Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire Siorrachd Inbhir Nis | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
| |||
Primary Destinations | |||
Fort William • Inverness • Mallaig • Newtonmore • Uig | |||
Other Important Destinations | |||
An Tairbeart • Aviemore • Bagh a' Chaisteil • Grantown on Spey • Loch Baghasdail • Loch nam Madadh • Portree • Spean Bridge | |||
Current Highway Authorities | |||
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar • Highland | |||
Borders | |||
Aberdeenshire • Argyll • Banffshire • Cromartyshire • Moray • Nairnshire • Perthshire • Ross-shire | |||
Transport Scotland Roads | |||
A9 • A82 • A86 • A87 • A95 • A96 • A830 • A887 • A889 | |||
Inverness-shire is the largest of the traditional counties in Scotland, with the county town being the Highland Capital of Inverness. It is found in the north of Scotland, spanning from the east to the west coast of the Mainland. It also includes the Isle of Skye, its neighbours, Eigg in the Small Isles and all of the Western Isles excluding Lewis, which is part of Ross-shire. All of the mainland, Eigg, Skye and surrounding islands are now part of Highland Council, with the Western Isles covered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the council for the Western Isles.
Geography & Economy
As with the other Highland Counties, Inverness-shire has a varied, but generally rugged landscape. Even the Islands are largely mountainous, with the western coastline incised by deep fjord-like sea lochs. The highest point in the British Isles is Ben Nevis near Fort William in the south west of the county. The area around Inverness itself is the least rugged, with some rich arable land around the Moray Firth.
The county is split in two by the geological fault line of the Great Glen, through which the A82 passes on its way north to Inverness. Other valleys run east-west, providing routes across the county, but they are limited and there are a number of high passes which can become blocked in the winter, none less than the Corrieyairack Pass which was built nearly 300 years ago as a military road, but has long since been abandoned by all but walkers and mountain bikers.
The economy of the rural county is largely based on Tourism, although forestry, fishing and green energy are also important. Inverness itself is an important service centre for the whole region, and has grown fast over the last few decades to better fulfill this role.
Roads
The road network is largely defined by the terrain, with most roads either running along the coast or through the Great Glen and the side valleys leading off it. Most non-trunk roads within the traditional county are maintained by Highland while the Western Isles portion of the country is under Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The trunk roads, which include the A9, A82, A86, A87, A95, A96, A830, A887 and A889 are maintained by Transport Scotland.
Many of the more important routes in the county were originally planned and built by the great Highland road builders - General Wade and Major Caulfeild as part of the military road network or Thomas Telford under his commission for Highland roads and bridges. Their legacy is a generally well laid out network of routes serving the larger communities. The only problem is the general lack of resilience - with detours in excess of 100 miles necessary should a road be closed.
Route | From | To | Length |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
A9 | Polmont, Stirlingshire (M9) | Scrabster, Caithness | 279 miles | View |
A82 | Glasgow | Inverness | 167 miles | View |
A86 | Kingussie | Spean Bridge | 40 miles | View |
A87 | Invergarry | Uig | 99 miles | View |
A88 | Inverness | Scrabster | 157 miles | View |
A95 | Aviemore (N) | Boyndie (SW) | 63 miles | View |
A96 | Inverness | Aberdeen | 101.5 miles | View |
A825 | Corran | Ardgour | 0.4 miles | View |
A829 | Glencoe | North Ballachulish | 15.9 miles | View |
A830 | Fort William | Mallaig | 40.6 miles | View |
A830 | Fort William | Mallaig | 40.6 miles | View |
A831 | Drumnadrochit | Beauly | 28.1 miles | View |
A833 | Milton | Balchraggan | 9.3 miles | View |
A850 | Kyleakin | Dunvegan Castle | 19.2 miles | View |
A851 | Skulamus | Armadale | 15 miles | View |
A852 | Isle Ornsay | Pier | 0.5 miles | View |
A853 | Armadale | Ardvasar | 0.5 miles | View |
A854 | Broadford | Corry Pier | 0.5 miles | View |
A855 | Portree | Uig | 33.3 miles | View |
A856 | Borve | Uig | 12.1 miles | View |
A859 | Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh) | Rodel (Roghadal) | 57.9 miles | View |
A861 | Drumfern | Lochailort | 64.9 miles | View |
A862 | Inverness | Ardullie Roundabout | 23.7 miles | View |
A862 | Inverness | Fort Augustus | 33.3 miles | View |
A863 | Sligachan | Dunvegan (Dùn Bheagain) | 22.8 miles | View |
A864 | Lonmore | Horneval | 1.6 miles | View |
A865 | Lochmaddy (Loch nam Madadh) | Lochboisdale (Loch Baghasdail) | 59.2 miles | View |
A867 | Sruth Mòr (Lochmaddy) | Clachan na Luib | 7.1 miles | View |
