Monument record MHG35249 - FORT AUGUSTUS - BERNERA MILITARY ROAD

Created automatically by NMRS Register Utility
User: Admin, Date: Wed 13 Oct 2004
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NG91NW 10.00 from 9499 1789 to 9000 1975. MR 12 (formerly Lin 510).

NG91NW 10.01 9374 1869 Bridge.
NG91NW 10.02 9165 1940 Bridge.
NG91NW 10.03 9123 1966 Bridge.
NG91NW 10.04 9071 1978 Bridge.`

Initially the military road shares the route of the modern road, but from Shiel Bridge it heads W, climbing the hairpins of Mam Ratagan.
W Taylor 1976.

NG 9499 1789 to NG 9443 1815 modern road on line.
NG 9443 1815 to NG 9385 1866 disused grass track.
NG 9385 1866 to NG 9072 1988 modern road on line.
NG 9374 1869 disused bridge (NG91NW 10.01).
NG 9165 1940 high single span bridge (NG91NW 10.02), 3.6m wide.
NG 9071 1978 single span bridge (NG91NW 10.04), 3.6m wide.
NG 9072 1988 to NG 9043 1980 level track through forest.
NG 9043 1980 to NG 9000 1975 modern road on line.
NG 9027 1973 to NG 9000 1962 approximate course. No trace on ground, but course practical (alternative route to that of modern road in this section).
Visited by OS (NKB) 4 October 1966.

The military road appears to be mainly overlain by the A87 as far as Shiel Bridge. However, in the neighbourhood of NG 9421 1834 it appears to diverge from the modern line, taking a route which passes behind the school and linking with a tarmac road behind a garage. Throughout this area it takes the form of an overgrown grassy track, displaying no definite military characteristics and, particularly at the E end, being somewhat vague and eroded.
The military road then traverses a single span stone bridge (NG91NW 10.01) at NG 9374 1869 and links with the modern tarmac road to Glenelg. The modern road now mainly overlays the series of spectacular hairpin bends by which the eighteenth century route climbed Mam Ratagan. At two corners there still remain two early bridges (NG91NW 10.02 and NG91NW 10.03) at NG 9165 1940 and NG 9123 1966 which are now isolated due to having been superseded by the modern road.
The OS (NKB) noted on 4 October 1966 a short section of the military road deviating from the modern route between NG 9072 1988 and NG 9043 1980 and traversing a conifer plantation. This track was not discovered during the course of the survey, access to the area being rendered difficult due to fallen trees and overgrowth.
M Logie (Highland Council) 1997; NMRS MS 1007/6.