high railway bridges you can walk over

[flixtonman]

Two adjacent viaducts at Millers Dale in Derbyshire.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Between Deutz and Koln Hauptbanhoff

That's a nice pathway - really close up against the tracks I seem to remember.

is the path on the west side of Hungerford Bridge out of Charing X still there?

The old path attached to the bridge (before it was replaced with the new paths each side, both "attached" to the bridge, but a distance away and not supported solely by the bridge structure as before) was on the east (downstream) side - or perhaps, more geographically accurate, the north-east side. The eastern new one still links directly to the bridge structure at the north end, where the steps down to the underground entrance are, so the route on the same level as the footbridge (continuing alongside the station, above the road on the hill - Villiers Street - and feeding into the corner of the station concourse) can still be accessed from the new footbridge as it could from the old one. And a very useful link from Ch X to the South Bank complex it is too!

 

[GusB]

Two I can think of that are near me are:

• Divie Viaduct on the former Forres to Aviemore line. It's part of the Dava Way.
• The bridge over the Spey on the Moray Coast line between Garmouth and Spey Bay

 

[billio]

I thought that maverick brewery owner Humphrey Smith (of Sam Smith's Brewery) had forbidden people to walk across Tadcaster viaduct, as access to it on one side of the river is through his premises?

No, that's something else. There is a public footpath to either end and across the viaduct.

 

[Nottingham59]

Has anyone mentioned Fledborough Viaduct? 59 arches across the River Trent.

Fledborough Viaduct - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Fledborough Viaduct is a former railway viaduct near Fledborough, Nottinghamshire which is now part of the national cycle network.

 

[Strathclyder]

I'm particularly fond of the Glen Ogle viaduct on the old Callander & Oban route.

Glen Ogle Viaduct.

Both of you beat me to it. Not the longest, but still a spectacular location nonetheless.

 

[aavm]

Map : https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/guide/rail-bridge-viaduct-walks.html

Still going through your suggestions. Thanks!

So far:

Alston Arches, Northumberland
Appersett Viaduct, North Yorkshire
Barmouth Bridge, Gwynedd
Barnes Railway Bridge, London
Bennerley Viaduct, Derbyshire
Bickleigh Bridge, Devon
Big Water of Fleet Viaduct, Dumfries and Galloway
Blackfriars Rail Bridge and Station, London
Bollington Viaduct, Cheshire
Buckingham Railway Viaduct, Buckinghamshire
Cann Viaduct, Devon
Carlisle Bridge, Lancaster
Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester
Causey Arch, Durham
Cawledge Viaduct, Northumberland
Cefn-Coed Viaduct, Merthyr Tydfil
Chester Railway Bridge, Chester
Conisbrough Viaduct, South Yorkshire
Connel Bridge, Argyll and Bute
Corby Bridge (Wetheral Viaduct), Cumbria
Cullen Viaducts, Moray
Cwm Prysor Viaduct, Snowdonia
Forth Rail Bridge [no access, yet], Edinburgh
Fulham Rail Bridge (Putney Rail Bridge), London
Glen Ogle Viaduct, Stirling
Glenfinnan Viaduct [no access], Highland
Ham Green Viaduct, Devon
Hawarden Bridge, Deeside
Headstone Viaduct, Derbyshire
Hengoed Viaduct, Caerphilly
Hewenden Viaduct, West Yorkshire
High Level Bridge, Newcastle, Tyneside
Hockley Viaduct, Hampshire
Holbeck Viaduct [no access, yet], Leeds
Hownsgill Viaduct, Durham
Hungerford Bridge (Charing Cross Rail Bridge, Golden Jubilee Bridge), London
Lady Bay Bridge, Nottingham
Lambley Viaduct, Northumberland
Larpool Viaduct, North Yorkshire
Little Petherick Creek Railway Bridge, Cornwall
Logierait Viaduct, Perth and Kinross
Maidstone Footbridge, Kent
Martholme Viaduct, Lancashire
Meldon Viaduct, Devon
Midford Viaduct, Somerset
Monks Bridge Viaduct [partially open], Leeds
Newton Cap Bridge, Durham
North Water Viaduct, Angus
Pensford [no access], Somerset
Podgill and Merrygill Viaducts, Cumbria
Pont Briwet Bridge, Gwynedd
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wrexham
Pontsarn Viaduct, Merthyr Tydfil
Queen Alexandra Bridge, Wearside
Riverford Viaduct, Devon
Rowlands Gill Viaduct, Durham
Sankey Viaduct (9 Arches Viaduct) [no access], Cheshire
Shin Bridge (Invershin Viaduct, Oykel Viaduct), Highland
Smardale Gill Viaduct, Cumbria
Tavistok Viaduct, Devon
Tay Viaduct, Perth and Kinross
Thornton Viaduct, West Yorkshire
Treffry Viaduct, Cornwall
Tucking Mills Viaduct, Somerset
Wansford Rail Bridge, Peterborough
West Vale Viaduct, West Yorkshire

