Applecross
The road to Applecross, also known as the Applecross Pass or the Bealach na Bà (‘historically Bealach nam Bò’ meaning Pass of the Cattle) is a single track road with passing places that runs through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula and upwards 626 meters from sea level at its highest point, making it the 3rd highest mountain in the United Kingdom. The gradient of the climb is the steepest in the UK: learner drivers and motor home users are encouraged to take an alternative route as the drive through the pass can be challenging and frankly, nerve-wracking. The road is often closed during the winter season as the pass could be clear at sea level and have six foot drifts at the treacherous hair pin turns at the top.
The route was a simple track through the glen around 2000 years ago that was used by the Irish monk St Maelrubha , who in the year 673, with his missionaries founded a christian settlement on the land between the river and Beinn A'Chlachain. Monk Maelrubha declared the surrounding area a Sanctuary, and even today, Applecross is known as A'Chomraich - the sanctuary.
During the late 18th century through to the early 19th century most of the land between Lewis and Fortrose was owned by Mackenzie of Gairloch and Mackenzie of Applecross and they had a major say in the building of new roads in the Highlands at this time. For them the pass was to be used for droving cattle that serviced the movement of stock to markets at Muir of Ord, Falkirk and London.
There was trouble finding a contractor to take on the job of building this road as many refused. Apparently the first contractor only lasted 3 months as history states that the road drove him insane due to all the rocks and stones falling down.
Eventually completed in 1898 by Edinburgh contractors John Reid & Son, an 1898 roads guide described the Bealach na Bà: "Although the road has been engineered by a series of zig zags to ease the gradient as much as possible, nevertheless it is terribly steep, and the surface is wretched."
Improvements have been made over the years; widening at the hairpins close to the summit, better and more frequent passing places and the roads are now tarmaced, however, to take on this road and it’s gradient is still considered by many as a right of passage.
To reach the summit is a beautiful relief.
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