A852

The now-unclassified former A852 approaching Isle Ornsay

The A852 is the former number for the short piece of road that runs to Isle Ornsay Pier from the A851 on Skye's Sleat Peninsula. Whilst it was declassified sometime in the 1980s, and is now part of the C1246, the signs were still up indicating the A852 until the A851 was upgraded in the late 2000s. At this time, the northern end of the road was realigned to make an improved junction with the A851.

Whilst of little obvious value as an A road today, the route connected to the pier at Isle Ornsay village, which was a regular and important stop for the steamers in the 1920s. The island itself lies a short distance offshore, protecting the harbour, and can be accessed across the beach at low tides. It is perhaps surprising that the road was considered important enough to be an A road, when many similar routes elsewhere were only B roads, but perhaps there was also a realisation that there were many spare numbers in Zone 8, and this was one of the busier piers at the time. The road itself is unremarkable, being essentially single track throughout as it winds around an inlet of the rugged shoreline, passing a handful of scattered houses, to find the pier and hotel, just half a mile from the main road. There is only one intermediate junction, for a minor road heading south to Camascross.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Branch to Ornsay Pier