Clunes Wood

The bridge is an early 18th century single arched military bridge with a level carriageway crossing the Allt a' Chrombaidh burn. It is located to the north-east of the A9 and is now only in pedestrian use. The bridge is rubble built without parapets and is sprung from rubble masonry abutments on bedrock on either side of the burn.

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 Dunkeld to Dalnacardoch road. It was constructed between 1728 and 1730. A small cairn with plaque to the west of the bridge commemorates conservation work, undertaken by The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland in 1985. These works included some reconstruction and the repointing of the original masonry.