A network of military roads, sometimes called General Wade's Military Roads, was constructed in the
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Sco ...
during the middle part of the 18th century as part of an attempt by the
British Government
ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd
, image = HM Government logo.svg
, image_size = 220px
, image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
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, caption = Royal Arms
, date_es ...
to bring order to a part of the country which had risen up in the
Jacobite rebellion
, war =
, image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766
, active ...
of 1715.
The roads were constructed to link the
Central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands, sometimes called the Midland Valley or Central Valley, is a geologically defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland. It consists of a rift valley between the Highland Boundary Fault to the north and ...
with a series of fortified
barracks
Barracks are usually a group of long buildings built to house military personnel or laborers. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word "barraca" ("soldier's tent"), but today barracks are u ...
located strategically across the Highlands. Their purpose much like the
network of roads constructed by the Romans more than 1,500 years earlier was to suppress and exert control over the local population.
The engineered roads of the Roman period did not extend into the Highlands, which was where these later roads were constructed.
The first four of these roads were constructed in the 1720s and 1730s under the direction of
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
George Wade
Field Marshal George Wade (1673 – 14 March 1748) was a British Army officer who served in the Nine Years' War, War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rising of 1715 and War of the Quadruple Alliance before leading the construction of bar ...
(an
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish people () denotes an ethnic, social and religious grouping who are mostly the descendants and successors of the English Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. They mostly belong to the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the establis ...
man) and are commonly referred to as General Wade’s Military Roads or simply as Wade’s Roads.
The network was subsequently expanded considerably under the direction of
Major William Caulfeild
Major William Caulfeild was an officer in the British Army who is primarily known for his work supervising road and bridge construction in the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century.
Early life
He was born in Ireland, the son of the Hon. Toby Caul ...
though his name is now largely forgotten and each of the roads that he had put in place are referred to, on
Ordnance Survey
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, logo_width = 240px
, logo_caption =
, seal =
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, formed =
, preceding1 =
, di ...
mapping for example, simply as "Old Military Road". A further road was constructed by Caulfeild in southwest Scotland in the 1760s.
Wade’s Roads
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Wade
Wade, WADE, or Wades may refer to:
Places in the United States
* Wade, California, a former settlement
* Wade, Maine, a town
* Wade, Mississippi, a census-designated place
* Wade, North Carolina, a town
* Wade, Ohio, an unincorporated communi ...
was sent to
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
in July 1724. He reported back in December that "more than half of the 22,000 men capable of bearing arms in the Highlands and Islands were ready to create new troubles and rise in arms to favour the
Pretender
A pretender is someone who claims to be the rightful ruler of a country although not recognized as such by the current government. The term is often used to suggest that a claim is not legitimate.Curley Jr., Walter J. P. ''Monarchs-in-Waiting'' ...
". In his report Wade pointed out that government troops would benefit from improved roads and river crossings to put down the rebels.
[Ang and Pollard (1984)]
George I George I or 1 may refer to:
People
* Patriarch George I of Alexandria (fl. 621–631)
* George I of Constantinople (d. 686)
* George I of Antioch (d. 790)
* George I of Abkhazia (ruled 872/3–878/9)
* George I of Georgia (d. 1027)
* Yuri Dolgor ...
appointed Wade as Commander-in-chief, North Britain. The first of four roads whose building Wade would oversee, was under construction by the following year;
# from
Inverness
Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...
to
Fort William (along the south side of Loch Ness)
# from
Dunkeld
Dunkeld (, sco, Dunkell, from gd, Dùn Chailleann, "fort of the Caledonians") is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The location of a historic cathedral, it lies on the north bank of the River Tay, opposite Birnam. Dunkeld lies close to t ...
to Inverness via
Pass of Drumochter
The Pass of Drumochter ( gd, Druim Uachdair) meaning simply 'high ridge' is the main mountain pass between the northern and southern central Scottish Highlands. The A9 road passes through here, as does the Highland Main Line, the railway be ...
# from
Crieff
Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has becom ...
to the existing road at
Dalnacardoch by Aberfeldy and
Tummel Bridge
Tummel Bridge is a double arched hump-backed former military bridge crossing the River Tummel near Dull, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. A Category A listed structure dating to 1730, it is now pedestrian-only. It stands immediately to the southea ...
# from
Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie ( ; Scottish Gaelic: ''Dail Chuinnidh'' "meeting place") is a small village in the Scottish Highlands. Dalwhinnie is located at the head of Glen Truim and the north-east end of Loch Ericht, on the western edge of the Cairngorms Natio ...
to
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus is a settlement in the parish of Boleskine and Abertarff, at the south-west end of Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands. The village has a population of around 646 (2001). Its economy is heavily reliant on tourism.
History
The Gaeli ...
via
Corrieyairack Pass
The Corrieyairack Pass (Scottish Gaelic – ''Màm Choire Ghearraig'') is a 770 m (2526 ft) high pass in the Scottish Highlands at . It is notable for the presence of one of General Wade's military roads, built at the time of the J ...
