Archaeology Notes

Event ID 779677

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/779677

NN49NW 2.03 4298 9836 to 4258 9842

The traverses on the S side of the Corrieyairack Pass form part of the route from Fort Augustus to Dalwhinne which was built as part of the military road programme of 1725-37. Militray labour was used throughout, the working season extended from May to October in each year, and gunpowder was used on rocky ground.

This part of the route was prone to extended blockage by winter snow. Following complaints from roadless landowners in Morvern, Ardnamurchan and Ardgour that their districts were cut off from the S, this route was replaced by a better route from Spean Bridge to Kingussie along Loch Laggan.

A R B Haldane 1962.

These hairpins or traverses were well buttressed, and when kept in repair, must have been a remarkable sight.

W Taylor 1976.

There are currently thirteen traverses, some of Wade's original seventeen (Salmond 1938 and Logie 1997) or eighteen (Baker and Baker 1982) having been removed. The original traverses varied in length from 70 yards to 80 yards, buttressed on the outside by a stone wall 10 feet to 15 feet high and flanked by a drain on the inside. They were a notable feat of engineering. The traverses today are not in a good state of repair, but, although rough, are readily walkable and retain a good number of well preserved military characteristics. Although there has been a reduction in the full extent of some of the corners over the years, the original line, despite being very overgrown, remains visible within the hill-slope. The overgrowth may well be masking some well preserved features of the early road fabric. Along the side of the road, remains of the stone bulwarks can be seen and at the road edge and within the banks and revettments the remnants of what seem to be stone lined drainage channels give an impression of the 18th century drainage pattern in this area. There are no signs of ditch lines in this stretch. The patches of stone cobbling which are visible are of uncertain date. The track surface along the incline may have been given extra support by the stone pitching, which also helped to take water off the road.

J B Salmond 1938; W Taylor 1976; J and A Baker 1982.

M Logie (Highland Council) 1997; NMRS, MS/1007/4.

These zi-zag traverses are depicted (but not noted) on the 1992 edition of the OS 1:10,000 map. They fall within the parish of Laggan.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 8 June 2006.