Highland Council
Highland Council Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
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County | |||
Argyll • Caithness • Cromartyshire • Inverness-shire • Moray • Nairnshire • Ross-shire • Sutherland | |||
Primary Destinations | |||
Fort William • Inverness • Kyle of Lochalsh • Mallaig • Newtonmore • Thurso • Uig • Ullapool • Wick | |||
Other Important Destinations | |||
Applecross • Aviemore • John o Groats • Lairg • Nairn • Portree • Tongue | |||
Borders | |||
Aberdeenshire • Argyll and Bute • Moray • Perth and Kinross | |||
Transport Scotland Roads | |||
A9 • A82 • A86 • A87 • A95 • A96 • A99 • A828 • A830 • A835 • A887 • A889 • A893 | |||
The Authority
The Highland Council (Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd) is the Highway Authority for all the roads in the North of Scotland. At 11,838 square miles (30,659 km²) the Authority is bigger than the nation of Belgium and Wales and therefore it is by far the biggest council in Britain measured by land area. As of 2016, Government Statistics say that the council is responsible for 859.4 miles of A roads; 604.9 miles of B roads and 2940 miles of other roads. There is an additional 597.1 miles of Trunk roads within the council area, which are maintained by Transport Scotland.
It was formed as Highland Regional Council in 1975 from the Administrative Counties of:
Inverness-shire (except for the Western Isles)
Nairnshire
Ross & Cromarty (except for Lewis)
Sutherland
Caithness
plus portions of Moray and Argyll
It was reorganised into a one-tier council, merging with the District Councils, in 1996. However, the component counties survive to some extent for several administrative and logistical purposes, mainly because of the large geographical area. The Council area was formerly broken into eight areas:
Caithness
Sutherland
Ross and Cromarty (without Lochalsh)
Skye and Lochalsh (taking the Isle of Skye and Lochalsh on the mainland)
Lochaber (The south western portion of the area, formerly Inverness-shire and Argyll, centred on Fort William)
Badenoch and Strathspey (Grantown on Spey & the A86 corridor, formerly Inverness-shire and Moray)
Inverness (The rest of historic Inverness-shire, including The Highland Capital)
Nairn
However, these have now been consolidated into 3 areas: Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross; (Wester) Ross, Skye and Lochaber; and Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey.
Highways Management
The majority of everyday work on the road network in Highland is undertaken by the Councils own DLO (Direct Labour Organisation). However, some work, such as white-lining is sub-contracted out to outside contractors. This is normally on a job by job basis. Sometimes projects are undertaken as a partnership between the DLO and a Contractor. Some vehicles and equipment are shared with neighbouring DLOs (or at least hired in/out) to reduce the costs of each council having equipment lying idle for long periods. The Island Councils, Argyll and Bute Council and Moray Council are all part of HiTrans, and whilst this is predominately interested in sustainable and public transport, it sees the authorities working together on other projects.
Principal and Classified Numbered Roads
The following is a list of A and B classified roads that are at least partially managed by the authority:
Route | From | To | Length |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
A99 | Latheron | John o' Groats | 34 miles | View |
A831 | Drumnadrochit | Beauly | 28.1 miles | View |
A832 | Cromarty, Black Isle | Braemore Junction, Wester Ross | 125 miles | View |
A833 | Milton | Balchraggan | 9.3 miles | View |
A834 | Dingwall | Contin | 6.8 miles | View |
A835 | Tore | Ledmore | 66.4 miles | View |
A835 | Tore | Ledmore | 66.4 miles | View |
A836 | John o' Groats | Tarlogie (Dornoch Firth Bridge) | 122 miles | View |
A836 | John o' Groats | Tarlogie (Dornoch Firth Bridge) | 122 miles | View |
A837 | Invershin | Lochinver | 44.9 miles | View |
A838 | Dalchork | Tongue | 83.3 miles | View |
A839 | The Mound | Rosehall | 22.2 miles | View |
A850 | Kyleakin | Dunvegan Castle | 19.2 miles | View |
A851 | Skulamus | Armadale | 15 miles | View |
A855 | Portree | Uig | 33.3 miles | View |
A861 | Drumfern | Lochailort | 64.9 miles | View |
A862 | Inverness | Ardullie Roundabout | 23.7 miles | View |
A863 | Sligachan | Dunvegan (Dùn Bheagain) | 22.8 miles | View |
