Glenfinnan Viaduct Walk.

Start. Glenfinnan Visitors Centre car park.

Route. Visitors Centre - Glenfinnan Viaduct - Glenfinnan Station - A830 - Visitors Centre.

Notes. An interesting walk specially if you're a railway buff, although it does afford the hill walker fine views over the Glenfinnan Monument, Loch Shiel and the surrounding hills. We intended to be above the viaduct when the Jacobite steam train made it's crossing, unfortunately the train was early disappointing us and the many visitors who like us struggled to find a parking space, we abandoned the car on the grass verge of the narrow lane leading to Glenfinnan House Hotel.

Directly across the road from the road junction a narrow lane leads through a car park heading towards the massive arches of the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Built from mass concrete (no re-enforcing rods used), 21 semicircular spans, each 50ft wide reach across the valley, at 416yards the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland, the highest arch spans the River Finnan at an impressive 100ft high.

We passed under the viaduct to access a gate, the path ascended the hill side affording superb views over the viaduct and surrounding country side. We sat down in anticipation of the coming event, only to discover the 11.15 train to Mallaig had crossed at 10.50, not to disappointed we continued wandering into fine views eventually descending to tiny Glenfinnan Station. From the quaint little station we accessed the main road to start the short walk back. After grabbing a snack in the Visitors Centre Café (quiet now all the train enthusiasts have left) we crossed the road to take a closer look at the Glenfinnan Monument, clad in scaffolding and plastic sheeting, a major refurbishment in progress, at least the views down Loch Shiel never change.

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home.

The River Finnan, Glen Finnan and the massive arches of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Constructed in 1897, opened the 1901 the year Queen Victoria died, a wonderful peace of Victorian engineering.

Twenty one arches, at 416 yards the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland.

Views up Glen Finnan with the slopes of Beinn an Tuim rising to the right.

Views across Glen Finnan.

Sue patiently waiting for the train that never came.

Loch Shiel in the shadow of Sgurr Ghiubnsachain and Meall nan Creag Leac.

Meall a Bhainne seen over the head of Loch Shiel.

Ant t-Sleubhaich seen over the few houses of Glen Finnan village.

Before descending a view to Ben Nevis.

Glen Finnan Station.

Seen from the Glenfinnan Monument, Beinn Odhar Mhor.

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