(and a spur to Ruthven via Crubenbeg)
The roads were built by the military at an average cost of . Their standard width was but shrinking to as required. Construction took place between April/May and October of each year, the winter months being too harsh for such labours. Work in the summer could be arduous too with uncertain weather and the presence of the ubiquitous
midge
A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito Nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some mid ...
.
[Ang and Pollard (1984), p.31] The construction parties consisted of one hundred men overseen by two corporals, two sergeants, two subalterns and a captain. They were generally also accompanied by a drummer. Wade engaged craftsmen with skills in masonry, carpentry, for example, to ensure that major structures such as bridges were built to a standard. Encampments were established at intervals and the inns which developed became known as Kingshouses.
Some of these continue to serve travellers today. The well-known
Kingshouse on
Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor (, gd, Mòinteach Raineach/Raithneach) is an expanse of around of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, where it extends from and into westerly Perth and Kinross, northerly Lochaber (in Highland), and the area of ...
sits beside the route made by Wade's successor William Caulfeild.
Fort William to Inverness
![Wades military road near Highbridge (geograph 3934562)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Wades_military_road_near_Highbridge_%28geograph_3934562%29.jpg)
Three forts were constructed by the British government along the length of the
Great Glen
The Great Glen ( gd, An Gleann Mòr ), also known as Glen Albyn (from the Gaelic "Glen of Scotland" ) or Glen More (from the Gaelic ), is a glen in Scotland running for from Inverness on the edge of Moray Firth, in an approximately straight ...
in the early 18th century. At its southwestern end was
Fort William at the head of
Loch Linnhe where the town of that name now stands. A second fort had been constructed in 1715 at the southern end of Loch Ness at Kilcumein. It was named
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus is a settlement in the parish of Boleskine and Abertarff, at the south-west end of Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands. The village has a population of around 646 (2001). Its economy is heavily reliant on tourism.
History
The Gaeli ...
after
Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (15 April 1721 Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">N.S..html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/nowiki> N.S.">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html"_;"title="/nowiki>Old_Style_and_New_St ...
. At its northeastern end, the original
Fort George was constructed in Inverness - it was not until the destruction of that fort in the rebellion of 1746 that a replacement was constructed at
Ardersier
Ardersier ( gd, Àird nan Saor) is a small former fishing village in the Scottish Highlands on the Moray Firth near Fort George, between Inverness and Nairn. Its name may be an anglicisation of the Gaelic "Àird nan Saor", or "Headland of th ...
Point on the
Moray Firth
The Moray Firth (; Scottish Gaelic: ''An Cuan Moireach'', ''Linne Mhoireibh'' or ''Caolas Mhoireibh'') is a roughly triangular inlet (or firth) of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness, which is in the Highland council area of north of Scotl ...
.
A route stretching the width of the Highlands from sea to sea was built by Wade during 1726 and 1727 to link the three forts. Before the completion of the northern section, and as a temporary measure, a galley operated on Loch Ness. It was withdrawn once the road was in place though it was later used in association with the construction of the
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. The canal was constructed in the early nineteenth century by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford.
Route
The canal r ...
.
The southern section takes a route eastwards from Fort Augustus along a line followed by the modern
B862 road, crossing the Allt Doe, passing by Loch Tarff, entering
Stratherrick and passing along the western shore of
Loch Mhòr
Loch Mhòr is a loch in the traditional county of Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. Its name literally translates to "Big Loch". It occupies much of the wide floor of Stratherrick which runs roughly parallel to Loch Ness, around to its s ...
. The alignment of Wade's route to the northeast of
Loch Duntelchaig is followed by minor roads today.
A new alignment of its northern section was constructed closer to the shores of Loch Ness in 1732. This route is followed by the modern
B852 road between Inverness and
Foyers and joins the earlier line near Whitebridge.
Dunkeld to Inverness
Built between 1728 and 1730 by Wade. A report from Wade in July 1728 refers to some 300 men working on the route of which had by then been completed.
![Drochaid_na_h-Uinneige_-_geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Drochaid_na_h-Uinneige_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1363819.jpg)
The route, followed by a minor road (formerly the
A9 before the main road was diverted further west), ran west out of Dunkeld to the King's Pass and then turned north up the eastern side of
Strathtay
: ''For the bus company, see Stagecoach Strathtay.''
Strathtay is a small rural village on the River Tay in Perthshire, Scotland. It is part of the Grandtully and Strathtay Conservation Area. Neighbouring Grandtully is situated on the other side o ...
