📌 Viaduct & gorge near Mauchline, East Ayrshire
★★★
170 feet above the base of the River Ayr gorge near Mauchline is Ballochmyle Viaduct: Britain’s highest, and still used by trains on the line between Dumfries and Kilmarnock. Vegetation can conceal views of the main arch especially during summer, but also enhances the stunning surroundings; the gorge is impressive and it’s well worth exploring the maze of paths around the viaduct to fully appreciate the setting. Also look out for the ancient cup and ring marks on cliffs on the right of the path on route to the bridge (we managed to miss the best examples). On return, from a spot close to the cup marks, a path threads its way down to the river bank for one of the best views of the viaduct. If the water’s low enough you can wander upstream along the base of the gorge, with further faint trods later taking you back to the road.
🌍 Location
📌 Off minor road at South Lodge, 1 mi south of Mauchline
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 509254
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.499503,-4.362290
❌ No public transport within 1 mi. Trains cross the viaduct between Kilmarnock & Auchinleck. Buses serve Catrine (2 mi via River Ayr Way)
🚗 Space to park at road end near South Lodge – don’t block access
📝 Key info
⌚ Always viewable from below, or take a train
🎫 Free
💬 From South Lodge it’s a 10-min walk (each way) to the viaduct on a clear path. The cup and ring marks are passed on the way, just after a footbridge.
