Dalwhinnie - Fort Augustus Military Road

NH30SE 2.00 3971 0000 to 3739 0499. MR 4 (formerly Lin 504).

NH30SE 2.01 3887 0072 Bridge.

NH30SE 2.02 3892 0088 Bridge.

The military road takes a course to the E of the Allt Coire Ucdachan, initially descending relatively gently and then more steeply. It crosses the Allt Coire Ucdachan by an old military bridge (NH30SE 3) at NH 3926 0031, according to Taylor (1976). However, Baker and Baker (1982), assert that it bypasses the single-arched Wade bridge, although this is still intact, and uses a modern bridge.

Half a mile further N, traverses bring the road down to the Allt Lagan a'Bhainne. A modern section of track takes a sharp turn to the N and crosses the burn on a bailey bridge constructed in 1961 by 278 Field Squadron of the Royal Engineers, but Wade's road goes straight ahead, where the remains of a Wade bridge (NH30SE 2.01) at NH 3887 0072 can be seen spanning the burn. After this was broken down, a dangerous ford had to be used until volunteer workers re-erected a bridge in 1932 (Salmond 1938). According to Baker and Baker (1982), there was a suspension bridge above the old Wade bridge until recently, but this has also gone, although concrete anchorages can be clearly seen. To the N of the Allt Lagan a'Bhainne the Wade road ascends, swinging right and crossing a small unnamed burn in a deep ravine by a bridge, (NH30SE 2.02) at NH 3892 0088, which has now collapsed, although the footings and the retaining walls for the road are still visible. The modern road is at a lower level, crossing by the bailey bridge below the confluence of the two burns bridged by Wade.

Wade's road heads downhill after the second of his broken bridges and is joined by the modern track. Shortly afterwards, the road begins to climb and heads N along Glen Tarff. It starts to gradually descend as it heads N through the glen.

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

NH 3926 0037 military bridge, Taylor 147.

NH 3887 0072 military bridge rebuilt 1932, Salmond (1938), replaced by bailey bridge 1961 Taylor (1976), only NW pier remains.

Visited by OS April 1964.

The surface of the military road as it heads N to the Uchdachan Bridge (NH30SE 3) at NH 3926 0031) is not particularly good. Just S of the bridge there is a short stretch which is quite severely eroded, mainly due to an ineffective drainage system which has allowed water to run across the track. Along the traverse above the bridge a faint line of a possible back ditch is visible and there are fragments of banking still in existence. To the N of the bridge the condition of the road is reasonably good and fairly stable. It heads N towards the Allt Lagan a'Bhainne, descending an incline just E of the burn by a couple of traverses. Severe damage has been caused in this section by a breakdown in the drainage system, resulting in water flowing down the road. Passage along this stretch is difficult as the fabric of the track has been washed away in some places, exposing bedrock and creating stony debris.

The course of the military road and modern track deviate at NH 3888 0072 and rejoin further N at NH 3895 0091. The military road is in a very overgrown state, with a stretch of erosion on the ascent N from the Allt Lagan a'Bhainne causing the path to be very narrow in this area. There is waterlogging in parts of this whole section due to poor drainage. There are remains of two old bridges in this stretch. Concrete foundations are still visible from a later bridge, now destroyed, which had been constructed on top of the remains of a single span stone bridge (NH30SE 2.01) at NH3887 0072. The other bridge remains (NH30SE 2.02) are at NH 3892 0088.

From the link point of the two tracks at NH 3895 0091 as far N as the turn off to Blackburn at NH 3837 0300 the condition of the road is generally fairly good, although there is a certain amount of damage caused by water on the track. To the N of Blackburn there is a stretch of road which has suffered from severe erosion. About 3m to 4m from the track edge a faint line can be seen, which may be traces of silted up back drains, and sections of banking are also visible. The condition of the whole section heading N from Blackburn is however generally reasonable, despite the effects of a certain amount of water flowing across the track, and it is possible to detect the straight alignments often associated with military road construction. There are also culverts and fords of various dates.

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

NH 374 071 - NN 462 961 A watching brief was maintained over the Dalwhinnie to Fort Augustus military road or Corrieyairack Pass, focusing on the section from Fort Augustus to Melgarve which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (NMRS NH30NE 21, NH30SE 2, NH39NE 2, NN49NW 2, NN49NE 2-4). The road was being used for the refurbishment of an electricity pylon line.

No archaeological features or deposits were revealed by groundworks. Protection was made to features that might be disturbed by work by placing of terram material.

Report lodged with Highland SMR and the NMRS.

Sponsor: Scottish Hydro-Electric plc.

S Farrell 1999