I’m going up to the pass tomorrow (near Laggan). It is the only greenlane in Scotland. Anyway if anyone wants to tag along I have a couple of free seats in the Jeep (Syncros broken just now 
) give me a call 07989 163 138. We’ll be leaving at midday and will be back in the evening.
Went up just after lunch today and had a brilliant day/evening. Took the Jeep up and wished I had the Syncro every bit of the way over General Wades road. The Jeep is a beast with a stonking V8 and plenty of grunt but the ground clearance is limited and it has 2 bloody great diffs in the way. This inhibits progress somewhat over the rocky surface of the road. The Jeep also only has road tires which whilst great on road are rather poor off road. The Syncro of course has loads of clearance and no diffs hanging down just asking to be destroyed on a boulder.
General Wade’s military road between Fort Augustus and Laggan was built to connect two garrisons and prevent a lengthy walk around the mountains. It was started and completed by 500 soldiers in 1731, and for over one hundred years was the highest public road in Britain before it became declassified and maintenance stopped. It is not that long, about 24 miles and rises to 750 metres which makes it the highest road in Britain.
We managed a rather disappointing 4 miles before we were haltered by a a large section of missing road where the winter weather had taken it’s toll and washed it away. I wanted to make it up to the Baileys bridge which is a way further up the road but this was not to be. I climbed up a nearby hill to recky the situation but found that even if I had managed to get past this obstacle I would have got stuck further up the pass where I could see other areas of slippage.
The 4 miles I did traverse were good however and challenging because I have never attempted stoney ground before. It required more thought because you have to plan your path much more carefully if you want to avoid breaking something.
After the pass we headed back down the A9 then across to Aberfeldy, up Glen Lyon and over a Water Board road through another glen back to Killin. I am glad I went this way as I managed to ID two very good wild camping sites. One big enough for quite a few campers on the bank of a wee loch.
Ended up back at the house after 11pm. Great afternoon.
slobbo - 2007-05-13 12:35 AM
I managed to ID two very good wild camping sites. One big enough for quite a few campers on the bank of a wee loch.
This is the stuff we like! 
Sounds like a good all round trip tho Rob…