. It continued north through
Ballinluig
Ballinluig ( Gaelic: ''Baile an Luig'') is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the banks of the River Tummel in Logierait Parish, and is approximately southeast of Pitlochry. It developed with the building of the Highland Rail ...
to
Pitlochry
Pitlochry (; gd, Baile Chloichridh or ) is a town in the Perth and Kinross council area of Scotland, lying on the River Tummel. It is historically in the county of Perthshire, and has a population of 2,776, according to the 2011 census.Scotla ...
before squeezing through the
Pass of Killiecrankie into
Glen Garry
A glen is a valley, typically one that is long and bounded by gently sloped concave sides, unlike a ravine, which is deep and bounded by steep slopes. Whittow defines it as a "Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands" that is "narrower ...
. It crossed the
River Tilt
The River Tilt is a tributary of the River Garry in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is sourced from the confluence of Tarf Water and the Allt Garbh Buidhe, from which point it flows in a southwesterly direction down the fault-aligned Glen Tilt. ...
at the Old Bridge of Tilt to the north of
Blair Atholl
Blair Atholl (from the Scottish Gaelic: ''Blàr Athall'', originally ''Blàr Ath Fhodla'') is a village in Perthshire, Scotland, built about the confluence of the Rivers Tilt and Garry in one of the few areas of flat land in the midst of the Gr ...
. Parts of the route are still intact: past Dalnacardoch to the
Pass of Drumochter
The Pass of Drumochter ( gd, Druim Uachdair) meaning simply 'high ridge' is the main mountain pass between the northern and southern central Scottish Highlands. The A9 road passes through here, as does the Highland Main Line, the railway be ...
and
Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie ( ; Scottish Gaelic: ''Dail Chuinnidh'' "meeting place") is a small village in the Scottish Highlands. Dalwhinnie is located at the head of Glen Truim and the north-east end of Loch Ericht, on the western edge of the Cairngorms Natio ...
; though other parts have been obliterated by the construction of the modern A9. From
Glen Truim the route ran to the east of the modern road via Glen Fernisdale, Phones and a crossing of the Milton Burn at Drochaid Tigh na Mile (now a ford) en route to the
barracks at Ruthven near
Kingussie
Kingussie ( ; gd, Ceann a' Ghiùthsaich ) is a small town in the Badenoch and Strathspey ward of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically in Inverness-shire, it lies beside the A9 road, although the old route of the A9 serves as the ...
.
After crossing the
River Spey
The River Spey (Scottish Gaelic: Uisge Spè) is a river in the northeast of Scotland. At it is the eighth longest river in the United Kingdom, as well as the second longest and fastest-flowing river in Scotland. It is important for salmon fishi ...
the road ran along the western side of
Strathspey Strathspey may refer to one of the following:
* Strathspey, Scotland, an area in the Highlands of Scotland
* Strathspey Camanachd
Strathspey Camanachd is a shinty club based in Grantown-on-Spey, Strathspey, Scotland, currently competing in the ...
via
Kincraig
Kincraig ( gd, Ceann na Creige) is a village located north of Kingussie and south of Aviemore in Highland, Scotland. Its original name was Boat of Inch, reflecting the ferry boat crossing of the Spey River that once operated here. The name was ...
,
Alvie and
Aviemore
Aviemore (; gd, An Aghaidh Mhòr ) is a town and tourist resort, situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area, within the Highland council area. The town is po ...
to
Kinveachy. Here it set out northwestwards, away from the modern roads, to cross the
River Dulnain
The River Dulnain (Gaelic: ''Tuilnean / Abhainn Tuilnein'') is a major left bank tributary of the River Spey in northeast Scotland. It rises in the eastern part of the Monadhliath Mountains () and flows in a generally northeastward direction throu ...
by means of the high stone arch of Sluggan Bridge - a crossing now used by the National Cycle Network. Wade took the road through the pass at
The Slochd just as the modern road does, and crossed the
River Findhorn
The River Findhorn (Scottish Gaelic: Uisge Fionn Èireann) is one of the longest rivers in Scotland. Located in the north east, it flows into the Moray Firth on the north coast. It has one of the largest non-firth estuaries in Scotland.
The riv ...
at
Raigbeg. He chose to cross the
River Nairn
The River Nairn ( gd, Narann / Abhainn Narann) is a 35 mile long river in the Scottish Highlands.
Etymology
The hydronym ''Nairn'' is Pictish in origin. The name may involve ''*Naverna'', of which the ultimate genesis is the Celtic root ''*(s ...
at Bridge of Faillie before running the road a last few miles over
Drummossie Muir to the barracks at
Fort George, Inverness.
Crieff to Dalnarcardoch
![2003-06-06 - Aberfeldy 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/2003-06-06_-_Aberfeldy_01.jpg)
This road was built in 1730 by Wade. The bridge spanning the
River Tay
The River Tay ( gd, Tatha, ; probably from the conjectured Brythonic ''Tausa'', possibly meaning 'silent one' or 'strong one' or, simply, 'flowing') is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in Great Britain. The Tay originates ...
at
Aberfeldy and designed by
William Adam, proved to be the single most expensive structure on the whole network, exceeding £4000 on its completion in 1734 some years after the remainder of the road.
