One of the many bridges built by General Wade in the early 1730s for his road linking Ruthven Barracks in the east to Fort Augustus at the south end of Loch Ness, across the remote Monadhliath mountains. In this case the River Spey has moved its course, l

Loch Spey from Melgarve 7.5 miles 15 08 2022

Today's trek on a warm sunny day involved reaching the upper section of the River Spey valley in search of its source, Loch Spey. Much of the route was along General Wade's road constructed in the 1730s to connect the barracks at Ruthven to Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness. He was clearly a bridge builder extraordinaire as the Double Garva Bridge shows, completed in 1732, which is s…  (read more)
One of the many bridges built by General Wade in the early 1730s for his road linking Ruthven Barracks in the east to Fort Augustus at the south end of Loch Ness, across the remote Monadhliath mountains. In this case the River Spey has moved its course, l

One of the many bridges built by General Wade in t…

14 Aug 2022 43
Will this 1730 bridge take my weight?

Will this 1730 bridge take my weight?

14 Aug 2022 45
Where has the River Spey gone since the bridge was built in the early 1730s?

Where has the River Spey gone since the bridge was…

14 Aug 2022 32
A small herd of Fallow Deer at Garvamore.

A small herd of Fallow Deer at Garvamore.

14 Aug 2022 31
Catching the photographer photographing the photographer!

Catching the photographer photographing the photog…

14 Aug 2022 37
The old farm at Garvamore

The old farm at Garvamore

14 Aug 2022 43
The Double Garva Bridge across the River Spey. Completed by Genreal Wade in 1732 it still carries traffic

The Double Garva Bridge across the River Spey. Com…

14 Aug 2022 43
It may still carry traffic but my walking buddy wasn't going to chance it and insisted on walking across!

It may still carry traffic but my walking buddy wa…

14 Aug 2022 30
View upstream from the Double Garva Bridge

View upstream from the Double Garva Bridge

14 Aug 2022 33
You have been warned!

You have been warned!

14 Aug 2022 35
The track along the upper reaches of the Spey valley through the Monadhliath mountains

The track along the upper reaches of the Spey vall…

14 Aug 2022 41
Yet another of General Wade's old bridges

Yet another of General Wade's old bridges

14 Aug 2022 51
Yet another of General Wade's old bridges with the Monadhliath mountains in the background

Yet another of General Wade's old bridges with the…

14 Aug 2022 33
Someone with a sense of humour in the old bothy at Melgarve

Someone with a sense of humour in the old bothy at…

14 Aug 2022 34
Field Marshal George Wade PC (1673 – 14 March 1748) was a British Army officer who served in the Nine Years' War, War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rising of 1715 and War of the Quadruple Alliance before leading the construction of barracks, bridges and proper roads in Scotland. He went on to be a military commander during the War of the Austrian Succession and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces during the Jacobite rising of 1745.
The old bothy at Melgarve

The old bothy at Melgarve

14 Aug 2022 47
The old farm at Melgarve

The old farm at Melgarve

14 Aug 2022 1 36
The upper reaches of the Spey and Loch Spey itself fall within the 114,000 acre Jahama Estate.

The upper reaches of the Spey and Loch Spey itself…

14 Aug 2022 30
The Spey by now barely a stream in its upper reaches

The Spey by now barely a stream in its upper reach…

14 Aug 2022 43
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