J. F. Campbell Collection > On the parallel roads of Lochaber

624 D. MILNE HOME OX THE PARALLEL ROADS OF LOCHABER.
I requested Sir Henky James to authorise his surveyors to mark on the
Ordnance INIa^is such of these lines as they could recognize as resembling the
Parallel Roads. Accordingly, I observe that in the last edition of the Glen
Spean six-inch scale map, one of these lines, 1306 feet above the sea, has been
represented on " Craig Dhu." It runs continuously for more than half a mile.
There is another on the east side of Glen Roy, opposite to the side valley
called the " Gap " and Ben Erin, at a height of above 1200 feet.
Chambers, in his book, specifies other lines at 1337 and 1495, which he says
" are so bold, that I cannot but wonder at their not hitherto having attracted
any special attention."
Mr Jolly, of Inverness, has within the last three years, not only verified
these observations of Chambers', but has discovered on Ben Chlinaig lines of a
similar character, exceeding 1700 feet above the sea.
The height of the shelf rei)resented by the Ordnance Surveyors, as occurring
on " Craig Dhu," at 1306 feet, does not agree with the heights given by Robert
Chambers or by Mr Jolly for any corresponding line on Ben Chlinaig. There-
fore, it cannot at present be assumed that these lines on the two sides of the
valley, where opposite to one another, correspond in level. Chambers' chief
reason for pronouncing them to be sea-beaches, has therefore not yet been
verified.
I may mention that there is also a line on Ben Erin (situated between Glen
Roy and Glen Gluoy), which my brother the Admiral, who accompanied ]\Ir
Jolly and me on a visit three years ago, was the first to notice. This I judged
to be al)out 1877 feet above the sea, Avhen viewing it as I did repeatedly from
Craig Dhu and Ben Cldinaig.
With regard to the character and origin of the lines on Ben Chlinaig, Craig
Dim, and Ben Plrin, now referred to, I am unable to give an opinion. They
may have been formed by the sea as Chambers sujiposed ; but, whether they
were beaches or submarine banks, is a question depending for its solution on
further investigation. I regret that more of these anomalous lines, if examined
by the Ordnance Surveyors, liave not been represented on their maps. Their
position on both sides of Glen Spean, and nearly opposite to one another,
gives to them peculiar interest in reference to the way in which they could be
formed, when the glen was a sea passage.
One thing seems tolerably certain, that these lines are quite different in
character from the " Pnnillcl Rofids." On that point Messrs Jamieson and
Jolly have expressed an opinion in wliich I (piite concur, though I do not
concur in considering tliem to be the moraines of glaciers.*
* Since this piqier was read, I have liail an opportunity of walking along the lino, shown on the
fi-inch Ordnance Map at a height of 1300 feet on ("raig Dhu. It e.xtends for about half a mile on the
jiart of the valley abiive AehleureULli and .Mullaj,'gan. It certainly has none of the characters of a