Kinloch Hourn road closure will last months

The road to Kinloch Hourn, blocked by a landslip since November 10, will not be reopened until the middle of 2019.

This is the only vehicular access to Kinloch Hourn and is used for access to a number of Munros and Corbetts as well as the path into Knoydart to Barrisdale Bay.

Over nine thousand tonnes of soil and rock swept down the slope just before the Loch Quoich dam on 12 November blocking the road that leads in from Glen Garry road. Initially the landslip also interrupted the main power supply to Skye and most of the island was without power for a day. The power supply was quickly reconnected, but Highland Council says work will have to be done to stablise the slope, which is composed of heather and grass with no shrubs or trees, before the debris blocking the road can be restored.

Latest information is that if the winter is not too harsh the ground could be stabilised enough to allow pedestrian access by late May 2019.

In the meantime a short section of by-pass road suitable only for ATVs has been set up for residents to ferry items in and out but there is no access for any general public vehicles. While this route can be used by the general public, it involves the crossing of a substantial burn with no bridge and is potentially dangerous and not advised.

Walks affected in this area include: Gairich, Buidhe Beinn, Sgurr a’Mhaoraich, Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach, Ben Aden, Sgurr nan Eugallt, and the walk in to Barrisdale Bay from Kinloch Hourn.