B881
| B881 | ||||||||||
| Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||
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| From: | Rothesay (NS088647) | |||||||||
| To: | Kilchatten Bay (NS105546) | |||||||||
| Distance: | 6 miles (9.7 km) | |||||||||
| Meets: | A844, B878 | |||||||||
| Former Number(s): | A845 | |||||||||
| Highway Authorities | ||||||||||
| Traditional Counties | ||||||||||
| Route outline (key) | ||||||||||
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The B881 is a road in two parts on the Isle of Bute, running south from the island capital of Rothesay and ultimately reaching the small village at Kilchattan Bay.
Route
Rothesay – Ambrismore
The northern section of the B881 starts on the A844 in Rothesay, from where it runs along High Street past the castle, leisure centre, church and schools. It then climbs gently across Lochly Hill, passing between the reservoirs of Loch Ascog, and then Loch Fad, before finding the island's largest natural loch - Loch Quien. A handful of houses can be seen along the way, mostly down long drives, hidden amongst the fields. Beyond Loch Quien, with its crannogs, the road reaches the A844 at a sharp bend near Ambrismore, with the sandy beach of Scalpsie Bay tantalisingly close! There is then a multiplex east along that road for a couple of miles.
Kingarth – Kilchattan Bay
The southern section of the B881 starts outside the Kingarth Inn, with a wide junction. To start with, it heads east past the houses of Kingarth, before curving south around the sandy expanse of Kilchattan Bay. The road then sticks to the coast as it turns south east, past the impressive line of stately Victorian villas, tenements and a few modern houses that make up the single-sided village. Apparently, this has been a popular resort for over a thousand years with Norse raiders often overwintering in this beautiful place! The B881 ends at the last house (and the end of the 20 zone), but the road continues for around 300m as a single track to a small car park and the start of the West Island Way - Bute's take on the West Highland Way!
History
Unlike all the other Class II roads on Bute, the B881 has actually been extended from its length in 1922. It originally only consisted of the southern section, south of Kingarth. However, sometime after 1980, the road due south of Rothesay, originally the A845, was downgraded to Class II status and became part of the B881 route.
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