A882 | Wick | Georgemas Junction | 14.2 miles | View |
A884 | Achnalea | Balmeanach | 21.6 miles | View |
A890 | Achnasheen | Auchtertyre | 32.2 miles | View |
A894 | Skiag Bridge | Laxford Bridge | 23.2 miles | View |
A896 | Strathcarron | Kinlochewe | 34.3 miles | View |
A897 | Helmsdale | Melvich | 37.1 miles | View |
A938 | Carrbridge | Dulnain Bridge | 9 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Ballater | 59.6 miles | View |
A939 | Grantown on Spey | Cock Bridge | 21.5 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Grantown on Spey | 23.5 miles | View |
A939 | Nairn | Ballater | 59.6 miles | View |
A949 | Bonar Bridge | Dornoch | 13.3 miles | View |
A8082 | Inshes | Tomnahurich | 3.5 miles | View |
B801 | Rhiconich | Kinlochbervie | 4.7 miles | View |
B817 | Drummond | Kildary | 14.1 miles | View |
B848 | Canalside (south), Fort Augustus | Glendoe Road, Fort Augustus | 0.17 miles | View |
B849 | Lochaline | Bunavullin | 10.6 miles | View |
B851 | Errogie | Culloden | 19.0 miles | View |
B852 | Dores | Whitebridge | 13.4 miles | View |
B853 | Culcabock | Culduthel Road | 1.1 miles | View |
B855 | Dunnet | Dunnet Head | 4.3 miles | View |
B861 | Inverness | Tombreck | 7.5 miles | View |
B862 | Inverness | Fort Augustus | 33.6 miles | View |
B863 | Glencoe | North Ballachulish | 15.9 miles | View |
B864 | Inveran | Lairg | 5.1 miles | View |
B865 | Raigmore Interchange | Shore Street Roundabout | 1.5 miles | View |
B869 | Lochinver | Unapool | 22.0 miles | View |
B870 | Glengolly | Kirk | 22.6 miles | View |
B871 | Kinbrace | Leckfurin | 25.0 miles | View |
B873 | Altnaharra | Syre | 11.3 miles | View |
B874 | Thurso | Wick Airport | 22.5 miles | View |
B876 | Reiss | Castletown | 12.2 miles | View |
B877 | Olrig Street | Riverside Road | 0.3 miles | View |
B883 | Peinmore | Peinchorran (Peighinn a' Chorrain) | 6.1 miles | View |
B884 | Lonmore | Milovaig | 9.7 miles | View |
B885 | Portree | Bracadale | 9.3 miles | View |
B886 | Fairy Bridge, Dunvegan | Stein | 4.3 miles | View |
B970 | Kingussie | Speybridge | 30.0 miles | View |
B8004 | Banavie | Spean Bridge (W) | 8.9 miles | View |
B8005 | Gairlochy | Loch Arkaig | 5.9 miles | View |
B8006 | Victoria Bridge, Fort William | Banavie | 1.8 miles | View |
B8007 | Salen | Achosnich | 23.9 miles | View |
B8008 | Arisaig | Mallaig | 9.8 miles | View |
B8009 | Drynoch | Portnalong | 7.4 miles | View |
B8021 | Gairloch | Melvaig | 9.5 miles | View |
B8036 | Peinmore | Kensaleyre | 1.5 miles | View |
B8043 | Inversanda | Lochuisge | 12.8 miles | View |
B8044 | Acharacle (Ath-Tharracail) | Ardtoe | 3.2 miles | View |
B8056 | Kerrysdale | Redpoint | 8.9 miles | View |
B8057 | Poolewe | Rubha nan Sasan | 8.4 miles | View |
B8083 | Broadford (An t-Ath Leathann) | Elgol (Ealaghol) | 14.0 miles | View |
B9006 | Inverness | Fort George | 15.1 miles | View |
B9007 | Duthil | Logie | 18.5 miles | View |
B9039 | Newton of Petty | Ardersier | 4.9 miles | View |
B9090 | Nairn | Brackley | 8.7 miles | View |
B9091 | Nairn | Croy | 7.0 miles | View |
B9092 | Ardersier | Delnies | 4.6 miles | View |
B9101 | Auldearn | Geddes | 3.7 miles | View |
B9102 | Dandaleith | Grantown on Spey | 24.6 miles | View |
B9111 | Auldearn By Pass(W) | Auldearn | 0.9 miles | View |
B9150 | Raliabeag, Newtonmore | Newtonmore | 1.3 miles | View |
B9152 | Kingussie | Aviemore(N) | 13.2 miles | View |
B9153 | Kinveachy | Carrbridge | 2.8 miles | View |
B9154 | Dalmagarry | Daviot | 6.7 miles | View |
B9159 | High Street | Harbour Road | 0.5 miles | View |
B9160 | Rosemarkie(N) | Jemimaville | 4.2 miles | View |
B9161 | Munlochy | Croftnacreich | 3.2 miles | View |
B9162 | High Street | School Road | 0.3 miles | View |
B9163 | Conon Bridge | Cromarty | 19.6 miles | View |
B9164 | Drumchardine | Dunballoch | 3.1 miles | View |
B9165 | Loandhu | Portmahomack | 9.4 miles | View |
B9166 | Fearn | Balintore | 1.8 miles | View |
B9168 | Poles | Dornoch | 2.0 miles | View |
B9169 | Muir of Ord(S) | Shoreton | 10.4 miles | View |
B9174 | Morangie | Knockbreck | 1.6 miles | View |
B9175 | Newfield | Nigg Ferry | 6.6 miles | View |
B9176 | Skiach, Alness | Easter Fearn | 15.1 miles | View |
B9177 | Bogbain | Cradlehall | 1.4 miles | View |
B9178 | Easter Curr | Dulnain Bridge | 0.5 miles | View |
Classified Unnumbered Roads
For their Class III road network, the authority uses "C" prefixes.
Junctions
Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings
Links
The Highland Council