A868 | Tarbert | Tarbert Ferry | 0.2 miles | View |
A872 | Corran | Ardgour | 0.2 miles | View |
A881 | Broadford (An t-Ath Leathann) | Elgol (Ealaghol) | 14.4 miles | View |
A887 | Invermoriston | Bun Loyne | 14.4 miles | View |
A888 | Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil) | Castlebay (Bàgh a' Chaisteil) | 12.9 miles | View |
A889 | Dalwhinnie | Laggan | 8.6 miles | View |
A938 | Carrbridge | Dulnain Bridge | 9 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Ballater | 59.6 miles | View |
A939 | Grantown on Spey | Cock Bridge | 21.5 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Grantown on Spey | 23.5 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Ballater | 59.6 miles | View |
A951 | Aviemore | Glenmore Lodge, Loch Morlich | 6 miles | View |
A8082 | Inshes | Tomnahurich | 3.5 miles | View |
B848 | Canalside (south), Fort Augustus | Glendoe Road, Fort Augustus | 0.17 miles | View |
B848 | Laggan | Dalwhinnie | 6.6 miles | View |
B850 | Salen | Kinlochmoidart | 10.4 miles | View |
B851 | Errogie | Culloden | 19.0 miles | View |
B851 | Inverness | Fort Augustus | 33.3 miles | View |
B852 | Dores | Whitebridge | 13.4 miles | View |
B852 | Invermoriston | Cluanie | 24 miles | View |
B853 | Culcabock | Culduthel Road | 1.1 miles | View |
B854 | Milton | Brochies Corner, Balchraggan | 9.3 miles | View |
B861 | Inverness | Tombreck | 7.5 miles | View |
B862 | Inverness | Fort Augustus | 33.6 miles | View |
B863 | Glencoe | North Ballachulish | 15.9 miles | View |
B865 | Raigmore Interchange | Shore Street Roundabout | 1.5 miles | View |
B865 | Longman Roundabout | Academy Street | 1.5 miles | View |
B883 | Peinmore | Peinchorran (Peighinn a' Chorrain) | 6.1 miles | View |
B883 | Sligachan | Dunvegan | 24.0 miles | View |
B884 | Lonmore | Milovaig | 9.7 miles | View |
B885 | Portree | Bracadale | 9.3 miles | View |
B886 | Fairy Bridge, Dunvegan | Stein | 4.3 miles | View |
B887 | Ardhasaig (Aird Asaig) | Hushinish (Huisinis) | 12.7 miles | View |
B887 | Portree | Staffin | 17 miles | View |
B888 | Daliburgh (Dalabrog) | Pollochar (Poll a' Charra) | 4.7 miles | View |
B889 | Castlebay (Bagh a' Chaisteil) | Castlebay (Bagh a' Chaisteil) | 12.9 miles | View |
B889 | Daliburgh | Lochboisdale | 2.9 miles | View |
B890 | Grogarry (Groigearraidh) | Loch Skipport (Loch Sgioport) | 3.5 miles | View |
B891 | near Creagorry (Creag Ghoraidh) | Peters Port (Port Pheadair) | 4.1 miles | View |
B891 | Lochmaddy | Tigharry | 17.4 miles | View |
B892 | Uachdar | Creagorry (Creag Ghoraidh) | 8.4 miles | View |
B892 | Lochmaddy | Carinish | 9.7 miles | View |
B893 | Trumisgarry (Trùmaisgearraidh) | Port nan Long | 3.4 miles | View |
B893 | Tigharry | Clachan | 8.0 miles | View |
B894 | Clachan an Luib | Loch Euphort (Locheport) | 2.5 miles | View |
B897 | Stornoway | Rodel | 57.6 miles | View |
B898 | Tarbert | Tarbert Pier | 0.3 miles | View |
B970 | Kingussie | Speybridge | 30.0 miles | View |
B8004 | Banavie | Spean Bridge (W) | 8.9 miles | View |
B8005 | Gairlochy | Loch Arkaig | 5.9 miles | View |
B8006 | Victoria Bridge, Fort William | Banavie | 1.8 miles | View |
B8006 | Dalnabreck | Dalelia | 1.5 miles | View |
B8008 | Arisaig | Mallaig | 9.8 miles | View |
B8008 | Inchmore | Dunballoch | 3.1 miles | View |
B8009 | Drynoch | Portnalong | 7.4 miles | View |
B8036 | Peinmore | Kensaleyre | 1.5 miles | View |
B8038 | Glenurquhart Road | Ness Bridge | 0.3 miles | View |
B8040 | Laggan | Aberchalder | 4.5 miles | View |
B8082 | Beechwood Business Park | Dores Road | 3.5 miles | View |
B8083 | Broadford (An t-Ath Leathann) | Elgol (Ealaghol) | 14.0 miles | View |
B9006 | Inverness | Fort George | 15.1 miles | View |
B9007 | Duthil | Logie | 18.5 miles | View |
B9039 | Newton of Petty | Ardersier | 4.9 miles | View |
B9090 | Nairn | Brackley | 8.7 miles | View |
B9091 | Nairn | Croy | 7.0 miles | View |
B9092 | Ardersier | Delnies | 4.6 miles | View |
B9145 | Grant Street | Telford Street | 0.5 miles | View |
B9146 | Longman Industrial Estate | Inverness Harbour | 0.5 miles | View |
B9150 | Raliabeag, Newtonmore | Newtonmore | 1.3 miles | View |
B9151 | Aviemore | Kingussie | 9.4 miles | View |
B9152 | Kingussie | Aviemore(N) | 13.2 miles | View |
B9153 | Kinveachy | Carrbridge | 2.8 miles | View |
B9154 | Dalmagarry | Daviot | 6.7 miles | View |
B9164 | Drumchardine | Dunballoch | 3.1 miles | View |
B9164 | Longman Industrial Estate | Chapel Street | 0.6 miles | View |
B9177 | Bogbain | Cradlehall | 1.4 miles | View |
B9178 | Easter Curr | Dulnain Bridge | 0.5 miles | View |
T1 | London | Scrabster | View | |
T12 | London | Inverness | View | |
T30 | Perth | Inverness | View | |
T98 | Fort William | Mallaig | View | |
T99 | Invergarry | Kyle of Lochalsh | View |
Key
Junctions
Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings
Videos
Tom Scott - The world's last turntable ferry has a really clever design
In Glenelg, on the west coast of Scotland, there's the Skye Ferry: the last turntable ferry in the world. And the reason for that turntable is a lot more clever than I initially thought.