Culloden Viaduct, Railway viaduct in Highland, Scotland
The Culloden Viaduct is a stone railway viaduct in the Scottish Highlands featuring 29 red sandstone arches that cross the River Nairn valley. A narrow road passes beneath one of the ground-level arches, allowing visitors access to different viewing positions along the structure and the surrounding landscape.
The viaduct was completed in 1898 as part of the Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway, following financial difficulties that required a change of contractors. The railway connection opened up the region and transformed transport links across the Highlands for both passengers and freight.
The structure takes its name from the nearby 18th-century Culloden Battlefield and connects industrial achievement with Scottish history. Visitors can view the red sandstone arches from various vantage points, noticing how Victorian engineering sits within a landscape shaped by past events.
The best time to visit is during clear weather when the red sandstone shows its true color. The area is accessible from several points, and it helps to explore local roads and footpaths to discover different angles and views of the structure from the ground.
The viaduct sits near the Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial complex, and lies just kilometers from the famous 1746 battlefield. This proximity to prehistoric and modern historical sites makes the location a place where multiple layers of Scottish past converge.
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