Appeals: The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

The bridge over the Allt Coire Uchdachan stream, in the Corrieyairack Pass from Laggan in the central Highlands to Fort Augustus on Loch Ness, photographed in the 1930s. The bridge is one of three built on the pass by General George Wade when the road was constructed as a military route in 1731, and is now shrouded in tarpaulin to prevent damage by the elements. The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) is appealing for pounds 7,000 towards the cost of repairs.

APRS was founded in 1926 and is Scotland's oldest national amenity body. It works to ensure that the Scottish countryside is not harmed by industrial or agricultural developments, and to maintain historic landscape features; it advises Scottish Natural Heritage, Crown Estate Commissioners, local councils and government departments.

The Historic Roads and Bridges Group of the association was set up in 1983 to encourage the preservation and repair of old routes throughout Scotland. After 1828 Wade's road between Dalwhinnie and Fort Augustus was largely superseded by the Laggan road, and has since been used for little but cattle droves. Two of the bridges in the Corrieyairack Pass have already been repaired. The full cost of repairs for the Uchdahan bridge will be around pounds 60,000, part of which will be provided by Historic Scotland, the government agency for historic structures in Scotland. APRS has already raised pounds 8,000.

For further information contact: The Director, Historic Roads and Bridges Group, Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, 483 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2NT, telephone 031-225 7012/3.

(Photograph omitted)