A stone seat. A simple inscription. Rest And Be Thankful. These words etched in stone mark a spot on the A83 road. This spot holds centuries of history. It’s more than just a rest stop. It’s a testament to human endeavor and the enduring power of nature.
The Rest And Be Thankful is a high mountain pass in Scotland. This pass is part of a military road. It links Loch Long to Loch Awe. Generations of travellers have used this route. Drovers herded cattle along the original track. The road as we know it only appeared in the 18th century. The Jacobite uprisings spurred the construction of military roads. General George Wade’s report led to significant road building. The Rest And Be Thankful became part of a 44-mile road. This road went from Dumbarton to Inveraray. Major Caulfield oversaw much of the work. The 1745 uprising interrupted progress.
The road wasn’t just for military purposes. It also served the Duke of Argyll. His castle was nearby. The road provided convenient access to the Lowlands. Soldiers from the 24th Regiment finished the Rest And Be Thankful section. They erected the original stone seat. The inscription Rest And Be Thankful marked the spot. This is where weary travellers could pause.
Later the 93rd Regiment repaired the road. Their work is recorded on a commemorative slab. The road’s upkeep changed hands in 1814. The Commissioners of Highland Roads and Bridges took over. Many travellers recorded their journeys. Thomas Pennant mentioned the pass. Samuel Johnson and James Boswell also travelled through. They wrote about the Rest And Be Thankful. Faujas de St Fond described a bleak and dreary landscape. Sarah Murray wrote about a formidable and gloomy pass. Her strong roomy carriage needed half a dozen towels a blanket a quilt and pillows for this journey. The Wordsworths travelled in a one-horse jaunting car. Dorothy Wordsworth wrote about the beauty of the area after a storm. She noted a solitary cottage. Later William Wordsworth wrote a sonnet about the Rest And Be Thankful. John Keats and Charles Brown mistakenly thought it was an inn.
The Rest And Be Thankful was a popular test for early automobiles. Neil Munro described the thrilling climb in 1906. The road required improvements over the years. A major reconstruction project took place in the 1930s. The new road was more manageable for cars and lorries. The old road remains visible. It shows the challenge it presented. Lord Cockburn described the rise from Cairndow to the Rest And Be Thankful as magnificent. William Edgar surveyed the road in 1743. He was an Edinburgh burgess. He created many maps of Scotland. His work included a map of the Rest And Be Thankful.
So stand here. Feel the weight of history. See the stunning views. This is more than just a road. It is a journey through time. A story of perseverance. A place to rest and be thankful.