Ross-shire
Ross-shire Siorrachd Rois | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
| |||
Primary Destinations | |||
Kyle of Lochalsh | |||
Other Important Destinations | |||
Alness • Applecross • Dingwall • Muir of Ord • Steornabhagh • Tain | |||
Current Highway Authorities | |||
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar • Highland | |||
Borders | |||
Cromartyshire • Inverness-shire • Sutherland | |||
Transport Scotland Roads | |||
A9 • A87 • A835 | |||
Ross-shire is a traditional county in the north of Scotland. It was administratively merged with Cromartyshire in 1889 to form Ross & Cromarty County Council, mainly due to the fragmented and sparsely populated nature of Cromartyshire. As well as a large chunk of the mainland the Isle of Lewis (but not Harris!) is also part of Ross-shire. All of the mainland portion of the county is now under Highland Council, whilst Lewis is covered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the council for the Western Isles. The historic county town is Dingwall in Easter Ross, whilst the Bishop of Ross formerly had his Cathedral at Fortrose on the Black Isle.
Geography & Economy
The county is one of stark contrast. The western seaboard is one of the most rugged and spectacular in the British Isles, from the remote Applecross peninsula accessed by the famous Bealach na Ba to the busy port of Kyle of Lochalsh from which the Skye Bridge crosses to the Isle of Skye. The east, meanwhile, is much more densely populated, with towns clustered along the shores of the Firths that cut deep into the county. From the arable Black Isle to the industrial port of Invergordon, it is also commuter belt to Inverness. It is little wonder, perhaps, that for centuries the county has been split into 'Wester' and 'Easter' Ross.
Whilst Easter Ross therefore has a rich and productive economy, Wester Ross and Lewis are much more reliant on Tourism and trade related to the land and nature, from Forestry to renewable energy, although Easter Ross is also an important area for renewables.
Roads
As with other Highland counties, the geography defines the road network, with most roads following the coastlines. There are, however, also roads cutting across through the valleys that provide passes, and occasionaly as with the Bealach na Ba and Mam Ratagan Pass over the hills as well. Most non-trunk roads within the traditional county are maintained by Highland while the Western Isles portion of the country is under Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Transport Scotland manage the trunk roads which include the A9, A87 and A835.
The majority of the road network in Wester Ross is A and B class routes, with most unclassified roads being long dead ends leading into the remote valleys and serving a handful of properties. In Easter Ross, there is a much denser network of unclassified roads, partly due to the easier terrain and also because of the more densely settled landscape. There are also a series of substantial and important bridges in Easter Ross, crossing the Firths. The Kessock Bridge carries the A9 across the Moray Firth into Ross-shire, whilst the Cromarty Bridge and Dornoch Firth Bridge carry the A9 over the Firths further north. Bonar Bridge and Lovat Bridge are older crossings further upstream.
Route | From | To | Length |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
A9 | Polmont, Stirlingshire (M9) | Scrabster, Caithness | 279 miles | View |
A87 | Invergarry | Uig | 99 miles | View |
A88 | Inverness | Scrabster | 157 miles | View |
A832 | Cromarty, Black Isle | Braemore Junction, Wester Ross | 125 miles | View |
A833 | Muir of Ord | Cromarty | 23.6 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 |
A857 | Stornoway | Port of Ness | 27.1 miles | View |
A858 | Liurbost | Barabhas | 28 miles | View |
A859 | Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh) | Rodel (Roghadal) | 57.9 miles | View |
A859 | Garynahine | Barvas | 21 miles | View |
A862 | Inverness | Ardullie Roundabout | 23.7 miles | View |
A866 | Stornoway | Portnaguran | 10.5 miles | View |
A890 | Achnasheen | Auchtertyre | 32.2 miles | View |
A896 | Strathcarron | Kinlochewe | 34.3 miles | View |
B817 | Drummond | Kildary | 14.1 miles | View |
B852 | Invermoriston | Cluanie | 24 miles | View |
B855 | Auchtertyre | Achnasheen | 34.5 miles | View |
B856 | Strathcarron Junction | Srathcarron Station | 1.0 mile | View |
B857 | Lochcarron | Shieldaig | 14.3 miles | View |
B858 | Torridon | Kinlochewe | 10.8 miles | View |
B859 | High Street | Station Road | 0.2 miles | View |
B859 | Braemore | Poolewe | 37.8 miles | View |
B862 | Conon Bridge | Croftnacriech | 7.5 miles | View |
B863 | Conon Bridge | Newfield | 27.5 miles | View |
B864 | Skiach, Alness | Easter Fearn | 14.5 miles | View |
B865 | Loandhu, near Tain | Portmahomack | 9.8 miles | View |
B866 | Fearn | Balintore | 1.9 miles | View |
B895 | Newmarket, Stornoway | New Tolsta (Tolastadh Ùr) | 11.5 miles | View |
B895 | Stornoway | Portnaguran | 10.3 miles | View |
B896 | Barvas | Port of Ness | 15.3 miles | View |
B896 | Garynahine | Barvas | 19.6 miles | View |
B897 | North Lochs Turn | Cuidhir | 5.8 miles | View |
B897 | Stornoway | Rodel | 57.6 miles | View |
B8010 | Stornoway(W) | Breasclete | 10.1 miles | View |
B8011 | Garrynahine (Gearraidh na h-Aibhne) | Timsgarry (Timsgearraidh) | 18.3 miles | View |
B8012 | Loch Laxavat | Carloway | 5.7 miles | View |
B8013 | Lionel (Lional) | Eoropie (Eòropaidh) | 1.2 miles | View |
B8014 | Port of Ness (Port Nis) | Eoropie (Eòropaidh) | 1.5 miles | View |
B8015 | Lionel (Lional) | Skigersta (Sgiogarstaigh) | 1.8 miles | View |
B8021 | Gairloch | Melvaig | 9.5 miles | View |
B8027 | MacAulay Road | Sandwick Road | 0.5 miles | View |
B8039 | Windhill | Balnagown | 0.8 miles | View |
B8056 | Kerrysdale | Redpoint | 8.9 miles | View |
B8057 | Poolewe | Rubha nan Sasan | 8.4 miles | View |
B8059 | Grimersta (Griomarstadh) | Barraglom | 4.9 miles | View |
B8060 | Balallan (Baile Ailean) | Lemreway (Leumrabhagh) | 13.7 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 |
B9165 | Loandhu | Portmahomack | 9.4 miles | View |
B9166 | Fearn | Balintore | 1.8 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 |
C35 | Leurbost | Acha Mor (Achmore) | 3.2 miles | View |
T1 | London | Scrabster | View | |
T99 | Invergarry | Kyle of Lochalsh | View | |
T101 | Dingwall | Ullapool | 44.8 miles | View |
Key
Junctions
Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings