Old Tummel Bridge, River Tummel, Tummel Bridge

The bridge is an early 18th century double arched hump-backed military bridge crossing the River Tummel. It is located immediately to the south-east of the modern road bridge and is now only in pedestrian use. It is rubble built and with later cement render parapets surviving on either side of the carriageway. The main arch bridges the tummel with a smaller relief arch to the north. The bridge is sprung from rubble masonry abutments on bedrock on either side of the river. Two worn milestones are located at the north end of the bridge against the west parapet wall.

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 Crieff to Dalnacardoch road. It was constructed in between 1730 and 1734. A brass plaque on the bridge is dated 1730 and the Ordnance Survey recorded in 1974 that there was an inscription reading "1733 Renv. 1973". The bridge appears relatively unaltered; conservation works were carried out in 2011 and it is likely that the inscription noted by the Ordnance Survey relates to works in the early 1970s. It ceased to have been used as road bridge when the current bridge carrying the B846 was built.