The Gowk Inn on the Old Military Road

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 22 Mar 2012

The Gowk Inn is on the left. By the end of the nineteenth century, it was offering food and non-alcoholic refreshments, but, earlier in that century, it had been a public house (the first-edition OS map, surveyed in 1860, marks it "P.H."). In that role, it appears to have been popular with the local lairds [see the comments on pages 181-182 of Donald MacLeod's book "Historic Families, Notable People, and Memorabilia of the Lennox" (1891)]. As for the road (the A811), it follows the line of the Old Military Road, as indicated on the 1:25000 map. Most of those who are aware of the network of old military roads in Scotland would probably associate it with the name Wade (General George Wade). However, in 1732, Wade appointed Major William Caulfeild to the position of Inspector of Roads in Scotland; Caulfeild would be responsible for building about three times as many miles of road as Wade. The Dumbarton to Stirling route, though, is an example of a post-Caulfeild road. It dates from about 1770-80, and local opinion, which is probably correct in this case, is that the work being carried out during this period was realignment of an earlier road to follow the route of the present-day A811 [Reference: William Taylor, "The Military Roads in Scotland" (1996)]. The military road is this area is also mentioned in David Ure's book "General view of the agriculture in the country of Dumbarton ..." (1794). A map at the start of the book shows a road leading from Dumbarton, passing near Balloch and through Kilmaronock. On pages 11-12, Ure says of the roads in that county that "Government, immediately after the rebellion in the year 1745, opened some great roads in this part of the Highlands. They were made by the troops at the public expense; and are known by the name of military roads. They were the first well made highways in the county. One of them goes from Dumbarton through the parishes of Bonhill, and Kilmaronack, the extent of eleven miles ... [discussion of two other roads omitted] ... The first of these roads was, till of late, upheld by Government; but is now given up. An application is about to be laid before Parliament for leave to erect turnpikes upon it, to keep it in repair".

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