Ballochmyle Viaduct

Ballochmyle Viaduct is a railway bridge crossing the River Ayr using seven stone arches made from local red sandstone and Dundee stone. The structure rises 50 meters high and supports train traffic across a deep valley in rural Ayrshire.

Construction started in 1848 and finished in 1850, opening this important rail link across the Ayr valley. The project connected communities and supported the expansion of Scottish railway networks during the industrial age.

The structure earned Category A listed status in 1989 and received designation as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark from the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2014.

A short walk of about ten minutes from the South Lodge parking area brings you to several viewpoints around the viaduct. The path is clearly marked and offers different angles for viewing and photographing the bridge.

The central arch spans about 55 meters, making this one of the tallest railway bridges still in active use across Britain. Ancient cup and ring marks carved into nearby rock face offer a glimpse of prehistoric activity in the area.

Location: East Ayrshire

Location: Mauchline

Inception: August 9, 1848

Official opening: 1850

Height: 50 m

GPS coordinates: 55.49948,-4.36230

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:52