Soldier's Trenches

A series of remotely-located parallel lineaments on the Rannoch Moor, the Soldier's Trenches lie between the Abhainn Duibhe and the West Highland Railway line, 3¾ miles (6 km) south of Rannoch Station in the extreme northwest of Perth and Kinross. In 1763 an ambitious land reclamation project was begun by Ensign James Small, the government factor of the forfeited Rannoch Estate of the Robertsons of Struan. The aim was to drain part of the moor and provide agriculturally-productive land, but equally to occupy the time of troops billeted in the area to subdue the locals after the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Five trenches were excavated on the southeastern edge of the moor, but little came of the project. Although bisected by the railway line their remoteness has otherwise ensured their preservation and the trenches can still be seen today, filled with water and moss.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better