B897

This article is about the current B897 south of Stornoway in north Lewis.
For the former B897 from Stornoway to Rodel, see B897 (Stornoway - Rodel).

Windfarm on Arnish Moor

The B897 is a winding, single-track B-road on the Isle of Lewis. The road was originally unclassified but had gained its present number by 1932.

The road commences at the North Lochs Turn junction on the A859 a couple of miles to the south of Stornoway. It then heads south, dropping steadily across the Arnish Moor past its wind turbines, to reach the shore of Loch Orasaigh. After curving round the eastern shore of the loch, the Grimshader (Griomsiadar) road forks left, with the B897 continuing south, winding between low rocky outcrops into the village of Crossbost. Here, just above the shore, it TOTSOs with the unclassified road through Liurbost, which is actually a much better quality route, being S2 more or less all the way, while the B897 has barely been single-track in places. Barely 200m to the east, the B897 TOTSOs again, turning northeast an climbing gently between the long croft strips either side. After dipping down towards Loch Griomsiadair, there is a third TOTSO at the entrance to the village of Ranish (Ranais). The road then wiggles eastwards through the scattered village to end at Cuidhir, with a horsehoe bend as it climbs round yet another rocky outcrop. The road then forks left at the first unlined junction, and right at the second before terminating in a wide turning circle, next to the two surviving cottages at Cuidhir, with just a rough grassy track continuing.