Fort William - Fort Augustus - Inverness Military Road

NH52NE 15.00 5802 2500 to 5988 2999 (alternative route 5514 2500 to 5766 2794).

General Wade's Military Road (NAT)

OS 1:10000 map

NH 5802 2500 - 5809 2525: Track through 18/19th century settlement was considered as an alternative route for the 1726 Wade road.

NH 5809 2525 - 5821 2600: The B862 public road occupies the alternative line of the road.

NH 5821 2600 - 5803 2692: Old Road continues as a track at a higher level than the presnt B862, mostly through a conifer plantation, to Torness.

NH 5803 2692 - 5765 2793: The Wade road is visible on the E side of the re-aligned B862 for some 500m where it rejoins the modern road.

Visited by OS, June 1964 and September 1977.

NH 5514 2500 - 5537 2579: There is no trace through afforestation of the road marked on Roy's map (Roy 1747-55).

NH 5537 2579 - 5765 2793: There is no real evidence for the military road having taken the line of the tarmac road to Balnagarline, although there are possible military-type bridges at NH 5558 2588 and NH 5714 2721, the former being 4.2m wide with a 2-3m span with parapets; the latter 4.4m wide within a 1.2m span, but no parapets. At NH 5542 2580 is a military-type double culvert 4.3m wide.

Visited by OS, April 1979.

NH 5765 2793 - 5840 2863: The 1726 Wade road is probably on the line of the B862 public road, with one deviation due to road re-alignment at NH 5810 2838, where it is a heather-covered track c3.5m wide.

NH 5840 2863 - 5917 2915: The old road runs parallel with the NW bank of Loch CeoGlais and is visible as a disused track 4.5m wide at a higher level than the present road. Foundations of a culvert are visible at a stream crossing at NH 5853 2870.

NH 5917 - 5947 2937: B862 public road is on the line of the old road.

NH 5947 2937 - 5967 2964: Old road is visible as a disused track 4.5m wide at a higher level than the present road.

NH 5967 2964 - 5988 2999: The B862 public road is on the line of the old road.

Visited by OS, June 1964 and February 1979.

There is a rough grassy track running along the possible route of the military road between NH 5821 2601 and NH 5805 2686. Passing through a conifer plantation, it disappears for a short distance just S of Torness when the possible line traverses a field under pasture. The B862 links with this track at its S end. The track, which seems to be infrequently used, is in a reasonable condition and drainage throughout the area is fairly good. This route, which does not display any obvious military characteristics, has had doubts thrown on its authenticity by the OS, as reported by the RCAHMS.

The section to the N of the bridge at Torness was also examined between NH 5799 2713 and NH 5790 2749. There is a rough grass-covered farm track running through this area, parallel to the B862 for approximately 0.5km. On this track, which is fairly uneven and eroded in parts, patches of old metalling are visible. Again the OS, as reported by the RCAHMS, are unconvinced about the authenticity of this track, which does not exhibit any obvious military features.

The alternative route, which heads N from Oldtown on map sheet NH52SE, takes the form of a gravel forest track until linking with the line of a modern tarmac road in the neighbourhood of Balnagarline at NH 5535 2577. A square stone double culvert (NH52NE 15.02) is situated at NH 5542 2581. Although modern plastic pipes have been inserted, the stonework appears to be of an early date. A little further E, at Balnagarline, there is a single span stone bridge (NH52NE 15.03) spanning a tributary of the River Farigaig at NH 5559 2589. Although there is a suggestion that this may be of military construction, this is not certain. The route of the military road heads N from NH 5535 2577 as far as NH 5766 2794 overlain by the modern tarmac road

From NH 5766 2794 heading N the speculative routes merge and it is thought that the military line is now overlain by the B862. However, the assessment noted two short sections of overgrown grass-covered track. The first lies along side Loch Ceo Glais between NH 5865 2872 and NH 5904 2901, to the NW side of the modern road. Bearing no obvious military features, it is severely overgrown and very eroded in parts. The second section is located on the NW side of the modern tarmac road between NH 5948 2938 and NH 5965 2964.

M Logie (Highland Council) 1997; NMRS, MS/1007/3.