Days Out NI
Castle & ruin Bessbrook

Craigmore Viaduct

Walk beneath the highest railway viaduct in Ireland — free, all year round.

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Check hoursAll year round, daylight hours. No gates…
FreeNo ticket needed
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30-45 minutesHow long
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Craigmore Viaduct — Walk beneath the highest railway viaduct in Ireland — free, all year round.

  • Getting in: Free, open access. Walk to and under the viaduct via the short path; it is a working railway, so you stay below, not on it.
  • Opening: All year round, daylight hours. No gates or admission.
  • Inside: No — there is no building. You view and walk beneath the arches.
  • Dogs: No restriction noted — keep dogs under close control near farmland and the railway. Check before you go.
  • Parking: Limited roadside parking near the approach; no dedicated car park confirmed. Park considerately and check before you go.
  • Food: None on site. Bessbrook village is nearby; Newry (a few minutes' drive) has cafes, shops and restaurants.
Plan your visit

Stand under 18 arches and watch a train cross

The viaduct carries 18 arches of 60ft span each across the valley, around a quarter of a mile end to end. A short path takes you to the base and under the central arches, where the scale of the granite stonework is clearest. Because it remains a live railway, the Belfast-Dublin trains and the cross-border Enterprise still run across the top — time it right and you will catch one passing 126ft above your head. It is an easy out-and-back of roughly 1km, suitable for a quick stop or a relaxed family wander.

Free Open all year Highest viaduct in Ireland (126ft) 18 granite arches, opened 1852 Short 1km walk under the arches On the Ring of Gullion Way
Good to know before you go:

Craigmore is a free open-access site rather than a ticketed attraction, so it does not run its own programme. The wider Ring of Gullion AONB hosts guided walks, heritage and outdoor events through the year — worth checking what is on locally before you visit.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Sturdy shoesRuins mean uneven ground, worn steps and the odd spiral stair.
  • 🧥A coatMost of it is open to the sky, so dress for the day and enjoy the fresh air.
  • 📷A cameraThe old stonework and the views are the whole point — you will want photos.
  • 💧Water and a snackFew ruins have a café right on site, so bring a little something.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free, open access. Walk to and under the viaduct via the short path; it is a working railway, so you stay below, not on it.
Opening
All year round, daylight hours. No gates or admission.
Can you go inside
No — there is no building. You view and walk beneath the arches.
Food
None on site. Bessbrook village is nearby; Newry (a few minutes' drive) has cafes, shops and restaurants.
Dogs
No restriction noted — keep dogs under close control near farmland and the railway. Check before you go.
Parking
Limited roadside parking near the approach; no dedicated car park confirmed. Park considerately and check before you go.
Accessibility
Rural, unsurfaced path that can be uneven and muddy; not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies in wet conditions.
How long to allow
About 30-45 minutes for the short walk under the arches; longer if you join the Ring of Gullion Way.
Address
Craigmore Viaduct, Bessbrook, near Newry, County Armagh, BT35 6JR
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to visit?
Free, open access. Walk to and under the viaduct via the short path; it is a working railway, so you stay below, not on it.
Can you go inside?
No — there is no building. You view and walk beneath the arches.
When is it open?
All year round, daylight hours. No gates or admission.
Can I bring the dog?
No restriction noted — keep dogs under close control near farmland and the railway. Check before you go.
Where do I park?
Limited roadside parking near the approach; no dedicated car park confirmed. Park considerately and check before you go.
Getting there

Craigmore Viaduct is at Craigmore Viaduct, Bessbrook, near Newry, County Armagh, BT35 6JR. Limited roadside parking near the approach; no dedicated car park confirmed. Park considerately and check before you go. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

The story of Craigmore Viaduct

Craigmore Viaduct was built between 1849 and 1852 for the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway, the company laying the strategic main line that would join Ireland's two largest cities. It was designed by John Benjamin Macneill, one of the most eminent Irish civil engineers of the railway age, and formally opened in 1852.

The structure carries 18 masonry arches across the valley of the Camlough River, each arch spanning 60ft, for a total length of roughly a quarter of a mile. The tallest arch rises 126ft above the valley floor, making Craigmore the highest viaduct in Ireland. Its stone was cut from granite at the nearby Goraghwood quarry, which supplied ballast and building stone to the line for many years.

Locals have long known it simply as 'the 18 Arches'. From 1885 to 1948 the celebrated Bessbrook and Newry Tramway — one of the earliest hydro-electric tramways in the world — ran beneath its arches, linking the model village of Bessbrook to Newry.

More than 170 years on, the viaduct is still in daily use, carrying the Belfast-Dublin railway and the cross-border Enterprise service across the Camlough valley. It stands today much as Macneill built it: a working monument to Victorian railway engineering at the edge of the Ring of Gullion.