Old Blair Military Road Show path on map
Start location: B8079, Woodend ( NN 847 659 )
End location: B8079, Ballentoul ( NN 884 650 )
Geographical area: Perth, Kinross and Stirling (part)
Path type: Military Road
Path distance: 4.8km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
This old road seems to have been very accessible in the 1970s, but unfortunately we have no survey more recent.
The Wade Road leaves the B8079 just west of Kingisland, turning more northerly and passing Kilmaveonaig before turning again to head straight for the Old Bridge of Tilt. West of the bridge it follows an unclassified road for a bit before forking left along an estate road to pass St Bride's Church and then turn more southerly after Diana's Grove before going through a plantation and joining the B8079 before Woodend. Any recent surveys would be very welcome.
OS Landranger 43 (Braemar & Blair Atholl)
Heritage Information
This is a small section of the military road built between 1728 and 1730 under the orders of General Wade to link Dunkeld and Inverness. 102 miles long, this road was seen as critically important as there was a good quality road to Inver, near Dunkeld, but little going north from there. This road then would have become an artery for soldiers patrolling the highlands. Further sections of this lengthy Military Road which are described on this website are the stretch south-west of Ruthven Barracks, that via the Slochd and the Old Edinburgh Road from Moy to Inverness.
Both Kilmaveonaig and St Bride's Church, which the road passes, were built in the 16th century although Kilmaveonaig was rebuilt in 1794. It is interesting to think that towards the end of the 18th century travellers would have passed quite an old church and a very new one as they both look very old now.
The lower part of the bridge of the Banvie Burn is thought to be part of the military road.
It's also interesting that the road is very straight east of the Old Bridge of Tilt and more winding afterwards. This seems to back up the argument that Wade often used already existing estate roads as a starting point. There is an irony here as quite often it is only the continued use by estates that has kept the roads in good condition.