The route leaves Crieff heading northeast across Crieff Golf Club and turns north at
Gilmerton
Gilmerton ( gd, Baile GhilleMhoire, IPA: paləˈʝiːʎəˈvɔɾʲə is a suburb of Edinburgh, about southeast of the city centre.
The toponym "Gilmerton" is derived from a combination of gd, Gille-Moire– a personal name and later surnam ...
heading towards the
Sma' Glen. Its line is approximated by the
A822 road
The A822 is a road which runs through Perthshire in Scotland. It runs from the A9 road at Greenloaning, and rejoins the A9 at Dunkeld. It goes through Crieff and intersects the A85 road and the A823 road
The A823 is a road in Scotland which goe ...
; their routes coincide only in small part. It crosses the
River Almond at Newton Bridge and runs north to
Amulree where it crosses the
River Braan
The River Braan ( gd, Breamhainn) is a tributary of the River Tay in Scotland.
Within the county of Perth and Kinross, it flows 11 miles (17 km) eastwards from Loch Freuchie, near Amulree, and joins the River Tay near Dunkeld.
Etymolog ...
. The route initially takes a more westerly course than the modern
A826 road through
Glen Cochill before joining and leaving the modern route repeatedly then descending to its crossing of the Tay at Aberfeldy.
From Aberfeldy the route turned west along Strath Tay and then northwest beside the
River Lyon
Glen Lyon ( gd, Gleann Lìomhann) is a glen in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland. It is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland and runs for from Loch Lyon in the west to the village of Fortingall in the east.
This glen was also known ...
before breaking northwards beside the
Keltney Burn and Glen Goulandie heading for a crossing of the
River Tummel
The River Tummel ( gd, Uisge Theimheil) is a river in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Water from the Tummel is used in the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme, operated by SSE.
As a tributary of the River Tay, the Tummel is included as part of th ...
at
Tummel Bridge
Tummel Bridge is a double arched hump-backed former military bridge crossing the River Tummel near Dull, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. A Category A listed structure dating to 1730, it is now pedestrian-only. It stands immediately to the southea ...
- a route approximated by the modern B846 road. The road ran northwest from the bridge and around Drumcroy Hill to the remote hamlet of
Trinafour
Trinafour (; gd, Trian a' Phùir) is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, approximately north-west of Pitlochry
Pitlochry (; gd, Baile Chloichridh or ) is a town in the Perth and Kinross council area of Scotland, lying on the Rive ...
and a crossing of the
Errochty Water. The final section ran north from here to join the Dunkeld to Inverness route at Dalnacardoch.
Dalwhinnie and Ruthven to Fort Augustus
![Zig-zags_on_the_Corrieyairck_-_geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Zig-zags_on_the_Corrieyairck_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1371633.jpg)
This road whose most celebrated section runs over the
Corrieyairack Pass
The Corrieyairack Pass (Scottish Gaelic – ''Màm Choire Ghearraig'') is a 770 m (2526 ft) high pass in the Scottish Highlands at . It is notable for the presence of one of General Wade's military roads, built at the time of the J ...
was built in 1731 by Wade.
The initial part of the route which runs north from Dalwhinnie consists of numerous straight sections; its many sharp bends contribute to the reputation of the modern
A889 road which follows it, as one of the most dangerous in Scotland. The connecting route from Ruthven ran west from the barracks through the upper part of Strathspey initially south of the river but then crossing it at Garva Bridge. Taking a rising line out of the valley of the Spey, and to the east of the Allt Yairack burn, it entered the bowl of Corrie Yairack and exited it by means of a series of tight zig-zags and over the exposed summit of the pass which lies at 750m above sea level. The route then drops northwestwards then north, remaining high above the deeply incised
Glen Tarff before a final descent into the Great Glen. Ironically this road may have served the Jacobite forces more effectively than government troops, since during the 1745 rebellion after
Prince Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (20 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, grandson of James II and VII, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland and ...
raised his standard at Glenfinnan he used it to move fairly rapidly to Perth and the Lowlands.
Caulfeild’s Roads
Wade himself retired in 1747 but not before his successor, Major William Caulfeild had been appointed to assist him as Inspector of Roads in 1732. Like Wade, Caulfeild was of Irish birth. He continued in the role until his death in 1767. It is Caulfeild who is credited with the lines:
:Had you seen these roads before they were made
:You would lift up your hands and bless General Wade
Tyndrum to Fort William
![A Bridge along the Old Military Road (geograph 4950495)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/A_Bridge_along_the_Old_Military_Road_%28geograph_4950495%29.jpg)
The road was built in 1752 from
Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor (, gd, Mòinteach Raineach/Raithneach) is an expanse of around of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch in Scotland, where it extends from and into westerly Perth and Kinross, northerly Lochaber (in Highland), and the area of ...
over the ridge to
Loch Leven and necessitated the construction of a spectacular series of zig-zags known as the
Devil’s Staircase.
