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Ross-shire

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Ross-shire
Siorrachd Rois
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (148)
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 Bealach na Ba

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

Kessock Bridge, gateway to Ross-shire

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

Motorway
Primary Route
Non Primary Route
Former Motorway
Defunct Route
E Road
Future Motorway
Future Primary
Future Non Primary
Historical Route
Tourist Route
Roman Road
Unbuilt Motorway
Unbuilt Primary
Unbuilt Non Primary
National Cycle Network
Cycle Route
Eurovelo Cycle Route

Junctions

Main Article: Junctions in Ross-shire


Bridges, Tunnels, and other Crossings

Main Article: Crossings in Ross-shire






Ross-shire
Junctions
Services
Crossings
Roads
NCN1 • A9 • A87 • A88 (Inverness - Scrabster) • A832 • A833 (Black Isle) • A834 • A835 • A835/History • A836 • A836/History • A837 • A857 • A858 • A859 • A859 (Callanish - Barvas) • A862 • A866 • A890 • A896 • B817 • B852 (Glen Moriston) • B855 (Loch Carron) • B856 • B857 (Lochcarron - Shieldaig) • B858 (Torridon) • B859 (Dingwall) • B859 (Wester Ross) • B862 (Black Isle) • B863 (Black Isle) • B864 (Struie Hill) • B865 (Portmahomack) • B866 (Balintore) • B895 • B895 (Stornoway - Portnaguran) • B896 (Barvas - Port of Ness) • B896 (Garynahine - Barvas) • B897 • B897 (Stornoway - Rodel) • B8010 • B8011 • B8012 • B8013 • B8014 • B8015 • B8021 • B8027 • B8039 (Muir of Ord) • B8056 • B8057 • B8059 • B8060 • B9160 • B9161 • B9162 • B9163 • B9165 • B9166 • B9169 • B9174 • B9175 • B9176 • Black Isle Military Road • C35 (Eilean Siar) • Dornoch Tourist Routes • Moray Firth Tourist Route • NC500 • Pictish Trail • T1 (Britain) • T99 (Britain) • T101 (Britain) • Wester Ross Coastal Trail
Places
Miscellaneous
Related Pictures
View gallery (148)
Dornoch Firth Bridge - aerial from South embankment.jpgA87 Clachan Duich Bridge - view from war memorial.jpgA835 Leanaig - accident recovery - road closed.jpgFoulis Level Crossing - new approach signs 2022.jpgA9 Munlochy Junction - aerial from east August 2023.jpg
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