View source for A87 road

{{Short description|Major road through the Highland region of Scotland}}
{{for multi|the A87 in Australia|Stuart Highway|the French motorway|A87 autoroute}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox road
| country = SCT
| type = A
| route = 87
| map = [[File:A87 road map.png|200px]]
| map_custom = yes
| length_mi = 99
| direction_a = East
| terminus_a = [[Invergarry]] ({{gbmappingsmall|NH307011}})
| direction_b = West
| terminus_b = [[Uig, Snizort|Uig, Skye]] ({{gbmappingsmall|NG385635}})
| junction = *{{jct|country=GBR|A|82|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NH307011}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|887|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NH211100}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|890|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NG842273}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|851|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NG664227}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|863|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NG486298}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|855|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NG478436}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|855|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NG397641}})
*{{jct|country=GBR|A|850|name1= }} ({{gbmappingsmall|NG443481}})
| destinations = [[Invergarry]], [[Kyle of Lochalsh]], [[Skye Bridge]], [[Portree]], [[Uig, Snizort|Uig]]
| previous_type = A
| previous_route = 86
| next_type = A
| next_route = 88
}}

The '''A87''' is a major [[road]] in the [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] region of [[Scotland]].

It runs west from its junction with the [[A82 road]] at [[Invergarry]] ({{gbmappingsmall|NH307011}}), along the north shores of [[Loch Garry]] and [[Loch Cluanie]], then down through [[Glen Shiel]] and along [[Loch Duich]] to [[Kyle of Lochalsh]] before crossing the [[Skye Bridge]] to [[Kyleakin]], [[Broadford, Skye|Broadford]], and [[Portree]], before terminating at [[Uig, Snizort|Uig]] in the north of the [[Isle of Skye]].

Its total length is {{convert|99|mi|km|abbr=off}}; it is a primary route for all of its length.

== Settlement and junctions of the A87==
''Northwest – Southeast''
*[[Uig, Snizort|Uig]] &ndash; junction with the [[A855 road]]
*[[Earlish]]
*[[Romesdal]]
*[[Eyre, Skye|Eyre]]
*[[Kensaleyre]]
*[[Borve, Skye|Borve]] &ndash; junction with the [[A850 road]]
*[[Portree]] &ndash; second junction with the A855 road
*[[Glenvarragill]]
*[[Sligachan]] &ndash; junction with the [[A863 road]]
*[[Sconser]]
*[[Luib, Skye|Luib]]
*[[Dunan, Skye|Dunan]]
*[[Broadford, Skye|Broadford]]
*[[Harrapool]]
*junction with the [[A851 road]]
*[[Skulamas]]
*[[Upper Breakish]]
*[[Skye Bridge]]
*[[Kyle of Lochalsh]]
*[[Balmacara]]
*[[Kirkton (Lochalsh)|Kirkton]]
*[[Auchtertyre]]&ndash; junction with the [[A890 road]]
*[[Nostie]]
*[[Ardelve]]
*[[Dornie]]
*[[Inverinate]]
*[[Ault a' chruinn]]
*[[Invershiel]]
*[[Shiel Bridge]]
*[[Loch Cluanie]]
*junction with the [[A887 road]]
*[[Loch Garry]]
*[[Invergarry]] &ndash; junction with the A82

==Historic route==
[[File:The "Road to the Isles" - Loch Loyne - Large Bridge, from south side - geograph.org.uk - 969197.jpg|thumb|Old bridge across Loch Loyne]]
The route of the A87 has changed significantly over the years. Until the 1960s, the road ran along [[Glen Garry]] as far as [[Tomdoun]], before heading north over the hills to Glen Loyne, where it crossed [[Loch Loyne]] with two bridges. It then headed north west to the Cluanie Inn, where it joined the A887. Loch Loyne was dammed as part of a hydro-electric scheme, which put part of this road underwater. A new road was built further to the east, around Loch Loyne, joining with the A887 at Bun Loyne. The remains of the bridges on Loch Loyne are visible when the level of water in the loch is low.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=57.10416,-5.09596&map=NPEMap&zoom=7&layer=1|title=One Inch Seventh Series Map|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=21 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=57.09650,-4.95743&map=OSMap&zoom=6&layer=0|title=1:250,000 Road Map|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=21 December 2011}}</ref>

The A87 route used to involve a short ferry crossing over [[Loch Long (Highlands)|Loch Long]] at [[Dornie]], but this has since been replaced with a bridge. Nearby, the A87 used to run through the village of [[Morvich, Highland|Morvich]], around an inlet at the end [[Loch Duich]]. This has now been bypassed with a causeway and bridge.

In 1995 the Skye Bridge replaced the ferry between Kyle of Localsh on the mainland and Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. Tolls were met with considerable opposition, until removed in December 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3772871.stm|title=Skye Bridge tolls to be abolished|publisher=BBC | date=2004-06-03 | accessdate=2010-01-04}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{UK primary routes 8}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:8-0087}}
[[Category:Roads in Scotland]]
[[Category:Scenic routes in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport in Highland (council area)]]
[[Category:Isle of Skye]]
[[Category:Portree]]