A881
A881 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Broadford (An t-Ath Leathann) (NG642235) | |||
To: | Elgol (Ealaghol) (NG518134) | |||
Distance: | 14.4 miles (23.2 km) | |||
Met: | A850, unclassified | |||
Now part of: | B8083 | |||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A881 ran along the Strathaird peninsula on Skye from Broadford to Elgol. It was downgraded around the time that the Skye Bridge opened, bringing the A87 across the island, and is now the B8083.
Starting on the main A850 (now A87) in Broadford the road headed south across the hills to reach Strath Suardel, which it followed upstream, running along the shore of Loch Cill Chriosd. The strath peters out to open moorland at Kilbride, after which the A881 crosses the watershed and passes through the scattered village of Torrin, with the mountains of Strathaird clearly visible ahead. The road then descends to the shore of Loch Slapin and is required to detour a long way round to the north to remain on dry land.
After running round the head of the sea loch the A881 turns southwards and returns on the west side. Initially hemmed in between the sea and the mountains the terrain eventually allows the road to head west and climb away from the coast. It descends again to cross a stream between Kirkibost and Kilmarie before contouring around Ben Meabost. The road soon becomes surprisingly built-up as it reaches the village of Elgol, which could almost be classed as ribbon development. The A881 followed the main road (practically the only road) through the village, descending steeply to cross a stream and then ending for no apparent reason before reaching the coast.
The route of the A881 was unclassified in 1922 but gained its number later in the 1920s. It was subsequently downgraded to become the B8083 between 1988 and 1993.