This Roman road runs between High Rochester and Bridge of Aln. It once connected the Roman forts of Bremenium and Alauna. Earthworks on the site of Branshaw deserted medieval village are part of the remains of the Roman road. (1-4)

Excavation in 2018 at two locations on Holystone Common by Holystone History and Archaeology Group. At Site 1 well-preserved remains of the Roman road surface some 0.10-15 m below the peaty ground surface wer revealed. The remains comprised a continuous spread of rounded and apparently-unworked sandstone blocks, or cobbles, ranging in diameter up to 0.40 m but mostly between 0.10 and 0.25 m max. diam., the upper surfaces of which were flat and reasonably smooth. The southern edge of the road at this point was defined by a distinctive kerb of larger stones, up to 0.49 m max. diam. The upper surfaces of which sat slightly proud of the rest of the road surface. The northern edge of the road was not so clearly marked, or distinctive, while its slightly ragged appearance suggested that part of its edging could have eroded. The width of the road between north and south edges at this point was 6.30 m. The road surface sloped with the prevailing natural topography from north to south and lacked a distinctive camber or any other distinctive features save for a central 'spine'.
Trench 7 targeted the site of the undocumented excavation conducted in the period 2003-2009. The road surface of unworked sandstone blocks was laid directly on the ground surface and formed a road surface 6.4m wide with a distinctive central spine. The road surfaces on either side of the spine were of differing character: the southern surface comprised large boulders or cobbles up to 0.61m diameter; the area to the north lacked a kerb and comprised smaller blocks, cobbles and angular fragments, averaging -.10-0.20m maximum diameter. Other trenches were excavated across the road in the vicninity, including trench 3 which examined the southern half of the road where a boulder or bedrock outcrop appeared to project from its southern edge; the road comprised a central spine that stood proud of the surrounding road surface and measured 7.6m wide, but an intended width of about 7m was thought more likely if the kerb was discounted. The bedrock outcrop appears to have been incorporated into the line of the road although it could not have formed part of the road surface. Excavations also revealed a stone bank supporting the downslope side of a terraced cutting for the road surface. (5)

Three trenches excavated north-east of Sharperton Edge in 2022 confirmed the presence of the Roman road. It lies along the north side of a modern trackway, as projected on the current Ordnance Survey map. It was found to survive reasonably well, though has clearly been disturbed and reduced in width by later use, landscaping and other earthworks. Sufficient remains, however, to indicate that it was built, at least in part, with a central spine, as on Holystone Common to the south-west, while the fragmentary presence of an upper, surface layer of small pebbles suggests that this form of surface may also have been present throughout its course. The possibility that the current ditch separating the modern track from the Roman agger may have originated as an upslope ditch to the Roman road now seems unlikely. (6)

Geophysical survey in 2022 at the supposed road junction with the Devil's Causeway (RR87) did locate potential remains of metalling of the Devil's Causeway, but not on the expected line. No trace of RR88 was found, and lidar analysis suggested that the previously mapped lines of both roads are inaccurate, the actual junction being 135m north of where it was thought to be. (7)

Additional reference. (8)

NY 8450 9858, The Roman road from Bremenium to the Devil's Causeway passes right across this km sq from W to E; its camber is clearly visible as an earthwork on lidar imagery.
NY 8550 9842. Visible as an earthwork on lidar imagery.
NY 85509842. The Roman road between Bremenium and the Devil's Causeway passes across this km sq from E to W; its camber is clearly visible as an earthwork on lidar imagery.
NY 86509863. The Roman road from Bremenium to the Devil's Causeway passes W-E across this km sq. Throughout this km sq it is clearly visible as an earthwork on lidar imagery, except in the E adjacent to the Stewartshiels Burn where it has disappeared, probably due to a combination of ploughing and natural erosion. There was presumably a ford or a bridge across the Stewartshiels Burn in Roman times.
NY 87059893. The Roman road between Bremenium and the Devil's Causeway clips the NW corner of this km sq, but there is no obvious sign of it on lidar imagery.
NY 87509930. A stretch of the Roman road between Bremenium and the Devil's Causeway is clearly visible here as an earthwork on lidar imagery.
NY 88309975. The Roman road between Bremenium and the Devil's Causeway shows up clearly here as an earthwork on lidar imagery. It passes eastwards from Branshaw into an area for which lidar imagery is not currently available. (9)

Additional reference. (10)