Cannington Viaduct opens to public for heritage weekend

Led by For the Love of a Railway, with support from the Historical Railways Estate team, the event will celebrate the engineering, character and enduring legacy of one of the region's most impressive former railway structures.

Walking in the footsteps of history

Standing high above the Axe Valley, Cannington Viaduct in Lyme Regis has been a striking feature of the landscape for generations.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be a series of guided walks to the viaduct. Accompanied by trained volunteer leaders, visitors will follow a route from Uplyme Village Hall to the structure, discovering the history of the former railway and the role it once played in connecting communities across the area.

Participants will have the opportunity to stand on top of the viaduct, take in sweeping views of the surrounding countryside, and experience the scale and craftsmanship of this impressive piece of Victorian engineering up close.

Bringing the railway's past to life

Uplyme Village Hall will serve as the event hub, hosting displays, archive material and a newly produced film exploring the history of the viaduct and the railway it once carried.

Visitors will also be invited to share their own memories and connections to the line, helping to preserve the personal stories that form an important part of the railway's heritage and its place within the local community.

Get further information about the event.

Following in Chelfham's footsteps

The event follows our first-ever viaduct open day at Chelfham Viaduct in 2025. Held as part of Railway 200, the nationwide celebration marking 200 years of the modern railway, the event welcomed around 2,000 visitors and demonstrated the strong public appetite for exploring historic railway structures at first hand.

Find out more about the Chelfham Viaduct open day. 

The story continues

Organising an event of this scale requires significant planning and careful management to ensure visitors can enjoy the experience safely.

As a result, tickets were limited and demand has been exceptional.

Interest in the event has been so high that all tickets have now been allocated, with more than 1,000 visitors expected across the two days.

National Highways and For the Love of a Railway will be looking to share photographs and highlights from the weekend, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy a glimpse of the event and celebrate this remarkable structure from afar.

We look forward to welcoming visitors and shining a spotlight on an important part of Britain's railway heritage.

Main image credit: For the Love of a Railway