B8081

Blackford level crossing

The B8081 follows the former line of the A9 through Blackford Village in southern Perthshire. The village was bypassed when the A9 was dualled between Stirling and Perth. At the western end, the road is provided with a full-access, at-grade junction, making right turns somewhat difficult, but possible. However, the eastern end of the B8081 is now an east-bound on-slip only, with no other movements provided for.

The road in between the junctions is of little interest to tourists these days, with the former retail village at Tullibardine Distillery now reduced to a small visitor centre, much of the car park given over to barrel storage. The village itself is home to some fine buildings and a couple of shops and hotels, but there is no longer a big tourist draw. After the new link between the new and old lines of the A9, the B8081 heads east along Moray Street, which follows a long straight course through the middle of the village. At the far end, the Highland Spring water plant lies off to the right, opposite a new rail freight facility just before the road crosses over the tracks. It then winds north east, before turning more purposefully eastwards, passing through fields towards the A9 once more.

The eastern end of the B8081 used to be a normal S2 road to the very end, despite there apparently never having been any access from the A9. However, now after passing the farm, the left hand lane is hatched across, pushing traffic to the right hand lane, and so providing a long stretch of lorry parking around the bend. The marked parking area comes to an end, giving two lanes for a short distance, before the right hand lane is hatched down, pushing traffic back across in time to join the A9.