The Jacobite uprising of 1715, which began in the Highlands, was an attempt to restore the Stuart dynasty to the British throne, then occupied by King George I.
After the rebellion’s suppression, and to help subdue the Highlands, the army’s General George Wade built a road system to link his garrisons. It would allow swift deployment of troops in case of trouble. One road linked the Lowlands to Fort William in the Highlands and long sections of it have been preserved, largely because they were paved with granite.
Walking it, you can step into history through some of Scotland’s finest mountain scenery. The most imposing section starts at the Inveroran Hotel near Bridge of Orchy and heads across the wild landscape on the fringes of Rannoch Moor to Glencoe. It climbs over the mountains to the north, zigzagging to a summit at 1,400 feet. It is easy to see why it’s known as the Devil’s Staircase.
Useful Information
Find out more
Much of the route follows the West Highland Way
west-highland-way.co.uk