Britain's most dangerous road is now tourist attraction with Jeremy Clarkson among visitors

Edinburgh Live

22-05-2025

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Widely regarded as Britain's most dangerous road, the Bealach na Bà, or the Applecross Pass as it's more commonly known, is not for the faint hearted.
Sitting over 2,000 feet above sea level at its highest point, the road connects the village of Applecross in Scotland to Loch Kishorn on the coast, roughly seven miles away.
Sometimes deemed to be so dangerous that it is forced to close, the road often faces winter road closures when Scotland is covered in snow.
But, buried beneath the picturesque cliffs of the Scottish Highlands, the rocky, winding roads of Applecross present a risk all-year- round for drivers who hold their nerve and take the trip.
(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Drivers are given a gentle reminder of the potential dangers ahead, with a carefully located sign giving them enough time to re-route and take a more placid journey. The sign reads: "Learner drivers, very large vehicles and caravans should turn away and take the more leisurely 7.5-mile coastal route instead."
However, despite some drivers and cyclists feeling some obvious trepidation about taking the difficult route across the Highlands, the Applecross Pass has seen a new lease of life in recent years after it was included in the North Coast 500.
Since launching in 2015, the North Coast 500 sees drivers take in some of the country's most breath-taking landscapes as they complete the 500 mile road trip through the likes of Wester Cross, Sutherland and Caithness.
(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
While Applecross has historically been something to avoid for some road users, the North Coast 500 has helped transform the fortunes of the road in recent years.
One of those to take on the challenge of the stunning over 500-mile road trip is former Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson, who previously drove the North Coast 500 during his Amazon Prime series, Grand Tour in 2019.
(Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, local business owner, Judith Fish, who operates the nearby Applecross Inn, spoke of the impact that the North Coast 500 has had on the stunning stretch of road, telling the Telegraph: "There are some snarl-ups on there with the bigger motorhomes coming head to head, and in the passing places it can be tight with two cars.
"Often, somebody has to reverse. We see approximately five punctures a week up there, minimum, because people pull off the edge and cut the inside of their tyres."
(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
She added: "There's a lot more rallies, and that's what aggravates the people living here because they block the road. People don't live here for that sort of thing."