The Military Roads of the Highlands of Scotland

Following the first Jacobite uprising of 1715, and before the second in 1745, King George I sought to ensure his army could be rapidly deployed across the Highlands in times of unrest. King George sent General Wade North to assess the situation in the Highlands and quell rebellion. Wade recommended that the government should build barracks, bridges and roads to control the Highlands. As a result, the area witnessed a massive military construction programme.

As well as Fort George near Ardersier, which is still in use today, other new fortifications built under the command of General Wade included Fort Augustus and Fort William and new barracks at Ruthven near Kingussie and Bernera by Glenelg.

Even more impressive was Wade’s network of military roads. The first began in 1727 and connected the three Great Glen forts, while the second from Dunkeld to Inverness begun in 1728 and still provides much of the route for the modern A9. Arguably, Wade’s greatest achievement, however, was a road connecting Fort Augustus and Dalwhinnie over the Monadhliath Mountains via the Corrieyairack Pass. Although this route never developed into a modern highway, it does provide a superb long-distance walking or biking route that climbs to over 770m through some remote, beautiful and wild country.

Follow in Wade’s footsteps through the Corrieyairick Pass, best approached in Summer.