For those interested in railways or industrial archaeology the Cannington Viaduct is one of the largest viaducts in East Devon and it heralds from a time when railway construction was at its height. The Lyme Regis branch line was just over 6 miles long from the main line at Axminster to Lyme Regis and was known as the Bluebell Line.
It was a ‘Light Railway’ built to slightly lower specifications than the main line and at its height there were up to nine trains a day between Axminster and Lyme Regis.
When the railway closed Lyme Regis station was dismantled and re-erected on the Watercress Line near Winchester in Hampshire. Lyme Regis station was about 0.63 miles (1km) from the centre of the town and the site is now occupied by Travis Perkins builders merchants.
Directions
From the Cottage turn left and walk down to the Village Hall.
Go through the gate at the back right hand side of the Village Hall car park into a field (passing a finger post grid referenced SY 324934). Walk in front of the cricket pavilion, cross a bridge and go through a gate.
Continue ahead up a field bearing left around a line of trees. Follow the top edge of the field with the trees on your right and go through a gate to reach a tarmac track where you turn left to reach the road at Wadley Hill.
Cross this junction and continue ahead (along Cannington Lane) passing a 30mph speed restriction sign and bear left at the next junction with the viaduct in view in front of you.
After 680 yards (625m) you go under the Cannington Viaduct.
The 203 yards long viaduct was part of the Axminster to Lyme Regis light railway which opened in 1903 and was the first viaduct in Britain to be made from concrete. It has 10 elliptical arches and is about 92 feet high.
Soon after it was opened the western end began to subside and an extra ‘fill in’ arch was added. The branch line closed in 1965 and there is no public access to the viaduct itself.
About 110 yards (100m) after the viaduct go left through a field gate just before Shapwick House. You follow a public bridleway across a field with great views of the Cannington viaduct.
The term Shapwick means ‘sheep farm’ and several places around here bear the name. Just before the viaduct on the right (as you walk along) is the site of Holcombe Roman villa which was first excavated in the 19th century. Beneath the villa was a late Iron Age settlement where a rare mirror (AD 30 – 70) was discovered and it is now in the British Museum. The site has been grassed over and there is nothing to see today.
The bridleway goes in front of the large house ahead and joins a largely concrete track. Almost at the end of the track you reach Cuckoo Hill Cottages with a stile on your left.
Cross the stile and bear right heading down across fields, crossing two more stiles and the track of the dismantled railway. You reach a gated footbridge into the Hook Farm campsite.
Walk through the campsite to reach the road (Gore Lane) where you turn left and descend to reach the Talbot Arms. Here go right to reach Blacksmith’s Cottage.