Revisiting HC’s South Loch Ness Road Improvement Strategy (SLN RIS)
Issued Sep 2014; due to be revisited and updated, but applicable as it stands.
Further to the SNCC’s meeting on 16 March 2026, SNCC have requested sight of the above document, to better understand and better inform the community of what the Highland Council’s long term vision is for the B851 and other roads which impact the SNCC area; and with this what provision is currently in place.
SLN RIS opens with the following summary “Road widening to twin track standard, shared-use path provision, village enhancement and drainage improvement to this very important strategic route serving the South Loch Ness area”.
For full details see SLN RIS Strategy Document 2014
On its issue to SNCC – as of Mar 2026 – the HC Roads Department have cautioned:
- Document – published in 2014 – clearly sets out the importance and Strategy for the principal B-route corridors serving South Loch Ness.
- Intention to revise the document annually/bi-annually has not happened due to current workload and resources.
- Planned revision to this document to reflect design and methodologies used over recent years and append plans giving more clarity to the discrete Schemes that make up the Strategy.
As it stands, core takeaways from the document are as follows:
On principal goal
“The principal goal of this resulting strategy is to upgrade the principal B-class roads from mainly single track to twin track standard, deliver a shared-use path, improve the road environment through local villages and settlements, and improve road drainage.”
On the 4 defined ‘principal routes’ to the South Loch Ness Area
Primary focus:
- B851 > A9 to B862, passing through Invernarnie, Farr, Brinmore, Croachy, Aberarder etc
- B862 > Inverness to Fort Augustus, passing through Dores, Torness, Errogie, Gorthleck, Whitebridge etc.
Secondary focus:
- B861 > Inverness to Inverarnie, passing through Newton of Leys, Balnafoich etc.
- B852 > B862 at Dores to B862 at Whitebridge or thereby, passing through Inverfarigaig, Easter Boleskine, Foyers etc.
On twin tracking and/or improvements
- Principal roads are considered vital to the economic stability and growth of South Loch Ness.
- Single track road improvements are not considered a viable, long-term option to deliver a ‘fit-for purpose’ road network.
- Road improvements are focused on B851, B862 (the first two specifically) and B861 and B852 (to a lesser degree).
- Twin tracking is the planned outcome subject to land acquisition along its length and with the exception of sections which are impossible to widen.
- For areas where twin tracking can not be brought in sections of road would be improved with higher frequency of passing places.
- All areas of open road would then remain at speed limits in line with open countryside/rural roads.
- Traffic calming will be restricted to villages/settlement only.
- Where flooding is known to exist, drainage solutions will form part of the planned solution.
On Village Improvement Schemes
- Numerous villages and settlements exist in South Loch Ness and typically they require a different approach to the open road sections.
- With speed restrictions in place and a concentration of people and amenity facilities then twin tracking is not always the most appropriate improvement method as this may be counter-productive to reducing speeds.
- Further measures are required to maintain speed reduction through villages and better serve local resident’s needs, such as: Shared-use Path provision; Village parking; Passing opportunities; ‘Safer Routes to School’; Speed reduction measures.
- Where the road enters existing villages/settlement – and this has not yet been carried out in the intervening period – there is a planned Village Improvement Scheme (VIS).
- Examples of VIS in action/already rolled out in the intervening period can be found around Inverarnie and Farr.
- It is proposed that this will be extended to other villages/settlements, in time/funds permitting.
On planned funding sources
- Developer obligations
- Developer contributions
- Highland Council capital funding
- Scottish Government’s Strategic Timber Transport Scheme. (Current in 2014)
On alignment with Highland Council’s Corporate Plan ‘Working Together for the Highlands’ (Current in 2014)
Through directly delivering on key areas of the program:
- Working together for the economy
- Working together for better infrastructure
- Working together to empower our communities
Highland Local Transport Strategy 2025-2035
Further to this information please see the wider but parallel HC strategy. highland-local-transport-strategy-2025-2035
Extracted from the introduction to the above document (current as of 19 March 2026):
“This Local Transport Strategy (LTS) sets out the future policy direction and focus for how The Highland Council will maintain, manage and improve the transport system in Highland over the 10-year period from 2025 to 2035. It covers the movement of people and goods and considers all modes of transport across Highland. The transport system, and this LTS, will have a key role in contributing to the delivery of the Our Future Highland Administration programme 2022-2027 which has five key priorities:
- A Fair and Caring Highland
Working together to improve quality of life and opportunities for Highland people. - Resilient and Sustainable Communities
Helping our communities to be prosperous, sustainable and resilient, making a positive difference to the lives of people. - Accessible and Sustainable Highland Homes
Build houses to support communities and economic growth. - A Sustainable Highland Environment and Global Centre for Renewable Energy
Accelerate our response to the climate and ecological emergency. Making the most of the financial and environmental opportunities arising from the huge renewable energy potential in the Highlands. - A Resilient and Sustainable Council
Work with partners to address service delivery challenges with a positive approach to change.
The LTS also responds to national Net Zero commitments and other drivers that influence where, when and how both people travel, and goods are moved.”