Allt Na Sidhein Culvert

As part of its commitment to managing the historical and natural heritage resources in its care, Forestry Commission Scotland has undertaken a survey and assessment of those parts of the 18th-century military road network crossing the National Forest Estate in Inverness, Ross and Skye, Lochaber and North Highland Forest Districts. All stretches were assessed, October–November 2009, in order to determine appropriate

management regimes. During this work a substantial number of new features were discovered, including previously unrecorded sections of road. The assessment included noting stretches of road with apparently intact original features, such as parallel drains or areas of possibly original cobbling. Where sections of the road appeared well-preserved, though masked by overburdens of vegetation (eg deep turf), potential features

indicated by terrain and drainage were noted. The sites noted here are those whose designation is certain and visible; all further information is available from the survey archive.

The accurate dating of features in a monument that has been developing for at least 300 years and for an indeterminate period prior to the early 18th century is impossible. Earlier routeways were certainly drawn into the military network. The features noted here are those of early appearance, though a post-18th-century date must be considered until further work is undertaken. Each feature has been given a unique number (eg IRS141 is Site 141).

NH 4945 1787 Foyers Large boulders alongside the present road can be shown to relate to an early phase of road construction (see below). IRS141

NH 4949 1834 Foyers The SE corner of a boundary bank runs at 225° before turning 90° for a short distance, then ends at a hollow. It encloses good, level ground. It does not align with the military road banks to the N of it. IRS144

NH 4978 1898 Foyers A newly recognised short piece of road in excellent condition, which demonstrates road

construction techniques used in the area. It is c4m wide between banks of large boulders. The nearby section of road (IRS 141), previously considered an unlikely candidate for the original course, shows the same method of construction and is likely to be an earlier course. The earlier section fits Roy’s plan more accurately and the present course, which loops around Fairburn, would seem to be a later construction designed to create a more gradual gradient. IRS150

NH 4963 1884 Foyers A stretch of earlier road construction on the W side of the modern road. Only the outer boulder-lined kerb and a portion of carriageway are visible. IRS151

NH 4952 1875 Foyers Dyke composed of a single line of large boulders. It is probably a dyke defining the lower

haughland. IRS152

NH 4995 1910 Foyers This proposed alternative route (NH41NE 9.01) appears to be confirmed by its construction, which is identical to IRS150. It has large boulders forming a ‘kerb’, is 4m wide and crosses the burn via a crumbling 2–span culvert (NH41NE 9.03). This section of road is in excellent condition and accurately matches Roy’s depiction of the military road in this area. IRS153

NH 5002 1973 Foyers A short stretch of level ground close to the edge of the scarp suggests that the earlier road ran outside the line of the present one. IRS154

NH 5511 2848 Foyers Two-celled building with footings facing downslope. Not shown on 1st Edition OS map and

probably pre-improvement. IRS156

NH 4997 1942 Foyers The military road as depicted by Roy can be seen heading NE into the wood before looping back to rejoin the modern road. This route appears to have been taken to avoid a deep cleft. IRS168

NH 5001 1944 Foyers. Hollow-way leading uphill from the junction of the newly recognised road section (noted

above) and the modern road. It is possibly related to summer grazing. IRS169

Archive: FCS, Inverness and RCAHMS

Funder: Forestry Commission Scotland

Colin Shepherd