Nairn (Clava) Viaduct
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Address:
Culloden Moor, Inverness IV2 5EJ
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Permanently viewable
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Visit websiteThe Nairn or Clava viaduct spans the River Nairn somewhat north of its mid-point, near Clava, about 6 miles east of Inverness. It was opened in 1898 by The Highland Railway as part of the Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway and it still carries the main railway line south from Inverness today. This double-track viaduct is the longest masonry railway viaduct in Scotland.
Built between 1893 and 1898 by Sir John Fowler and Murdoch Paterson, it curves across the valley for 549 m (600 yds) and is the longest viaduct of its kind in Scotland. Its twenty eight spans are all 15.2 m (50 ft) wide apart from the span crossing the river which is 30.5 m (100 ft) wide. The sandstone used to build the viaduct came from the nearby Leanach Quarry.
The viaduct remains in regular use for passenger traffic, as part of the Perth-Inverness main line.
By road: Off B9006, near Newlands
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RCAHMS - Clava, Nairn, Viaduct