B833
| B833 | ||||||||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||
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| From: | Garelochhead (NS236912) | |||||||||
| To: | Coulport (NS212871) | |||||||||
| Distance: | 13.2 miles (21.2 km) | |||||||||
| Meets: | B872, unclassified | |||||||||
| Old route now: | B872 | |||||||||
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| Traditional Counties | ||||||||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||||||||
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Running along the shore of the Rosneath Peninsula, the B833 is one of the more pleasant roads of the Clyde Estuary.
We start in Garelochead. Originally the road left the A814 on the western end of town. When that road was rerouted onto the bypass the B833 was extended north to meet it at Whistlefield. More recently the whole of the pre-bypass A814 was renumbered B872, cutting the B833 back to its original starting point. The road heads south along the shore to Clynder and on into Rosneath itself. On our left is the Gareloch, with Faslane and Rhu on the further shore.
After Rosneath, the road leaves the shore behind briefly as we cross to Kilcreggan on the Clyde. From here a passenger ferry connects across to Gourock on the southern shore. We continue to hug the shore as we turn north once more, along the eastern side of Loch Long and pass through Cove on our way to Coulport. This last section of the road passes many large Victorian villas built by wealthy Glaswegians as weekend retreats in the days when the steamer would call at a pier every mile or so along this coastline.
At Coulport, the B833 terminates at a roundabout in front of a military installation. However, a new road has been built (as an extension of the A817, although it is officially unclassified), to connect the various military sites around Garelochead together. Officially, the road is a private road, patrolled by the Military Police, so drive safely! For most of its length, it runs along the hillside above the B833, but often lined by trees. You also need to be aware of tanks and Army Lorries undergoing manoeuvres!
Originally the B833 continued west from its current terminus to Coulport Pier, from where a ferry crossed Loch Long to Ardentinny and the B834. The road survived the end of the ferry and was only cut back when the naval base took over its land.
