Kinlocheil

For about 9 miles to the east of Kinlocheil the A830 and A861 run parallel, but never meet. The reason is that they are separated by Loch Eil, one of the deeply incised sea lochs that are found on the west Highland coast, this a branch of Loch Linnhe at Fort William. Both roads, therefore head east towards the town, but only the A830 reaches it, via the A82, with the A861 turning south opposite the town, at which point a small pedestrian ferry crosses the loch, and continued to the Corran Ferry. The scattered communities of Loch Eil are served by the two roads, and while traditionally the south (A861) side has been more heavily populated, it is now the villages on the north side that are growing, Kinlocheil included.

The junction, then, lies just a little to the west of the head of the loch, avoiding the boggy ground where the Fionn Lighe and Dubh Lighe flow into the loch. The village stretches away to the east along the A830, a scattering of cottages and new bungalows dotted along the roadside. To the west, the A830 continues, through Glenfinnan and on to Mallaig, from where ferries sail to the island - giving the A830 the name 'Road to the Isles'.

Whilst the junction has always been a simple T junction, the A861 turning off to the south, and winding around a couple of bends before passing under the low railway bridge, it was moved when the A830 was upgraded. The old junction lies a little to the north, next to the Fionn Lighe Bridge. The old A830 is partially retained here as access to property and the forestry to the north, with the old line of the A861 partially left as the access - the alignment has been changed slightly on both sides of the new A830 to produce a staggered crossroads.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A830	An Gearasdan/Fort William
A830	Malaig, Glenfinnan	13'6" / 4.1m Height limit
A861	Sron an t-Sithein / Strontian, Loch Allainn / Lochaline (A884)	12' height limit