A895

The site of the Latheron Poorhouse

The A895 was a medium-length A-road in Caithness, running between the south coast at Latheron and the road junction just north of Georgemas Junction.

Originally numbered as part of the B873, the A895 had come into existence by 1932 to provide a Class I route to Thurso without having to detour via Wick as the main A88 did. As such, the route connected the A88 to itself cutting nearly 15 miles off the route but passing through a lightly populated area. It was a primary road, but not trunk.

The A895 remained unchanged in the 1935 renumberings, the only Class I road in Caithness of which that is true. However, its southern end was now on the A9 whilst the northern end was on the A882. Given that the A9, the new main road, went to John o' Groats instead of Thurso the A895 could well have increased in importance (except for the fact that the Thurso trunk road which came into existence soon afterwards still followed the route of the old A88).

The A895 was finally abolished in 1996 when the A9 was rerouted to Thurso instead of John o' Groats, and of course the road became trunk at that time. The A9 now has to TOTSO at Georgemas, which would appear to reflect the history of the route, although in fact the junction has been that shape since before road numbers were invented.