 

[Arrpi87]

Kingsferry Bridge on the Sheerness branch line gets pretty high when it lets a ship through.

 

[unlevel42]

Keadby Swing Bridge or the King George V Bridge crosses the River Trent near Althorpe in Lincolnshire.
Torksey Viaduct across the Trent.
Bennerley Viaduct near Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

 

[Harvester]

Scarborough Rail Bridge, over the Ouse at York.

 

[181]

Not far from the Glen Ogle viaduct, the same Sustrans route uses the Kendrum viaduct on the former Balquhidder-Comrie line: https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/E/Edinchip_Viaduct_LSFCR/ (the steel span is not original, but the rest is). The Callander and Oban bridge over the same burn (https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/E/Edinchip_Viaduct_C_and_O/, but no picture) is also quite high. And in the same area there is the Lochearnhead viaduct on the Comrie line: https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/L/Lochearnhead_Viaduct/ -- I haven't investigated that for a long time but back in the 1980s it coud be walked over from the west end, althugh blocked off at the east end.

 

[Harvester]

Lady Bay bridge in Nottingham. Now a busy road with an exterior footpath cantilevered off the side, which gives you a really close-up view of how bridges like these were put together.

I think the old Wilford Toll Bridge at Nottingham can also be included. It has been enlarged and strengthened, with new foot path, and double track tram lines.

 

[nlogax]

My very local one is the old Aurs Burn viaduct in Barrhead. Not exactly long but it's pretty lofty. Will try and get some photos soon, the one on RailScot doesn't really do it justice.

 

[aavm]

Still going through your suggestions. So far

map: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/guide/rail-bridge-viaduct-walks.html

