A830 road

The A830, sometimes known as the Road to the Isles (although in reality it forms only a part of that historic route), is a road in Lochaber, in the Highlands of Scotland, which connects the town of Fort William to the port of Mallaig.

The road passes through several small settlements, including Corpach, Glenfinnan and Arisaig and bypasses the village of Morar. Mostly single-carriageway, work was expected to begin in May 2006 on rebuilding the remaining single-track section between Arisaig and Lochailort, but was delayed by requirements of the EU Habitats Directive. Construction began in 2007 [cite news | title=Conservation rules delay start of road to the Isles work | work=Aberdeen Press and Journal | date=2006-06-23 | accessdate=2006-11-13 | page=6] and for now the section remains the only single track trunk road still in use in the UK. On 25th May 2008 the road was featured in the BBC TV programme Countryfile.

The Road to the Isles

'The Road to the Isles' is actually an ancient road which leaves General Wade's military road from Stirling to Inverness at Tummel Bridge, along the northern banks of the River Tummel and Loch Rannoch roughly along the present day B846. Where today's road runs out the old road continued over Rannoch Moor towards Kings House on the A82, over the Devil's Staircase and past Kinlochleven, to meet the present A830 at Fort William.

ong

There is a traditional Scottish song about the road, called "The Road to the Isles". The lyrics mention locations the road passes, including (in order): the Cuillin Hills, Tummel, Loch Rannoch, Lochaber, Shiel, Ailort, Morar, the Skerries and the Lews.

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