B869 (Drumbeg Road) is a truly fantastic drive in Scotland

B869 (Drumbeg Road) is a very scenic drive located in the Assynt district of Sutherland in the Highland council area of Scotland. It’s said to be one of the finest scenic roads of the country.

How long is the B869 road?

Part of the NC500, the road is 35.4km (22 miles) long, running from Lochinver (at the head of the sea loch Loch Inver) to Unapool. This picturesque route has stunning views of lochs, mountains and sea. Make sure you stop at Achmelvich and Clachtoll beaches - both spectacular beaches, with turquoise waters and white sand.

Is the B869 road challenging?

The road is totally paved but it’s not an easy drive. It’s a truly fantastic drive along a single track road, with steep hills and unexpected switchbacks. It is not recommended for novice or nervous drivers because of these tight, and sometimes blind, bends. There are plenty of straight drops to the sea that make you feel like you will end up going for a swim. The road has steep sections, hitting a 25% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps and tops out at 132m (436ft) above the sea level. The road is not wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass one another. Due its narrowness it is not suitable for coaches and caravans.

Is the B869 road worth it?

To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 1 and 1.5 hours. This stunning asphalted coastal road it's empty in the winter, but is nightmarish in the summer when tourists head for its beaches. It is surely one of the most scenic drives in Scotland, with plenty of passing places so you can stop frequently to take in the magnificent views of loch, mountain and sea.