Alston Arches, Northumberland
Appersett Viaduct, North Yorkshire
Aurs Burn Viaduct, Renfrewshire
Barmouth Bridge, Gwynedd
Barnes Railway Bridge, London
Bennerley Viaduct, Derbyshire
Bickleigh Bridge, Devon
Big Water of Fleet Viaduct, Dumfries and Galloway
Blackfriars Rail Bridge and Station, London
Bollington Viaduct, Cheshire
Buckingham Railway Viaduct, Buckinghamshire
Cann Viaduct, Devon
Carlisle Bridge, Lancaster
Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester
Causey Arch, Durham
Cawledge Viaduct, Northumberland
Cefn-Coed Viaduct, Merthyr Tydfil
Chester Railway Bridge, Chester
Conisbrough Viaduct, South Yorkshire
Connel Bridge, Argyll and Bute
Corby Bridge, Cumbria, aka: Wetheral Viaduct
Cullen Viaducts, Moray
Cwm Prysor Viaduct, Snowdonia
Divie Viaduct, Moray, aka: Edinkillie Viaduct
Edinchip Viaduct 1, Perthshire, aka: Kendrum viaduct
Fledborough Viaduct, Nottinghamshire
Forth Rail Bridge, Edinburgh, notes: no access, yet
Fulham Rail Bridge, London, aka: Putney Rail Bridge
Glen Ogle Viaduct, Stirling
Glenfinnan Viaduct, Highland, notes: no access
Ham Green Viaduct, Devon
Hawarden Bridge, Deeside
Headstone Viaduct, Derbyshire
Hengoed Viaduct, Caerphilly
Hewenden Viaduct, West Yorkshire
High Level Bridge, Newcastle, Tyneside
Hockley Viaduct, Hampshire
Holbeck Viaduct, Leeds, notes: no access, yet
Hownsgill Viaduct, Durham
Hungerford Bridge, London, aka: Charing Cross Rail Bridge, Golden Jubilee Bridge
Keadby Bridge, Lincolnshire, aka: King George V Bridge
Kingsferry Bridge, Kent
Lady Bay Bridge, Nottingham
Lambley Viaduct, Northumberland
Larpool Viaduct, North Yorkshire
Little Petherick Creek Railway Bridge, Cornwall
Lochearnhead Viaduct, Perthshire
Logierait Viaduct, Perth and Kinross
Maidstone Footbridge, Kent
Martholme Viaduct, Lancashire
Meldon Viaduct, Devon
Midford Viaduct, Somerset
Millers Dale Viaduct,
Monks Bridge Viaduct, Leeds, notes: partially open
Newton Cap Bridge, Durham
North Water Viaduct, Angus
Pensford, Somerset, notes: no access
Podgill and Merrygill Viaducts, Cumbria
Pont Briwet Bridge, Gwynedd
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wrexham, notes: aqueduct
Pontsarn Viaduct, Merthyr Tydfil
Queen Alexandra Bridge, Wearside
Riverford Viaduct, Devon
Rowlands Gill Viaduct, Durham
Sankey Viaduct, Cheshire, notes: no access, aka: 9 Arches Viaduct
Scarborough Bridge,
Shin Bridge, Highland, aka: Invershin Viaduct, Oykel Viaduct
Smardale Gill Viaduct, Cumbria
Spey Viaduct, Moray
Tavistok Viaduct, Devon
Tay Viaduct, Perth and Kinross
Thornton Viaduct, West Yorkshire
Torskey Viaduct, Lincolnshire
Treffry Viaduct, Cornwall
Tucking Mills Viaduct, Somerset
Wansford Rail Bridge, Peterborough
West Vale Viaduct, West Yorkshire
Wilford Toll Bridge, Nottinghamshire, aka: Halfpenny Bridge

 

[Sbahn4]

wetherall cumbria. train crosses viaduct as it enters station heading towards carlisle.

 

[Deepgreen]

Since when have the public been able to walk over Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Forth rail bridge without making special arrangements (which in the case of the former will be almost impossible)?! Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is not, and never has been, a rail bridge/viaduct.

 

[aavm]

Since when have the public been able to walk over Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Forth rail bridge without making special arrangements (which in the case of the former will be almost impossible)?! Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is not, and never has been, a rail bridge/viaduct.

All special cases : the aqueduct as its, err, pretty special, Forth Rail Bridge as there's is a plan for an experience or footpath of some kind, Glenfinnan as its popular due to the daily steam trains. I'll include the tags next time

 

[Deepgreen]

All special cases : the aqueduct as its, err, pretty special, Forth Rail Bridge as there's is a plan for an experience or footpath of some kind, Glenfinnan as its popular due to the daily steam trains. I'll include the tags next time

Indeed, but I thought this was about the ones you can walk over. Glenfinnan cannot (and I'll be suprised if it ever can be), but it can be walked under. The Forth bridge has access ways on the top of the structure but requires special permission and the aqueduct can be walked across (I have done so and boated across, too), but isn't a rail route. Not being pedantic but these three don't fit the OP's criteria of; "Long or high railway bridges you can walk over".

