Some roads have a moment you remember. On our 2026 Scottish Route, it was Kylesku Bridge. The third day was a full Highland loop, and crossing the bridge became one of the standout moments of the whole tour, with snow still on the peaks and clear skies overhead.
It’s also a scheduled stop on our Highlands Route, because it makes a great photo every single time. If you’re planning to drive it yourself, here’s what to know: what it is, a little of its history, where to stop and how to get the picture.
What is Kylesku Bridge?
Kylesku Bridge carries the A894 across the narrow channel where Loch Glencoul meets Loch a’ Chàirn Bhàin, in the far north-west of Sutherland. It’s a curved concrete box girder bridge, and it forms an important link on the North Coast 500 route.
- Road: A894, with a footway for walkers
- Length: about 276 metres, with a main span of around 79 metres
- Height: the deck sits about 24 metres above high water
- Opened: July 1984, and formally opened by the Queen on 8 August 1984
- Designed by: Ove Arup and Partners, and built by Morrison Construction
From ferry to bridge
Before 1984, anyone crossing here took a ferry between Kylesku and Kylestrome. A rowing boat served the crossing in the early 19th century, and as traffic grew the ferry became a real bottleneck. Missing it could mean a very long detour round the lochs.
The bridge replaced it, and its design has been widely admired. It won several major awards in the 1980s, including the Scottish Award for Civil Engineering Construction and the Concrete Society Award, and today it’s a Category A listed structure. Since 2019 it has also carried an official Gaelic name, Drochaid a’ Chaolais Chumhaing.
Driving across Kylesku Bridge
The crossing is short, but the approach is part of the experience. The road sweeps out over the water on a gentle curve, with the lochs and mountains on either side, and it feels very different from the long, open stretches that come before it.
It’s also a working road, so only stop in the car parks at each end and never on the bridge itself. Take your time, and expect other NC500 traffic, campervans and walkers, especially in the warmer months.
Where to stop and what to see
- The north car park: the best place for photographs, with the bridge framed against the loch.
- The south car park: a good first view as you arrive, with free parking at both ends.
- Kylesku Hotel: overlooking the old ferry slipway, and known for its seafood.
- Boat trips from Kylesku: some trips head out to see Eas a’ Chual Aluinn, the UK’s highest waterfall, and pass beneath the bridge on the way.
- The nearby memorial: it honours the submariners who trained in the loch during the Second World War.
Tips for driving the Kylesku area
- Fuel up first. This is a remote part of the Highlands, with long distances between towns.
- Expect narrow roads. Some roads nearby are narrow with passing places, so use them and let others through.
- Go early. Mornings are quieter and the light on the water is at its best.
- Check the weather. Highland conditions change quickly, even in spring.
- Leave time to stop. The view is worth getting out of the car for.
A route highlight, and a scheduled stop
On the 2026 Scottish Route, Kylesku was the high point of a long loop from Nairn, and it’s exactly the kind of place a driving tour is built around: a great road, a landmark and time to enjoy both.
That’s why it’s a scheduled stop on the Highlands Route, and not just somewhere we drive past. Day three of the 2027 tour is a Highland loop that reaches Kylesku Bridge, and we plan time to park the cars, get out and take it in, instead of rushing across. A bridge like this deserves more than a glance through the windscreen.
You can read the full story on our Scottish Route 2026 page.
Why it always makes a great photo
Some places photograph well on a good day. Kylesku Bridge photographs well on almost any day, and there are a few reasons why.
- The curve. The bridge sweeps across the water in one long arc, which gives every angle a strong shape.
- The setting. Loch, hills and big Highland sky sit behind it, so you don’t need to do much to frame a good shot.
- The north car park. It’s the best vantage point for the bridge, with room to line the cars up in front of it.
- The cars. A row of sports cars parked against a landmark like this makes the kind of photograph guests keep for years.
- The light. Early and late in the day, the colour on the water and the mountains is at its best.
Take your photos from the car parks, keep clear of the road and never stop on the bridge.
Questions about Kylesku Bridge
Where is Kylesku Bridge?
In Sutherland, in the far north-west Highlands, carrying the A894 over the channel between Loch Glencoul and Loch a’ Chàirn Bhàin.
Is Kylesku Bridge on the NC500?
Yes. It’s on the A894, part of the North Coast 500 route.
When was Kylesku Bridge built?
It opened to traffic in July 1984 and replaced the Kylesku to Kylestrome ferry.
Is there parking at Kylesku Bridge?
Yes. There’s free parking at both ends, and the north side has the best views.
Can you walk across Kylesku Bridge?
Yes. The bridge has a footway, but take care because it’s a busy road.
Does a Route GT tour stop at Kylesku Bridge?
Yes. We crossed it on the 2026 Scottish Route, and it’s a scheduled stop on the Highland loop day of our 2027 Highlands Route, with time to get out and take photographs.
Is Kylesku Bridge a good place for photos?
Yes. The curved bridge, the loch and the mountains make a great picture, and the north car park is the best place to take it.
