B8060

Sheep on the move

The B8060 links the A859 with the South Lochs district (Ceann a Deas nan Loch) of Lewis. It was originally unclassified but had gained its number by 1932. The road commences at the South Lochs turn at the southern end of the township of Balallan (Baile Ailean) and ends at Lemreway (Leumrabhagh), travelling via Shiltenish (Sildinis), Habost (Tabost), Kershader (Cearsiadar), Garyvard (Gearraidh Bhaird) and Gravir (Grabhair). For nearly half of its length, the road is a full S2 on a modern alignment, with fast sweeping bends.

From Baile Ailean the B8060 heads east along the southern shore of Loch Eireasort, initially curving around the mud flats at the head of the loch before quickly climbing up from the actual waterside into the tiny settlement of Sildinis. Just past the pub, the first of many loops of the old alignment can be seen alongside the modern route, and as the road continues east the old line can be seen snaking back and forth. After a quick sweep behind Beinn Chleiteir the loch reappears below as the road drops down to cross a narrow inlet. Climbing again, the road enters the scattered village of Tabost, and takes on the feel of a suburban street, with a pavement and low streetlights, despite the fact that the houses are interspersed with patches of barren moorland. Tabost merges into Cearsiadar, which in turn becomes Gearraidh Bhaird after a slightly longer gap between houses. In all three settlements, the loops of the old road have been retained in places as access to property.

The road now heads south as it leaves the village, climbing slightly onto the moors. Just after a side turning leading back to the coast at Carbhastadh, the road reduces to single-track for the remainder of its journey. There are, however, still loops of an even older alignment alongside, and the road remains straight with good sightlines as it runs through shallow cuttings and sweeps round fast bends. Just over a mile from the last house, a left turn leads out to the scattered villages of Cromor and Marbhig, but the B8060 continues southwards to Grabhair, a linear village mostly running at right-angles to the main road along the line of the Abhainn Cheann Loch Ouirn. The B8060 actually does a short dogleg across the village street, before climbing out of the glen again, over the open moorland once more.

The road is now twistier and bumpier than before, with very few old loops suggesting improvements. The landscape remains much as it has been from the beginning, a bleak moorland studded with small lochs and rocky outcrops. The road climbs steeply at first, up to around 90m, before dipping a little to curve around Loch Gaineamhaich, which lies snuggly in a heathery hollow. Another climb finds the summit at around 100m, before the long twisty descent. Finally, the view opens out ahead, as far south as Skye if the weather allows, and then the road plunges quite steeply down into the village of Leumrabhagh, terminating at the pier in the sheltered harbour. Side roads serve the scattered cottages overlooking the bay.