EHG3549 - Measured survey, Allt Ratagan Bridge

A detailed measured survey was undertaken of Allt Ratagan Bridge (NG 916 194), an unusual early 19th century high-arched road bridge situated on the N-facing slopes of Sgurr Mhic Bharraich above Loch Duich in Glen Shiel. The bridge survives as a coursed faced rubble bridge with single short span segmental arch springing from massive rubble abutments that rise from the steep sides of the gorge. It has been bypassed by the modern road and has seen some consolidation in the past. The bridge now stands unused - but is a significant designated historic asset on the national forest estate ('B' Listed structure number 7221). Recent conservation management (vegetation clearance and scrub / sapling removal) has opened up the site to view and has enabled this survey. The survey aimed to provide a baseline record of the surviving structural features and inform both general conservation management and any required consolidation works. The survey was undertaken by the author on the 30th May 2011 using a dumpy level and the tape-and-offset method. <1>