Trinafour Bridge

The bridge is an early 18th century single arched military bridge crossing the Errochty Water. No longer in use as a road bridge but open to pedestrians and cyclists, the bridge is located immediately west of the B847 road within the small settlement of Trinafour. It is constructed of stone with roughly worked voussoirs forming the arch of the bridge, which is slightly pointed. The carriageway is now grass covered with low parapets surviving on either side of the carriageway. The underside of the bridge displays a joint running the length of the bridge, evidence for an historical widening of the structure. The bridge has a rubble masonry buttress on its east side and both ends of the carriageway are splayed, with granite boulders acting as finials on the parapets.

Historical Development

There was an estimated total of 1700km of military road built in Scotland (approximately 400km by General Wade and 1300km by Major Caulfeild) between the early 1720s and the late 1750s.

The first programmes of work started in 1725 Under Wade's command, Repairs were made to various fortifications including Edinburgh Castle and at Fort William and new forts were built at Inverness (Fort George) and Killihuimen (Fort Augustus). Road communications and connections were improved between the garrisons at Fort William, Fort Augustus and Fort George. The roads programme then focused on expanding the network between Dunkeld and Inverness (later known as 'The Great North Road') with branches connecting Crieff to the Great North Road at Dalnacardoch (later known as 'The Second Great North Road') and Fort Augustus to the Great North Road at Dalwhinnie. The second major programme of works was overseen by Wade's successor, Major William Caulfeild, with branches constructed, from 1741 onwards, between: Crieff and Stirling, an incomplete build between Dumbarton and Inverary, Stirling to Fort William, Coupar Angus to Fort George, and Amulree to Dunkeld.

This bridge relates to the Aberfeldy to Dalnacardoch section of road. It was likely constructed between 1725 and 1740. The bridge appears to have been altered with a widening of the entire structure, to the west, and the addition of parapets on both sides. It is likely to have ceased to have been used as a road bridge when the more recent bridge on the B847 was constructed to the east of Trinafour.