 

[Ken H]

All special cases : the aqueduct as its, err, pretty special, Forth Rail Bridge as there's is a plan for an experience or footpath of some kind, Glenfinnan as its popular due to the daily steam trains. I'll include the tags next time

If you are having Pontcysyllte aqueduct, then I reckon the old severn bridge is worth a shout. But I think a 'High bridge you can walk over' thread in the 'other transport' forum would be more appropriate
I have done the old severn bridge.

 

[ChrisC]

Has anyone mentioned Fledborough Viaduct? 59 arches across the River Trent.

Fledborough Viaduct - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That's one that I really do need to walk or cycle over. A couple of weeks ago I cycled along the Cloud Trail south of Derby which runs along the disused Derby to Ashby Railway including a bridge over the River Trent near Swarkstone.

 

[D6130]

wetherall cumbria. train crosses viaduct as it enters station heading towards carlisle.

That's the one referred to above as Corby viaduct....but you have the correct name for it.

Has anyone mentioned Fledborough Viaduct? 59 arches across the River Trent.

I haven't walked across Fledborough Viaduct....but I have crossed it on a railtour - hauled by Haymarket's 40 162 back in the late 1970s.

 

[Nottingham59]

That's one that I really do need to walk or cycle over.

If you do, why not post it on the Forum Meets thread? I'd be interested too.

A couple of weeks ago I cycled along the Cloud Trail south of Derby which runs along the disused Derby to Ashby Railway including a bridge over the River Trent near Swarkstone.

That's another one. Not sure what it's called. Wikipedia suggests Weston-on-Trent viaduct, but it's closer to Melbourne. Melbourne Line viaduct might be better.

 

[D6130]

Another one for the list:

Avenham Viaduct, which carried the ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire line across the River Ribble in Preston. Although I've never walked across it myself, I've seen people walking and cycling across it on numerous occasions.

 

[Rescars]

Does anyone know if it is possible to walk across the Lock Ken viaduct at Parton in Galloway? Though not high, it is a very impressive piece of engineering.

 

[Rob F]

Lake Viaduct on the Granite Way in Devon, former LSWR Exeter - Plymouth railway.

50.681436, -4.077276

 

[aavm]

Does anyone know if it is possible to walk across the Lock Ken viaduct at Parton in Galloway? Though not high, it is a very impressive piece of engineering.

Looks very interesting. There are a few online pics taken on it, but others say there is a locked gate with barbed wire.

If you are having Pontcysyllte aqueduct, then I reckon the old severn bridge is worth a shout. But I think a 'High bridge you can walk over' thread in the 'other transport' forum would be more appropriate
I have done the old severn bridge.

Walking the Clifton and Old Severn Bridges last week set this off.
Humber and old Forth Road Bridges also come to mind, but as you say, that's another thread

 

[D6130]

Does anyone know if it is possible to walk across the Lock Ken viaduct at Parton in Galloway? Though not high, it is a very impressive piece of engineering.

It is private property and barricaded-off....but a friend of mine managed to get across it about 25 years ago while walking the old line from Dumfries to Challoch Junction, near Stranraer. He did, however, encounter an adders' nest near the East end of the viaduct, to which he had to give a wide berth!

 

[uvarvu]

Royate Hill Viaduct is a nature reserve and walkable.

 

[markindurham]

Scalby viaduct, on the Scarborough & Whitby line, can also be walked over.
As can Slapewath viaduct, just east of Guisborough

 

[aavm]

I never realised just how many railway viaducts there still are - live, disused with a footpath, or disused and inaccessible. It takes some work to find out their current status, even just their GPS location sometimes. Checking an OS map for a public footpath across them, then Google Maps / Openstreetmap which may be more up to date for a permitted path, or looking for photos of a path along the top.

One such viaduct had a Google Maps photo of a person on the top. Odd thing was, it still has track, and the OS map shows it as a single track line. Takes a special kind of stupid to trespass on a live single track viaduct. Then to post a photo of doing so online. On a positive note, the viaduct has battlements. They don't build them like that anymore.

Knucklas Viaduct · Beguildy, Knucklas, Knighton LD7 1PN

★★★★★ · Historical landmark

www.google.co.uk