B873

This article is about the current B873 through Strathnaver.
For the former B873 (now A9) from Latheron to Georgemas Junction near Halkirk, see B873 (Latheron - Thurso).

Loch Naver

The B873 is a relatively short, but scenic road in central Sutherland. It was originally unclassified but gained its number before 1932. It starts on the A836 just north of Altnaharra Bridge and heads east. At first it runs through a small forestry plantation before it drops down to the shore of Loch Naver. As it heads along the north side of the loch there are often stunning views in both directions, with the bulky Ben Klibreck dominating the view across the loch. The road generally follows the loch shore as it winds in and out, rarely straight for long, but despite being single track there is generally good visibility ahead. There are a scattering of parking places along the lochside, with the road rarely deviating far from the waters edge. Beyond a small waterside campsite (selling ice creams for those gorgeous summer afternoons) the road becomes a little more wooded, with a forestry plantation on the hillside above.

At Grumbeg, the road climbs the hill a little to cross a stream, and then drops back past another block of Forestry for another brief run along the shore. After about seven miles, the end of the loch is reached, and the road swings round to the north into Strathnaver proper. The road follows the river as it winds through forestry, much of which has been felled and replanted in recent years, revealing a narrow valley floor wit gently rising slopes. It only passes the occasional farm until the tiny settlement of Syre is reached. Just past the tin church, the road ends where the southbound B871, coming from the A836 near Bettyhill, TOTSOs right.