The
Crianlarich
Crianlarich (; gd, A' Chrìon Làraich) is a village in Stirling council area and in the registration county of Perthshire, Scotland, around north-east of the head of Loch Lomond. The village bills itself as "the gateway to the Highlands".
E ...
to
Fort William section was constructed between 1749 and 1750.
Rest and Be Thankful
![Glen Croe from the Rest and Be Thankful - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Glen_Croe_from_the_Rest_and_Be_Thankful_-_geograph.org.uk_-_105889.jpg)
Construction of a road from
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
to Inveraray was initiated under Caulfeild's command in 1743 but was then interrupted by the rebellion of 1745. Its which took it via the western side of
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond (; gd, Loch Laomainn - 'Lake of the Elms'Richens, R. J. (1984) ''Elm'', Cambridge University Press.) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the lowlands of Ce ...
,
Tarbet,
Arrochar and
Glen Croe
Glen Croe ( gd, Gleann a' Chrò) is a glen in the heart of the Arrochar Alps on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The glen is surrounded by large and rugged mountains characterised by huge boulders. The glen is within the L ...
were not then completed until 1749. A stone seat was erected at the summit of the pass at the head of Glen Croe bidding travellers to ''Rest and be thankful'', hence the modern name. Subsequent maintenance was undertaken by the
93rd Regiment, the Sutherland Highlanders until in 1814 the route was handed over to the civilian authorities.
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication ''Lyrical Ballads'' (1798).
Wordsworth's ' ...
was later to write of this road:
:Doubling and doubling with laborious walk,
:Who, that has gained at length the wished-for height,
:This brief simple way side call can slight,
:And rests not thankful?
The route of this military road is now broadly followed by the
A82 and
A83 roads, partly on the original line, partly parallel to it. Where the old military road runs parallel to the new road it is sometimes used as a diversion route.
Tarbet to Crianlarich
The military road between Tarbet and
Crianlarich
Crianlarich (; gd, A' Chrìon Làraich) is a village in Stirling council area and in the registration county of Perthshire, Scotland, around north-east of the head of Loch Lomond. The village bills itself as "the gateway to the Highlands".
E ...
was constructed between 1752 and 1754.
Its route is approximated by a section of the modern
A82 road
The A82 is a major road in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Inverness via Fort William, Highland, Fort William. It is one of the principal north-south routes in Scotland and is mostly a trunk road managed by Transport Scotland, who view it a ...
. A section which diverges more widely from the modern route at the Crianlarich end is now followed by the West Highland Way.
Fort Augustus to Bernera
![Bridge on the old military road in Ratagan Forest (geograph 2399400)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Bridge_on_the_old_military_road_in_Ratagan_Forest_%28geograph_2399400%29.jpg)
The
barracks at Bernera at
Glenelg on the mainland shore opposite
Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated b ...
were constructed in the early 1720s. Caulfeild engineered the road through the West Highlands from Fort Augustus to Bernera Barracks in 1755 but
Telford
Telford () is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, about east of Shrewsbury, south west of Stafford, north west of Wolverhampton and from Birmingham in the same direction. With an est ...
’s commissioners remade it in the 1820s. It initially headed west through Inchnacardoch Forest climbing to a height of over before dropping into
Glen Moriston
Glenmoriston or Glen Moriston ( gd, Gleann Moireasdan) is a river glen in the Scottish Highlands, that runs from Loch Ness, at the village of Invermoriston, westwards to Loch Cluanie, where it meets with Glen Shiel. The A887 and A87 roads pass thr ...
. It appears to have crossed the
River Moriston
The River Moriston ( gd, Abhainn Mhoireastain) is a river in Inverness-shire, Scotland. It flows broadly east-north-east from the outfall of the dam at Loch Cluanie to Loch Ness. Its waters and those of its tributaries have been harnessed to gen ...
somewhere near the confluence of the River Doe with the Moriston, and then taken a route somewhat to the north of the present day
A887 road and
A87 road
A87 or A-87 may refer to:
* A87 autoroute, a motorway in western France
* A87 road, a road in Highland, Scotland
* Dutch Defence, in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, first cited in 1789
* Stuart Highway, a South Australian highway signed as A87 ...
north of
Loch Cluanie
Loch Cluanie (Scottish Gaelic: ''Loch Cluanaidh'') is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland at the south-east end of Glen Shiel. It is a reservoir, contained behind the Cluanie Dam, constructed by Mitchell Construction and completed in 19 ...
. The road descended
Glen Shiel
Glen Shiel ( gd, Gleann Seile; also known as Glenshiel) is a glen in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland.
The glen runs approximately 9 miles from south-east to north-west, from the Cluanie Inn (216 metres, 708 feet) at the western end of Loc ...
to
Ratagan
Ratagan (Ràtagan in Scottish Gaelic) is a small hamlet on the southwestern shore of the sea loch, Loch Duich in Lochalsh, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.
