A87 road
Encyclopedia
The A87 is a major road
in the Highland
region of Scotland
.
It runs west from its junction with the A82 road
at Invergarry
, along the north shores of Loch Garry
and Loch Cluanie
, then down through Glen Shiel
and along Loch Duich
to Kyle of Lochalsh
before crossing the Skye Bridge
to Kyleakin
, Broadford
, and Portree
, before terminating at Uig
on the west coast of the Isle of Skye.
Its total length is 99 miles; it is a primary route for all of its length.
, before heading north over the hills to Glen Loyne, where it crossed Loch Loyne with two bridges. It then headed north west to the Cluanie Inn, where it joined the A887. Loch Loyne was dammed as part of a hydro-electric scheme, which put part of this road underwater. A new road was built further to the east, around Loch Loyne, joining with the A887 at Bun Loyne. The remains of the bridges on Loch Loyne are visible when the level of water in the loch is low.
The A87 route used to involve a short ferry crossing over Loch Long
at Dornie
, but this has since been replaced with a bridge. Nearby, the A87 used to run through the village of Morvich
, around an inlet at the end Loch Duich
. This has now been bypassed with a causeway and bridge.
In 1995 the Skye Bridge replaced the ferry between Kyle of Localsh on the mainland and Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. Tolls were met with considerable opposition, until removed in December 2004.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in the Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
region of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
It runs west from its junction with the A82 road
A82 road
The A82 is a trunk road in Scotland. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands, running from Glasgow to Inverness, going by Loch Lomond, Glen Coe and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other...
at Invergarry
Invergarry
Invergarry is a village in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Great Glen, near where the River Garry flows into Loch Oich.Near the centre of the village is the junction between the A82 road and the A87 road which branches off to the west towards Skye.The ruined Invergarry Castle is situated...
, along the north shores of Loch Garry
Loch Garry
Loch Garry, , is 25 km north of Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland, and is 11 km long and 50 m deep. It is fed by waters from Loch Quoich 10 km upstream on the River Garry, and drains into Loch Oich in the Great Glen just 5 km downstream...
and Loch Cluanie
Loch Cluanie
Loch Cluanie is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland at the south-east end of Glen Shiel. It is a reservoir, contained behind the Cluanie Dam, constructed by Mitchell Construction and completed in 1957 as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Glenmoriston project to...
, then down through Glen Shiel
Glen Shiel
Glen Shiel is a glen in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland.The glen runs approximately 9 miles from north-west to south-east, from sea level at the village of Shiel Bridge and Loch Duich to the Cluanie Inn at the western end of Loch Cluanie and the start of Glenmoriston.W. H...
and along Loch Duich
Loch Duich
Loch Duich is a sea loch situated on the western coast of Scotland, in the Highlands.-History:In 1719, British forces burned many homesteads along the loch’s shores in the month preceding the Battle of Glen Shiel....
to Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
before crossing the Skye Bridge
Skye Bridge
The Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting mainland Highland with the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It forms part of the A87. The bridge is located at around , with one pillar standing on the island of Eilean Bàn....
to Kyleakin
Kyleakin
The village of Kyleakin is situated on the east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, along the strait of Kyle Akin opposite the northwest Scottish mainland town of Kyle of Lochalsh...
, Broadford
Broadford, Skye
Broadford , together with nearby Harrapool, is the second-largest settlement on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, lying on the SW corner of Broadford Bay, on the A87 between Portree and the Skye Bridge....
, and Portree
Portree
Portree is the largest town on Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is the location for the only secondary school on the Island, Portree High school. Public transport services are limited to buses....
, before terminating at Uig
Uig, Skye
The village of Uig lies at the head of the sheltered inlet of Uig Bay on the west coast of the Trotternish peninsula on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Uig is situated partly on the raised beach around the head of the bay and partly on the steep slopes behind it...
on the west coast of the Isle of Skye.
Its total length is 99 miles; it is a primary route for all of its length.
Settlement and junctions of the A87
Northwest - Southeast- UigUig-Place name:*Ùige - from Norse ** Uig, Skye, a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland** Uig, Lewis, a placename, specifically a "bay backed machair and hills", on the island of Lewis in Scotland** Uig, Coll, a hamlet on the island of Coll, Scotland...
– junction with the A855 road - Earlish
- Romesdal
- Eyre
- KensaleyreKensaleyreKensaleyre is scattered crofting township, part of a group of settlements clustered around the A87 road on the shore of Loch Snizort Beag on the Trotternish peninsula of the island of Skye in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It is in the council area of Highland....
- Borve – junction with the A850 roadA850 roadThe A850 road is one of the principal roads of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of mainland Scotland.It connects Dunvegan Castle and the town of Dunvegan and the north of the island with the A87 road for Portree that then crosses to the mainland road system...
- PortreePortreePortree is the largest town on Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is the location for the only secondary school on the Island, Portree High school. Public transport services are limited to buses....
– second junction with the A855 road - Glenvarragill
- SligachanSligachanSligachan is a small settlement on Skye, Scotland. It is close to the Cuillin mountains and provides a good viewpoint for seeing the Black Cuillin mountains.-Amenities:...
– junction with the A863 roadA863 roadThe A863 road is one of the principal roads of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of mainland Scotland.It connects the town of Dunvegan and the north west of the island with the A87 that then crosses the Skye Bridge for access to the mainland road system... - SconserSconserSconser is a small crofting township on the island of Skye, in Scotland, situated on the south shore of Loch Sligachan. The main A87 road of Skye passes through Sconser and the ferry to Raasay departs from the pier....
