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The Military Survey was initially restricted to the
Highlands (with the exception of the islands) but was
later extended to include the Lowlands. The survey had
almost been completed when it was curtailed, the personnel
being needed elsewhere (see NLS
for more details).
This resulted in a number of areas being incompletely
mapped, including the roads.
An attempt has been made below to identify the missing
roads, firstly by noting if there are any gaps on a
road named on a map e.g. "Road from Kelso to Berwick"
where there is a missing stretch just east of Berwick
and secondly by noting roads that terminate at the edge
of a sheet even if they are not a named road. There
are in addition a number of other roads that seem to
end for no reason when there is a strong suspicion that
they must have continued, particularly when near a settlement.
However these roads are not dealt with here.
Unfortunately an element of uncertainty comes in when
trying to determine the course of the missing sections
as very few maps from before this survey show roads.
However, there is at least a fair certainty that maps
of a slightly later period will show their course especially
if it is the same road.
The Roads
Road from Morpeth to Kelso
This runs into Town Yetholm. From there a route is shown
heading in the direction of Sprouston, 2 miles to the
east of Kelso where there seems to have been a ferry
(see Boat house) but it stops short of there at a sheet
edge. It is not clear from the map if the named road
used this ferry or ran more directly to Kelso.
Road from Kelso to Wooler
Although the stretch from Wooler is shown it also terminates
at a sheet edge near to Sprouston.
Road from Kelso to Berwick
This terminates about 3 miles short of Berwick at the
Whiteadder Water. A short stertch of road is shown leaving
Berwick in this direction.
Road to Dunbar (from Haddington)
This is shown running from Haddington to just south
of Trapain Law where it terminates.
Muir Road from Lauder to Dunbar
This terminates about two miles east of Garvald leaving
the rest of the course to Dunbar uncertain.
Unnamed road from Wedderlie (NT6451)
Although heading for Longformacus it ends at the edge
of a sheet about two miles west of town.
Road to Eccles and Coldstream
This road running from near Stichill north of Kelso
terminates near a sheet edge about two miles short of
Eccles. There are several unnamed roads north of this
road which also terminate at the sheet edge suggesting
the area around Greenlaw was incompletely mapped.
Road from Hawick to Jedburgh
Ends at a sheet edge about two miles east of Hawick
Road to Jedburgh (following River Liddel)
Ends at a sheet edge to the north (NY5799). At the south
end it is not continued beyond Kershopefoot about 3
miles south of Newcastleton.
Two unnamed roads
These roads to the SW of Selkirk end at a sheet border
Road from Douglas to Biggar
This road running just north of Tinto terminates at
a sheet edge about two miles east of Douglas Water.
A road is shown running through Douglas Water to Douglas.
Road from Fintry to Stirling
The route is shown from Stirling to a point about 4
miles east of Fintry
Road to Sanquhar (from Wanlockhead)
Only a very short stretch of this named road is shown
heading south from Wanlockhead. It presumably followed
the Water of Mennock like the present day road.
Road from Mauchline and Galston to Glasgow
This road ends at a sheet edge about a mile south of
Waterside and three miles south of the main Glasgow
road.
Unnamed road east of Ayr
A short stretch of road about two miles to the east
of Ayr town centre is shown ending at a sheet edge (NS3620)
rather than running to join the present A70 line.
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