Did you know
Its Gaelic name.
The bridge crosses Caolas Cumhann, the narrow strait, and the road sign bears the name.
Assynt
Kylesku Bridge
A graceful curved concrete bridge of 1984 over the narrows at Kylesku, one of the most beautiful sights on the north-west coast.
Welcome
Where Loch a' Chairn Bhain narrows, the Kylesku Bridge sweeps across in one long curve.
Visited and photographed by Simon Hird
Opened by the Queen in 1984, it is 276 metres long, and it sits low against the mountains and islets of the loch.
Before it, travellers crossed by ferry. A rowing boat carried people over from the early 1800s while cattle swam, then little car ferries came, and the last of them, the Maid of Glencoul, often carried passengers for free. The ferry had long saved travellers a detour of a hundred miles by road.
There are car parks at both ends. The northern one gives the best view of the bridge in its setting, with Quinag rising behind, and has a plaque to the opening and a cairn to the midget submarine crews who trained in these waters during the Second World War. The lower southern car park shows off the bridge's V-shaped piers.
The Daily
Arrives at 5am every day.
A free morning email to see what’s on this week, catch up on what’s happening in Scotland and find somewhere new to go.
Before you go
Open at any hour and free, with viewpoints and car parks at both ends.
- Where
- On the A894 at Kylesku, IV27 4HW.
- Opened
- 1984.
- Length
- 276 metres.
Been here? Tell others what you know, and the best go on this page with your name.
Add your reviewDid you know
Did you know
Submarines in the loch.
Midget submarine crews of the XIIth Submarine Flotilla trained in these waters from 1943; a cairn by the bridge remembers them.
Hidden Scotland
From our guide to Sutherland
The Kylesku Bridge sweeps across the narrows of Loch a' Chairn Bhain in one long, graceful curve, and against the mountains it is a lovely thing to look at. It opened in 1984, replacing the ferries that had carried people across the narrows since the early 1800s. Stop at the car park on the north side for the best view, with Quinag rising behind. A cairn there remembers the crews of the midget submarines who trained in these waters during the Second World War. The lower car park on the south side shows off the bridge's slender V-shaped piers.
Read moreWhat is on
What is new across Assynt, day by day.
New places, news and stories, as we find them.
What is on in AssyntWhere it is
On the A894 between Assynt and the far north-west; car parks on the north side and below the bridge on the south side.
Close byAssynt.
Kylesku Hotel RestaurantThe inn by the old ferry slipway.Under a mile 1 min by road
North West Sea ToursUnder a mile 1 min by road
Glendhu Bothy1 mile 2 min by road
Kylesku House2 miles 3 min by road
AssyntThe mountains to the south.8 miles 10 min by road
Sandwood BayA wild beach far to the north.29 miles 43 min by road
Hidden Scotland, the magazine
Scotland, in print.
We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.
Read on
What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more in Assynt.
Find out more
For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .
- KyleskuThe ferry, the bridge and the village.undiscoveredscotland.co.ukUndiscovered Scotland↗
- Kylesku Bridge on GoogleThe viewpoints on the map.google.comGoogle↗
- Quinag and KyleskuThe mountain above the bridge.johnmuirtrust.orgJohn Muir Trust↗
- Kylesku HotelThe inn below the bridge.kyleskuhotel.co.ukKylesku Hotel↗