The Ratagan Youth Hostel is located along Loch Duich. ...
before rising over the Bealach Ratagain (Ratagan Pass) and into Glen More and thence to the barracks at its western, seaward end.
Blairgowrie to Inverness
![The old military road (geograph 1811618)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/The_old_military_road_%28geograph_1811618%29.jpg)
In connection with the construction of the new Fort George at
Ardersier
Ardersier ( gd, Àird nan Saor) is a small former fishing village in the Scottish Highlands on the Moray Firth near Fort George, between Inverness and Nairn. Its name may be an anglicisation of the Gaelic "Àird nan Saor", or "Headland of th ...
Point to the east of Inverness, Caulfeild was instructed to investigate a further, more easterly route between Inverness and Perth. A line from
Blairgowrie to
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an elevation of .
The Gaelic ''Bràigh Mhàrr'' prop ...
by way of
Spittal of Glenshee
The Spittal of Glenshee ( gd, Spideal Ghlinn Sìdh, ) lies at the head of Glenshee in the highlands of eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland, where the confluence of many small streams flowing south out of the Grampians form the Shee Water. For ...
was surveyed in 1748 and construction began in 1749. The continuation northwards via
Corgarff, Grantown-on-Spey to Inverness did not begin until 1753. It would be the last of the major military roads to be built.
From
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an elevation of .
The Gaelic ''Bràigh Mhàrr'' prop ...
a road was constructed eastwards down the
Dee valley, crossing the river at Invercauld Bridge and continuing to the north bank to a point opposite
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle () is a large estate house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and a residence of the British royal family. It is near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and west of Aberdeen.
The estate and its original castle were bought ...
. This section is followed by a part of the modern
A93 road
The A93 is a major road in Scotland and the highest public road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from Perth through Blairgowrie and Rattray, then through the Grampian Mountains by way of Glenshee, the Cairnwell Pass and Glen Clunie to Brae ...
. It then ran northeastwards from the vicinity of
Crathie
Crathie ( gd, Craichidh) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It stands on the north bank of the River Dee.
Abergeldie Castle is away. It was built around 1550 and had 19th century additions. It was garrisoned by General Hugh Mackay in ...
on a line now followed, except in its southernmost part, by the
B976 road. The road bridged the
River Gairn at Gairnshiel and continued northwards over a high pass to
Corgarff Castle
Corgarff Castle is located slightly west of the village of Corgarff, in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. It stands by the Lecht road, which crosses the pass between Strathdon and Tomintoul.
Life
The castle was built around 1530 by the Elp ...
in the upper part of the
Don
Don, don or DON and variants may refer to:
Places
*County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON
*Don (river), a river in European Russia
*Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name
*Don, Benin, a town in Benin
*Don, Dang, a vill ...
valley. The castle resulted from the government purchase in 1746 and subsequent fortification of one of the earl of Mar's hunting lodges. It was part of an attempt to reduce the incidence of cattle-rustling in the area.
![Dulsie Bridge (geograph 4115051)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Dulsie_Bridge_%28geograph_4115051%29.jpg)
The road ran northwest over the
Lecht
The Lecht Ski Centre is an alpine ski area in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands. The ski slopes are set around the mountains Beinn a' Chruinnich, 2,552 ft (778 m) and Meikle Corr Riabhach, 2556 ft (779 m).
The Lecht is the smal ...
pass on an alignment largely followed by the modern
A939 road
The A939 'Lecht Road' connects the A96 at Nairn on the Moray Coast with the A95 Grantown on Spey, then it continues to the A93 at Ballater by way of the Grampian Mountains, passing Tomintoul and the Lecht Ski Centre.
This road passes over f ...
to the village of
Tomintoul
Tomintoul (; from gd, Tom an t-Sabhail, meaning "Hillock of the Barn") is a village in the Moray council area of Scotland in the historic county of Banffshire.
Within Cairngorms National Park, the village lies close to the banks of the River ...
. From Tomintoul the road was constructed westwards to
Grantown-on-Spey
Grantown-on-Spey ( gd, Baile nan Granndach) is a town in the Highland Council Area, historically within the county of Moray. It is located on a low plateau at Freuchie beside the river Spey at the northern edge of the Cairngorm mountains, about ...
and involved the bridging of two significant watercourses at
Bridge of Avon
The Bridge of Avon is a bridge over the River Avon at Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland, built between 1800 and 1801 by George Burn. The bridge is mainly rubble-built, with an abutment on the south bank, and a pier with a cutwater on the north ...
and Bridge of Brown.
Beyond Grantown-on-Spey the road ran north and west, crossing the powerful
River Findhorn
The River Findhorn (Scottish Gaelic: Uisge Fionn Èireann) is one of the longest rivers in Scotland. Located in the north east, it flows into the Moray Firth on the north coast. It has one of the largest non-firth estuaries in Scotland.
