A82 road
Encyclopedia
The A82 is a trunk road
in Scotland
. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands
, running from Glasgow
to Inverness
, going by Loch Lomond
, Glen Coe
and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other principal route to Inverness from the south of Scotland. In the Gàidhealtachd
(the Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland), the A82 is equipped with bilingual road signs - currently the only long distance trunk route in the Highlands from the South to be thus furnished.
's Great Western Terrace, and Devonshire Gardens
. The road runs northwest through the city, through Kelvinside
, Anniesland
, Blairdardie
, Clydebank
and Dumbarton, before turning north to head up the western shore of Loch Lomond
. At Tarbet, Argyll and Bute , the A83
branches off west to Campbeltown
.
From Tarbet, the A82 then leads through Crianlarich
and Tyndrum
. From Crianlarich and Tyndrum , respectively, the A85
runs east to Perth
and west to Oban
.
The A82 continues north and passes the western fringes of Rannoch Moor
and through the spectacular Glen Coe
. The road then crosses Loch Leven
and runs along the side of Loch Linnhe
to Fort William. From Fort William it follows the line of the Great Glen
(through which the Caledonian Canal
also runs) northeast through Fort Augustus
and up the western shore of Loch Ness
before ending at junctions with the A9 in Inverness
.
The A82 North of Tyndrum and over Rannoch Moor
was built in the 1930s using unemployed labour, in an attempt to provide work.
Some statistics seem to indicate that the A82 between Tarbet and Tyndrum is the third most dangerous road in Scotland though other research publicised in 2011 disputes this.
The Tarbert to Tyndrum stretch of the A82 follows the edge of Loch Lomond, frequently narrowing and including a number of hairpin bends. The road is squeezed between the railway line and the loch, with hill sides rising steeply, posing challenges to any road improvement plans.
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, running from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, going by Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
, Glen Coe
Glen Coe
Glen Coe is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the southern part of the Lochaber committee area of Highland Council, and was formerly part of the county of Argyll. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated...
and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other principal route to Inverness from the south of Scotland. In the Gàidhealtachd
Gàidhealtachd
The Gàidhealtachd , sometimes known as A' Ghàidhealtachd , usually refers to the Scottish highlands and islands, and especially the Scottish Gaelic culture of the area. The corresponding Irish word Gaeltacht however refers strictly to an Irish speaking area...
(the Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland), the A82 is equipped with bilingual road signs - currently the only long distance trunk route in the Highlands from the South to be thus furnished.
Route
The A82 begins in the St. Georges Cross area of central Glasgow, at junctions with the M8 and the A804 , before threading through the city's West End. Glasgow's "Boulevard" (known officially as Great Western Road), is also this urban section of the A82, passing a number of the city's finest terraces, including Alexander "Greek" ThomsonAlexander Thomson
Alexander "Greek" Thomson was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime...
's Great Western Terrace, and Devonshire Gardens
One Devonshire Gardens
One Devonshire Gardens , is a luxury hotel located in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. It is well-known for its celebrity guests, including George Clooney, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Jon Bon Jovi...
. The road runs northwest through the city, through Kelvinside
Kelvinside
Kelvinside is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde and is bounded by Dowanhill, Hyndland and Broomhill to the South with Kelvindale and the River Kelvin to the North...
, Anniesland
Anniesland
Anniesland is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde, and centres around the junction of the Great Western Road and Crow Road; also known as Anniesland Cross....
, Blairdardie
Blairdardie
Blairdardie is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde. The main A82 "Great Western Road" runs right through the middle creating a South Blairdardie which extends to the Forth and Clyde canal. There are two primary schools in Blairdardie...
, Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
and Dumbarton, before turning north to head up the western shore of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
. At Tarbet, Argyll and Bute , the A83
A83 road
The A83 is a major road in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, running from Tarbet, on the western shore of Loch Lomond, where it splits from the A82, to Campbeltown at the southern end of the Kintyre peninsula.-Route:...
branches off west to Campbeltown
Campbeltown
Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran , it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell was granted the site in 1667...
.
From Tarbet, the A82 then leads through Crianlarich
Crianlarich
Crianlarich is a village in the Stirling district and registration county of Perthshire, Scotland, about six miles north-east of the head of Loch Lomond...
and Tyndrum
Tyndrum
Tyndrum is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.The village is notable mainly for being at an important crossroads of transport routes...
. From Crianlarich and Tyndrum , respectively, the A85
A85 road
The A85 is a major road in Scotland. It runs east from Oban along the south bank of Loch Etive, through Lochawe and Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Crieff before passing through Perth, where it crosses the River Tay via Perth Bridge. Its name between the latter two locations is...
runs east to Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and west to Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
.
The A82 continues north and passes the western fringes of Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor is a large expanse of around 50 square miles of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch, in Perth and Kinross and Lochaber, Highland, partly northern Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
and through the spectacular Glen Coe
Glen Coe
Glen Coe is a glen in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the southern part of the Lochaber committee area of Highland Council, and was formerly part of the county of Argyll. It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, and is a part of the designated...
. The road then crosses Loch Leven
Loch Leven (Highlands)
Loch Leven 'is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. It is spelled Loch Lyon in Timothy Pont's map of the areaand is pronounced Li' un. There is a Leven in Lennox and another in Glen Lyon similarly pronounced...
and runs along the side of Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
to Fort William. From Fort William it follows the line of the Great Glen
Great Glen
The Great Glen , also known as Glen Albyn or Glen More is a series of glens in Scotland running 100 kilometres from Inverness on the Moray Firth, to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe.The Great Glen follows a large geological fault known as the Great Glen Fault...
(through which the Caledonian Canal
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
also runs) northeast through Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus is a settlement in the Scottish Highlands, at the south west end of Loch Ness. The village has a population of around 646 ; its economy is heavily reliant on tourism....
and up the western shore of Loch Ness
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately southwest of Inverness. Its surface is above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie"...
before ending at junctions with the A9 in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
The A82 North of Tyndrum and over Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor is a large expanse of around 50 square miles of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch, in Perth and Kinross and Lochaber, Highland, partly northern Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
was built in the 1930s using unemployed labour, in an attempt to provide work.
Some statistics seem to indicate that the A82 between Tarbet and Tyndrum is the third most dangerous road in Scotland though other research publicised in 2011 disputes this.
The Tarbert to Tyndrum stretch of the A82 follows the edge of Loch Lomond, frequently narrowing and including a number of hairpin bends. The road is squeezed between the railway line and the loch, with hill sides rising steeply, posing challenges to any road improvement plans.