Monument record MHG34951 - FORT AUGUSTUS - BERNERA MILITARY ROAD

Created automatically by NMRS Register Utility
User: Admin, Date: Wed 13 Oct 2004
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NH21SW 6.00 2499 1147 to 2000 1128. MR 12 (formerly Lin 510).

NH21SW 6.01 2274 1067 Bridge.
NH21SW 6.02 c.2433 1139 Inn.
NH21SW 6.03 2203 1139 Culvert.
NH21SW 6.04 2133 1155 Culvert.
NH21SW 6.05 2193 1155 Ford.
NH21SW 6.06 2184 1160 Ford.

The military road continues W on the line now taken by the A887, crossing the River Moriston by the Ceannacroc Bridge (NH21SW 6.01) at NH 2274 1067. Thereafter, it probably took a course through the Coille Ghormaig. The line can be traced with some difficulty from a point just N of Ceannacroc Lodge, heading W as a track. Although there is now no trace of it, the inn at Aonach must have been quite close to the Ceannacroc Bridge, as Samuel Johnson stated that it was 9 miles from Fort Augustus.
W Taylor 1976.

The road is mainly overlaid by modern tarmac roads as far as Ceannacroc Bridge (NH21SW 6.01) at NH 2274 1067, apart from a stretch at NH 243 113. Heading W from the double-arched Ceannacroc Bridge the road is a roughly-engineered hill track, which judging from its present condition must have always been extremely hazardous to wheeled traffic.
Visited by OS (JB) 30 April 1979.

NH 2499 1147 to NH 2472 1150 superceded tarmac road on line of military road.
NH 2461 1148 to NH 2359 1121 possible deviation between modern road and military road. (Aerial photographs. RAF. CPE Scot. UK 295 frame nos. 3404-6: 18 September 1947). Disused turf- and heather-covered track, 5m average width, on line of military road.
NH 2433 1139 approximate site of Aonach or Unach Inn (NH21SW 6.02), built in 1770 and used by Samuel Johnson in 1773. Taylor, 87, 164. Lizar?s map 1845.
NH 2355 1120 to NH 2275 1075 modern road or, where surviving, superseded tarmac road on line of military road.
NH 2274 1067 double-arched military bridge (NH21SW 6.01).
NH 2275 1075 to NH 2260 1096 road now covered by recent levellimg.
NH 2260 1096 to NH 2000 1128 military road now a grass- and heather-covered track 5.3m average width with occasional stretches of revettment on lower side. Unsuitable for wheeled transport.
NH 2203 1139 probable military culvert 4.9m wide (NH21SW 6.03).
NH 2133 1155 probable military cuvvert 4.9m wide (NH21SW 6.04).
Visited by OS May 1964 and April 1979.

Initially the military road is overlain by the modern road, but from NH 2456 1142 ( a slightly different point from that recorded by the OS) to NH 2397 1131 the route runs above the A87 for a stretch. It then crosses the modern road and for a short while runs alongside the river and through a conifer plantation before rejoining the line now taken by the A87 at NH 2360 1123, close to Mackenzie?s Cairn. The section to the S of the modern road was not examined during this survey.
It is probable that the modern road now overlays the military route as far as NH 2275 1066. In this vicinity the military road probably traversed the River Moriston on the Ceannacroc Bridge (NH21SW 6.01) at NH 2274 1067. It is believed that the military line then continues across country, heading off to the NW at the weir. An intermittent track is faintly visible, but at a point W of Ceannacroc Lodge the military road becomes easier to follow. It takes the form of a rough stony track running for about 6.5km through rugged terrain. There is considerable damage from water erosion.
M Logie (Highland Council) 1997; NMRS MS 1007/6.