The riv ...
at Dulsie Bridge and continuing northwestwards to cross the
River Nairn
The River Nairn ( gd, Narann / Abhainn Narann) is a 35 mile long river in the Scottish Highlands.
Etymology
The hydronym ''Nairn'' is Pictish in origin. The name may involve ''*Naverna'', of which the ultimate genesis is the Celtic root ''*(s ...
west of
Cawdor
Cawdor ( gd, Caladair) is a village and parish in the Highland council area, Scotland. The village is south-southwest of Nairn and east of Inverness. The village is in the Historic County of Nairnshire.
History
The village is the location of ...
. Only short sections of this are in use as modern roads. The final section ran on a straight alignment followed by the modern B9090 and B9006 roads to Ardersier and Fort George.
Roads in northeast Scotland
![Bridge of Dye, beside the B974 (geograph 6132325)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Bridge_of_Dye%2C_beside_the_B974_%28geograph_6132325%29.jpg)
Roads in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire long predated the military but from about 1752 troops under Caulfeild were involved in improvements at least partially at military expense to about of road. A major route was from
Fettercairn
Fettercairn (, gd, Fothair Chàrdain) is a small village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, northwest of Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire on the B966 from Edzell. Fettercairn is also reached via the Cairn O' Mount road (B974) from Deeside.
The name ...
over
Cairn o' Mount
Cairn O' Mounth/Cairn O' Mount ( gd, Càrn Mhon) is a high mountain pass in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The place name is a survival of the ancient name for what are now the Grampian Mountains, earlier called "the Mounth" (in Gaelic: "monadh", mea ...
and via
Alford,
Keith
Keith may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters
* Keith (surname)
* Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949)
* Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons ...
and
Huntly
Huntly ( gd, Srath Bhalgaidh or ''Hunndaidh'') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, formerly known as Milton of Strathbogie or simply Strathbogie. It had a population of 4,460 in 2004 and is the site of Huntly Castle. Its neighbouring settlement ...
to
Fochabers
Fochabers (; gd, Fachabair or Fothabair) is a village in the Parish of Bellie, in Moray, Scotland, east of the cathedral city of Elgin and located on the east bank of the River Spey. 1,728 people live in the village, which enjoys a rich mus ...
. The military improved and maintained this road from about 1761 to 1784 but at
Potarch
Potarch ( ) is a Hamlet (place), hamlet in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with a bridge across the River Dee, Aberdeenshire, River Dee.
It is a popular location with tourists and day-trippers, and has a hotel.
The Dinnie Stones are kept at the Potarch ...
the
River Dee always had to be crossed by ferry. Other routes went from
Stonehaven
Stonehaven ( , ) is a town in Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 11,602 at the 2011 Census.
After the demise of the town of Kincardine, which was gradually abandoned after the destruction of its royal cast ...
via
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
and
Kintore to Fochabers and
Portsoy
Portsoy ( gd, Port Saoidh) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Historically, Portsoy was in Banffshire. The original name may come from ''Port Saoithe'', meaning "saithe harbour". Portsoy is located on the Moray Firth coast of northeast Scotlan ...
; also from Portsoy to
Huntly
Huntly ( gd, Srath Bhalgaidh or ''Hunndaidh'') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, formerly known as Milton of Strathbogie or simply Strathbogie. It had a population of 4,460 in 2004 and is the site of Huntly Castle. Its neighbouring settlement ...
; from
Corgarff Castle
Corgarff Castle is located slightly west of the village of Corgarff, in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. It stands by the Lecht road, which crosses the pass between Strathdon and Tomintoul.
Life
The castle was built around 1530 by the Elp ...
to Aberdeen by the
River Don.Stretches of the road along the River Dee were also maintained.
Bridge of Sark to Portpatrick
![Old Military Road near Anwoth (geograph 4471561)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Old_Military_Road_near_Anwoth_%28geograph_4471561%29.jpg)
Caulfeild also constructed a military road from Bridge of Sark, near
Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway
Gretna ( gd, Greatna) is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, originally part of the historic county of Dumfriesshire. It is located close to the A74(M) on the border of Scotland and England and near the mouth of the River Esk.1:50,000 ...
, west to
Port Patrick on the east coast of the
North Channel North Channel may refer to:
*North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)
The North Channel (known in Irish and Scottish Gaelic as , in Scots as the ) is the strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland. It begins no ...
in Galloway. The road passed through or by
Dumfries
Dumfries ( ; sco, Dumfries; from gd, Dùn Phris ) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth about by road from the ...
,
Haugh of Urr
Haugh of Urr (), is a village in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is approximately NNW of Dalbeattie, NE of Castle Douglas, west of Dumfries and east of Kirkcudbright.
Description
The vil ...
