A83 road
Encyclopedia
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.
to Arrochar
near the head of Loch Long. It then goes round the head of the loch, and along the western shore for a short distance, before turning NW up Glen Croe
to the Rest and be thankful viewpoint picnic area (56°13′36"N 4°51′25"W), at the pass through the Arrochar Alps
from the shore of Loch Long to that of Loch Fyne
. It was near this spot that an RAF Tornado crashed on 2 July 2009.
Rest and be thankful are the words inscribed on a stone near the junction of the A83 and the B828, placed there by soldiers who built the original military road in 1753, now referred to as the Drovers' road. The original stone fell into ruin and was replaced by a commemorative stone at the same site.
The section is so named as the climb out of Glen Croe is so long and steep at the end that it was traditional for travellers to rest at the top, and be thankful for having reached the highest point. The current road no longer keeps to the floor of Glen Croe but steadily climbs across the southern slopes of The Cobbler
, on the north side of the Glen, to the highest point of the pass. The westward descent to Loch Fyne is through Glen Kinglas, and from here the A815, the main road to Dunoon
and the Cowal
peninsula, branches off to the south.
On reaching the shore of Loch Fyne, the main road follows the eastern shore of the loch northwards to its head and then goes south west along the western shore through Inveraray
and then on to Lochgilphead
and Ardrishaig
, where it crosses the entrance to the Crinan Canal
.
From Ardrishaig the road continues south to Tarbert, where it crosses over to the western shore of the Kintyre
peninsula. In the final section it passes through the villages of Whitehouse, Clachan
, Tayinloan
, Muasdale
and Bellochantuy
before finally crossing back to the east of the peninsula, on the Firth of Clyde
coast, as it reaches Campbeltown
.
s, causing significant disruption to local traffic. The road was closed here due to a 400-ton landslide on 28 October 2007. The road was partially reopened on Monday 10 November. A 1,070 tonne landslide closed the road around noon on 8 September 2009. The road reopened at 15.00 on 10 September 2009. The most recent landslip was on 1 December 2011, which closed the road for 24 hours.
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
, 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...
, running from Tarbet, on 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...
, where it splits from the A82
A82 road
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...
, 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...
at the southern end of the Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
peninsula.
Route
From Tarbet the A83 runs west across the watershed between Loch Lomond and Loch LongLoch Long
Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The sea loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately 20 miles in length, with a width of between one and two miles...
to Arrochar
Arrochar, Scotland
Arrochar is a village located near the head of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It is overlooked by a group of mountains called the Arrochar Alps, and in particular by the distinctive rocky summit of The Cobbler. It enjoys good communications as it is at the junction of the A83 and A814...
near the head of Loch Long. It then goes round the head of the loch, and along the western shore for a short distance, before turning NW up Glen Croe
Glen Croe
Glen Croe is a glen in the heart of the Arrochar Alps surrounded by large and rugged mountains characterised by huge boulders.-Geography:Glen Croe is located to the north west of Loch Lomond and Loch Long, draining into the latter. At the head of the glen is the pass leading to Glen Kinglas...
to the Rest and be thankful viewpoint picnic area (56°13′36"N 4°51′25"W), at the pass through the Arrochar Alps
Arrochar Alps
The Arrochar Alps are a group of mountains located around the head of Loch Long, Loch Fyne,and Loch Goil, near the villages of Arrochar and Lochgoilhead in Argyll, Scotland. The mountains are especially popular with hillwalkers, due to their proximity and accessibility from Glasgow...
from the shore of Loch Long to that of Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs...
. It was near this spot that an RAF Tornado crashed on 2 July 2009.
Rest and be thankful are the words inscribed on a stone near the junction of the A83 and the B828, placed there by soldiers who built the original military road in 1753, now referred to as the Drovers' road. The original stone fell into ruin and was replaced by a commemorative stone at the same site.
The section is so named as the climb out of Glen Croe is so long and steep at the end that it was traditional for travellers to rest at the top, and be thankful for having reached the highest point. The current road no longer keeps to the floor of Glen Croe but steadily climbs across the southern slopes of The Cobbler
The Cobbler
The Cobbler is a mountain of 884 m height located near the head of Loch Long in Scotland. It is a Corbett...
, on the north side of the Glen, to the highest point of the pass. The westward descent to Loch Fyne is through Glen Kinglas, and from here the A815, the main road to Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
and the Cowal
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
peninsula, branches off to the south.
On reaching the shore of Loch Fyne, the main road follows the eastern shore of the loch northwards to its head and then goes south west along the western shore through Inveraray
Inveraray
Inveraray is a royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, and on the A83 road. It is the traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll.-Coat of arms:...
and then on to Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead is a town and former burgh in Scotland, with a population of around 3,000 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. The town lies at the end of Loch Gilp and lies on the banks of the Crinan Canal....
and Ardrishaig
Ardrishaig
Ardrishaig is a lochside village at the southern entrance to the Crinan Canal in west Scotland, in Argyll. Ardrishaig had 1,283 inhabitants in 2001....
, where it crosses the entrance to the Crinan Canal
Crinan Canal
The Crinan canal is a canal in the west of Scotland. It takes its name from the village of Crinan at its westerly end. Nine miles long, it connects the village of Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp with the Sound of Jura, providing a navigable route between the Clyde and the Inner Hebrides, without the need...
.
From Ardrishaig the road continues south to Tarbert, where it crosses over to the western shore of the Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
peninsula. In the final section it passes through the villages of Whitehouse, Clachan
Clachan
A clachan is a type of small traditional settlement common in Ireland and Scotland until the middle of the 20th century. It is usually defined as a small village lacking a church, post office, or other formal building. Their origin is unknown, but it is likely that they are of a very ancient...
, Tayinloan
Tayinloan
Tayinloan is a village situated on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The village has a sub post office and general store, a small hotel , a village hall and a play park. The nearest towns are Campbeltown and Tarbert .A ferry service runs between the village...
, Muasdale
Muasdale
Muasdale is a hamlet on the western coast of the Kintyre Peninsula of Scotland. As of the year 2000 Muasdale had a population of 300. By the year 1750 the Roy map showed a coastal track along the west coast of Kintyre, even though the population level of the entire southern peninsula was very...
and Bellochantuy
Bellochantuy
Bellochantuy is a small coastal hamlet located on the A83 in Argyll , Scotland around 10 miles north of Campbeltown.Argyll Hotel Bellochanty became the first mainland building in Britain damaged by enemy action when strafed by a German aircraft.-Etymology:...
before finally crossing back to the east of the peninsula, on the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
coast, as it reaches 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...
.
Landslides
The stretch south of the Rest and be thankful junction has been closed on a number of occasions due to landslideLandslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s, causing significant disruption to local traffic. The road was closed here due to a 400-ton landslide on 28 October 2007. The road was partially reopened on Monday 10 November. A 1,070 tonne landslide closed the road around noon on 8 September 2009. The road reopened at 15.00 on 10 September 2009. The most recent landslip was on 1 December 2011, which closed the road for 24 hours.
External links
- 2007 Rest and Be Thankful Landslide, British Geological SurveyBritish Geological SurveyThe British Geological Survey is a partly publicly funded body which aims to advance geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its continental shelf by means of systematic surveying, monitoring and research. The BGS headquarters are in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, but other centres...
- 2009 Rest and Be Thankful Landslide, British Geological Survey