Fort William - Fort Augustus - Inverness Military Road
Military Road (18th Century)
Site Name Fort William - Fort Augustus - Inverness Military Road
Classification Military Road (18th Century)
Alternative Name(s) River Spean
Canmore ID 73821
Site Number NN28SW 7
NGR NN 2041 8423
NGR Description NN 2000 8398 to NN 2098 8499
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/73821
- Council Highland
- Parish Kilmonivaig
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Lochaber
- Former County Inverness-shire
NN28SW 7.00 2000 8398 to 2098 8499
NN28SW 7.01 Cancelled (duplicated site): see NN28SW 6
NN28SW 7.02 NN 2003 8268 Culvert
NN28SW 7.03 NN 2014 8407 Culvert
NN28SW 7.04 NN 2069 8444 Bridge
NN28SW 7.05 NN 2069 8444 Ford
NN 2000 8202 - 2006 8210 Wade's road is a well-preserved grass track to High Bridge (NN28SW 6).
NN 2006 8210 - 2000 8267 Disused grass track c.4m wide.
NN 2000 8396 - 2077 8453 Disused grass track in afforestation continuing as metalled farm road. Crosses A82 at 2077 8455.
NN 2077 8455 - 2098 8499 Mutilated grass-covered carriageway c.4.5m wide.
Visited by OS, September 1974 and February 1979.
In the first section on this map sheet, from NN 2000 8201 to NN 2000 8267, the military road is in open pasture land. It traverses the River Spean on an early 18th century triple arch stone bridge (NN28SW 7.01) at NN 2006 8211 and, as it passes through a field, an early stone culvert (NN28SW 7.02) is visible at NN 2003 8268.
In the second section, from NN 2000 8398 to NN 2098 8499, having emerged from a conifer plantation, the line of the military road is overlain by a stony farm track, 3m to 4m wide, which displays little in the way of early road features. Although there is improved drainage, a certain level of erosion has occurred in places. The track apparently links up with the A82 in the area of Stronenaba. In this section are three features; a recently constructed stone culvert (NN28SW 7.03) at NN 2014 8407, and, at NN 2069 8444, a modern bridge (NN28SW 7.04) and a ford (NN28SW 7.05), adjacent to this bridge.
M Logie (Highland Council) 1997; NMRS, MS/1007/3.
Watching Brief (16 November 2010 - 19 November 2010)
NN 1991 8294 A watching brief was undertaken 16–19 November 2010 during the construction of a footpath. The path ran along the route of an 18th-century military road for 350m as it approached the Spean Bridge from the NW. The construction work revealed the original construction
of the military road in areas where it had been terraced into the slope. A road surface made from up to four layers of gravel metalling was recorded in a number of areas. At other locations only a single gravel layer was recorded; farther along the route to the SE all surface deposits had been
washed away exposing bedrock. The remains of a small substantially built masonry bridge were uncovered at one burn crossing point. Most of the N,
W and upper parts of the bridge had been washed away. However, enough masonry survived to allow the form and size of the lower parts of the bridge to be understood. The bridge was 5.2m wide (from parapet to parapet), with a 1.2m span and was carried over the burn on a vault, the lowest parts of which survive in situ to the SE. The bridge was constructed with a lime-bonded rubble face that retained an unbonded rubble fill.
Archive: The National Trust Scotland
Funder: The High Bridge Footpath Group