- Luib
- DunanDunanDunan is a settlement on the south shore of the sea loch, Loch na Cairidh near Broadford, on the island of Skye in Scotland and is in the council area of Highland.The village of Luib is less than 1 mile east of Dunan along the A87 road....
- Broadford
- Harrapool
- junction with the A851 roadA851 roadThe A851 road is one of the principal roads of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of mainland Scotland.It connects the ferry port of Armadale on the south of the island with the A87 road for Portree and the Scottish mainland...
- Skulamas
- Upper BreakishUpper BreakishUpper Breakish is a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland in the United Kingdom....
- Skye BridgeSkye BridgeThe Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting mainland Highland with the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It forms part of the A87. The bridge is located at around , with one pillar standing on the island of Eilean Bàn....
- Kyle of LochalshKyle of LochalshKyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
- BalmacaraBalmacaraBalmacara is a village on the north shore of Loch Alsh near Kyle of Lochalsh, Ross-shire, Highland and is in the Scottish council area of the Highland. Scotland.Shinty club, Kinlochshiel play in the adjacent hamlet of Kirkton....
- KirktonKirktonKirkton is the name of a number of places:*Kirkton, Ontario, Canada*Kirkton, Livingston, Scotland, United Kingdom*Kirkton, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom*Kirkton, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom...
- AuchtertyreAuchtertyreAuchtertyre is a village, lying half a mile from the north shore of Loch Alsh near Kyle of Lochalsh, in the Highland and is in the Scottish council area of the Highland Council....
– junction with the A890 road - NostieNostieNostie is a small remote hamlet, lying on Nostie Bay, an inlet at the northeastern end of the sea loch, Loch Alsh in the Scottish Highlands and is in the council area of Highland. Nostie lies a short distance from one of Scotland's popular tourist attractions, Eilean Donan Castle.It is the home of...
- ArdelveArdelveArdelve is a village in Highland, Scotland, on Loch Alsh. It overlooks the Eilean Donan Castle, which is in Rattigan, also on Loch Alsh, to the east of Skye. A caravan park is located at Ardelve.-Geography:...
- DornieDornieDornie is a small former fishing village in the Kintail district in western Ross-shire Highlands of Scotland, with a population of 360 .It is near the meeting point of Loch Duich, Loch Alsh and Loch Long....
- InverinateInverinateInverinate is a small village on the north shore of Loch Duich in Kyle, Lochalsh, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.-History:A prominent branch of the Clan Macrae were based for several centuries at Inverinate...
- Ault a' chruinn
- Invershiel
- Shiel BridgeShiel BridgeShiel Bridge is a village on the south east mouth of Loch Duich and confluence of the small loch in Loch Shiel and the River Shiel, in Lochalsh, Scottish Highlands and is in the council area of Highland....
- Loch CluanieLoch CluanieLoch Cluanie is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland at the south-east end of Glen Shiel. It is a reservoir, contained behind the Cluanie Dam, constructed by Mitchell Construction and completed in 1957 as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Glenmoriston project to...
- junction with the A887 road
- Loch GarryLoch GarryLoch Garry, , is 25 km north of Fort William, Lochaber, Scotland, and is 11 km long and 50 m deep. It is fed by waters from Loch Quoich 10 km upstream on the River Garry, and drains into Loch Oich in the Great Glen just 5 km downstream...
- InvergarryInvergarryInvergarry is a village in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Great Glen, near where the River Garry flows into Loch Oich.Near the centre of the village is the junction between the A82 road and the A87 road which branches off to the west towards Skye.The ruined Invergarry Castle is situated...
– junction with the A82
Historic route
The route of the A87 has changed significantly over the years. Until the 1960s, the road ran along Glen Garry as far as TomdounTomdoun
Tomdoun is a settlement on the north side of the River Garry, near the western end of Loch Garry, in Glen Garry in the Highlands of Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic for "the brown hillock"....
, before heading north over the hills to Glen Loyne, where it crossed Loch Loyne with two bridges. It then headed north west to the Cluanie Inn, where it joined the A887. Loch Loyne was dammed as part of a hydro-electric scheme, which put part of this road underwater. A new road was built further to the east, around Loch Loyne, joining with the A887 at Bun Loyne. The remains of the bridges on Loch Loyne are visible when the level of water in the loch is low.
The A87 route used to involve a short ferry crossing over Loch Long
Loch Long (Highlands)
Loch Long is a sea loch situated on the western coast of Scotland, in the Highlands. It is a popular destination for tourists and fishermen.The nearby Eilean Donan Castle stands at the confluence of Loch Long, Loch Duich and Loch Alsh....
at Dornie
Dornie
Dornie is a small former fishing village in the Kintail district in western Ross-shire Highlands of Scotland, with a population of 360 .It is near the meeting point of Loch Duich, Loch Alsh and Loch Long....
, but this has since been replaced with a bridge. Nearby, the A87 used to run through the village of Morvich
Morvich, Highland
Morvich is a very small settlement near the southern end of Loch Duich, and to the north of Kintail, in Lochalsh, in the Highland council area of Scotland...
, around an inlet at the end Loch Duich
Loch Duich
Loch Duich is a sea loch situated on the western coast of Scotland, in the Highlands.-History:In 1719, British forces burned many homesteads along the loch’s shores in the month preceding the Battle of Glen Shiel....
. This has now been bypassed with a causeway and bridge.
In 1995 the Skye Bridge replaced the ferry between Kyle of Localsh on the mainland and Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. Tolls were met with considerable opposition, until removed in December 2004.