,
Castle Douglas
Castle Douglas ( gd, Caisteal Dhùghlais) is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It lies in the lieutenancy area of Kirkcudbrightshire, in the eastern part of Galloway, between the towns of Dalbeattie and Gatehouse of Fleet. It is in the ...
,
Bridge of Dee
The Bridge of Dee or Brig o Dee ( gd, Drochaid Dhè) is a road bridge over the River Dee in Aberdeen, Scotland. The term is also used for the surrounding area of the city. Dating from 1527,Richards, J.M., ''The National Trust Book of Bridges ...
,
Gatehouse of Fleet
Gatehouse of Fleet ( sco, Gatehoose o Fleet gd, Taigh an Rathaid) is a town half in the civil parish of Girthon and half in the parish of Anwoth divided by the river Water of Fleet, Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, within the district council region o ...
,
Creetown
Creetown (, sometimes ) is a small seaside town in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in Galloway in the Dumfries and Galloway council area in south-west Scotland. Its population is about 750 people. It is situated near the head of Wigtown Bay, we ...
,
Newton Stewart
Newton Stewart ( Gd: ''Baile Ùr nan Stiùbhartach'') is a former burgh town in the historical county of Wigtownshire in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland.
The town is on the River Cree with most of the town to the west of the river, and ...
,
Glenluce
Glenluce ( gd, Clachan Ghlinn Lus) is a small village in the parish of Old Luce in Wigtownshire, Scotland.
It contains a village shop,a caravan park and a town hall, as well as the parish church.
Location
Glenluce on the A75 road between Stranr ...
and
Stranraer
Stranraer ( , in Scotland also ; gd, An t-Sròn Reamhar ), also known as The Toon, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Inch in the historic county of Wigtownshire. It lies on the shores of L ...
. It was constructed in the 1760s to assist in the movement of troops to Ireland, making use of sections of existing road. Much of its now lies under the modern
A75 road
The A75 is a primary trunk road in Scotland, linking Stranraer and its ferry ports at Cairnryan with the A74(M) at Gretna, close to the border with England and the M6 motorway.
Route
Heading west along the south coast of Scotland from its ju ...
though other sections are now minor roads or tracks and some sections are entirely lost.
Subsequent history
The highland road building programme ceased with Caulfeild's death in 1767 with some having been constructed. Wade was responsible for , Caulfeild for the remaining .
As the Jacobite threat receded towards the end of the 18th century so the need for upkeep of the roads for military purposes diminished. Some sections were abandoned entirely where they served little commercial use; travellers, for example, avoided the steeper sections which proved unsuitable for coaches.
By 1790 only remained usable. In 1803 the
Commissioners of Highland Roads and Bridges
The Commissioners of Highland Roads and Bridges (formally the Commissioners for Roads and Bridges in the Highlands of Scotland) was created in 1803 to take responsibility for the construction and maintenance of the long-distance roads in the Scotti ...
were established; it was they who assumed the responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the roads after the military relinquished its role.
The military road between Grantown and Fort George was not one of those whose subsequent repair fell to the commissioners. Rather it was patched in a haphazard way by various landowners and authorities. As the original bridges on this route were washed away by winter floods so a variety of new ones were constructed.
The civilian road network was improved through the nineteenth century by
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE, (9 August 1757 – 2 September 1834) was a Scottish civil engineer. After establishing himself as an engineer of road and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scotla ...
and others with many sections of Wade’s and Caulfeild’s roads being incorporated into it, though many more sections proved to be irrelevant to the needs of the wider population and fell into disuse. Miles of former road can now be traced stretching across country, either completely abandoned or serving as estate tracks or paths for walks and mountain bikers. In recent years some have been co-opted to form parts of both
long-distance path
A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents excep ...
s such as the
West Highland Way
The West Highland Way ( gd, Slighe na Gàidhealtachd an Iar) is a linear long-distance route in Scotland. It is long, running from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, with an element of hill walking in the r ...
or as parts of the growing
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network (NCN) is the national cycling route network of the United Kingdom, which was established to encourage cycling and walking throughout Britain, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring. It was created by the cha ...
. A number of sections of the military roads are protected as
scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
s for their archaeological value, including at the Corrieyairack Pass, and part of the Fort Augustus to Bernera road.
The Dunkeld to Inverness road gives its name to Neil Munro's novel ''
The New Road
''The New Road'' is a historical novel by the Scottish writer Neil Munro, which was adapted as a television serial by the BBC. Munro is now mainly remembered as the creator of the comic character Para Handy, but this is regarded as the best of ...
''.
References
Bibliography
*
External links
Pathfinder Pack on General Wade's Military Roads and Forts Resources for Learning in Scotland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Old Military Roads Of Scotland
Transport infrastructure completed in the 1760s
18th-century history of the British Army
Military history of Scotland
Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Roads in Scotland
Scheduled monuments in Scotland
Historic trails and roads in the United Kingdom
Military roads
18th century in Scotland
Jacobite rising of 1745
Military logistics of the United Kingdom