B8009

The B8009 runs along the southern shore of Loch Harport, serving the communities of Mingnish on Skye. To most visitors, the most important feature along its length is the Talisker Distillery at Carbost; however, it is also a very picturesque route. The road is marked on the 1923 MoT map as little more than a track as far as Fernilea, then non-existent beyond; however, the whole road had gained Class II status by 1932.

Portnalong

Leaving the A863 at Drynoch, the road crosses two bridges as it curves along the shore of Loch Harport. It then starts a steep climb up to the junction with the Glen Brittle Road, which leads to the popular tourist destinations of the Fairy Pools and Cuillin Mountains. The road started off as S2, but drops to a nominal single track. There are, however, plenty of passing places, and long stretches of gravelled verges in between meaning that there are few places where two cars can't squeeze past each other. Beyond the junction, howver, the road is generally narrower as it drops down into Carbost, the only village with a speed limit along the road. A left turn leads across to Talisker and Loch Eynort on the opposite coast of the peninsula, and then just after reaching the shore, the road climbs up a pair of hairpins behind the distillery.

The road now undulates gently along the hillside above Loch Harport, passing through a near continuous roadside development of old cottages and newer houses. Another 4 miles brings us to the small harbour at Portnalong, set on a rocky finger poking out into the loch and sheltered by Ardtreck Point. This is the end of the road's mainline, however, the final junction a mile before the end is also a spur of the B8009. This spur runs southwest for about a mile, climbing up and over the hills to a junction with two unclassified roads. There seems to be no logic as to why some rather than all or none of this road has been made part of the B8009. It does, however, provide some fine views across Loch Bracadale to Macleod's Tables on Duirinish.