Kylesku Bridge, Sutherland

Bridge and Waterfalls near Sutherland

Kylesku Bridge on a sunny day
Kylesku Bridge on a sunny day
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Geni

Kylesku Bridge is a short stop that somehow feels bigger than it is. The bridge's distinctive curve sweeps across a narrow, strongly tidal channel, linking Kylesku and Kylestrome with a view that instantly explains why people talk about it as a Highlands icon. Even if you're “just passing through,” the setting is the real headline: sea lochs folding into each other, jagged hills on the horizon, and the kind of light that changes the whole scene every few minutes.

It’s one of the must-see places in Kylesku because it’s not only photogenic, it’s genuinely atmospheric-especially when you can hear the water moving beneath you and feel the wind coming off Loch Glencoul. If you’re piecing together a walking tour of Kylesku, the bridge works perfectly as a centrepiece: a quick viewpoint stop, then a short wander for different angles, then back into the village for a boat trip or a quiet meal with loch views.

History and Significance of the Kylesku Bridge

Kylesku Bridge opened in 1984, replacing the old ferry crossing and transforming how people moved through this remote corner of Sutherland. In practical terms, it removed a bottleneck and made the route more reliable year-round, but it also became a symbol of how modern infrastructure can sit confidently in a wild landscape without overpowering it.

The bridge is widely admired not only for its location but for its engineering: a sweeping, curved structure designed to handle strong winds and a challenging marine environment. The curve isn’t just aesthetic-it helps the road align naturally with the lochs and hills, so the approach feels like it belongs to the landscape rather than cutting across it.

There’s also a quieter layer of significance in the surrounding waters. The nearby lochs were used for wartime training, and the area carries a sense of history that goes beyond the bridge itself, blending modern construction with older stories of the Highlands, the sea, and the people who worked these waters long before the NC500 existed.

Things to See and Do in the Kylesku Bridge

Start by using the viewpoints on either side of the crossing to see the bridge’s full curve. From the right angle, it looks almost like it’s floating above the water, and the hills behind it give the scene a scale that photos rarely capture properly. If you enjoy slow travel, linger for ten minutes and you’ll notice the whole place shifting as the tide moves and the clouds slide across the ridgelines.

In summer, one of the best add-ons is a boat trip from the old ferry slip in Kylesku, heading into the sea lochs toward the towering Eas a’ Chual Aluinn waterfall at the head of Loch Glencoul. Seeing the bridge from the water is a different perspective entirely, and the boat route gives you a front-row seat to the geology and wildlife that make this stretch of coast feel so alive.

If you prefer to stay on foot, take the short walk around the back of Kylesku village for elevated views of Loch Glencoul and the bridge. It’s an easy, satisfying loop that feels like a “bonus viewpoint” without committing to a full hike, and it’s particularly good later in the day when the light softens.

A mile south at Unapool, the Geopark Rock Stop adds context to what you’re looking at. The small exhibition helps you read the landscape, and nearby you can view the Glencoul Thrust-an extraordinary geological feature where older rock layers were pushed up and over younger ones, leaving the kind of evidence that makes the Highlands feel like an open book of deep time.

How to Get to the Kylesku Bridge

Inverness Airport is the most convenient airport for this part of the Highlands, giving you the best range of onward options for the northwest. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Sutherland on Booking.com.
Stornoway Airport can work if you’re combining the Outer Hebrides with the mainland, but it adds ferry planning and extra travel time. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Sutherland on Booking.com.

The nearest practical rail options are Inverness (for onward connections) and Lairg on the Far North Line, after which you'll need a bus, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer to reach Kylesku. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio..
Train travel can be a scenic way to reduce driving, but the final leg still needs careful planning because services are limited and spread out. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio..

By bus, you can reach some nearby villages on regional routes, but schedules can be infrequent and connections don’t always line up neatly for short stops. If you’re relying on public transport, it’s best to plan Kylesku as an overnight base rather than a quick in-and-out detour.

Driving is the simplest way to visit: the bridge sits on the A894, a key stretch connecting the coast road network between areas such as Lochinver, Unapool, and Scourie, and it’s a natural stop on the North Coast 500 loop. .

Practical Tips on Visiting the Kylesku Bridge

  • Entrance fee: Free.
  • Opening hours: 24 Hours
  • Best time to visit: Early morning for quieter roads and cleaner views, or late afternoon for softer light on the lochs and hills. If the wind is strong, keep the stop short and focus on the safest viewpoints.
  • How long to spend: 15-30 minutes is ideal for photos and a couple of angles. Allow 60-90 minutes if you’re adding the short walk around the back of Kylesku village for extra viewpoints.
  • Accessibility: You can get excellent views with minimal walking, but some pull-ins have uneven ground and you’ll be close to traffic. Take care stepping out of the car, and choose the flattest viewpoint areas for an easier stop.
  • Facilities: Facilities are limited at the viewpoints, so plan toilets, food, and fuel around nearby stops in Kylesku or along the A894. In summer, a boat trip from Kylesku village is a good add-on if you want more than a quick roadside pause.

Where to Stay Close to the Kylesku Bridge

For the easiest visit, base yourself in Kylesku for immediate access to the bridge and boat trips; if your priority is a wider choice of services and day-trip range, use Lochinver as a more flexible hub for the Assynt and northwest coast.

If you want the classic stay that keeps you right by the water and close to the viewpoints, Kylesku Hotel is the obvious choice and makes sunrise and sunset stops effortless. For a comfortable Highlands base with a little more village feel and practical amenities, Eddrachilles Hotel works well if you’re also exploring the wider coast by day. If you’d rather stay in a larger service town and treat Kylesku as an easy day trip, Culag Hotel is a convenient base with straightforward access to multiple scenic routes.

Is the Kylesku Bridge Worth Visiting?

Yes, because it’s one of those stops where the scenery does most of the work. Even if you only have fifteen minutes, the combination of the bridge’s curve, the tidal channel below, and the sea loch landscape around it makes it feel unmistakably “Highlands,” not just “nice view.”

It’s also worth it because it layers well. You can keep it quick as a photo stop, or build it into a half-day with the village walk, the Rock Stop at Unapool, or a boat trip deeper into Loch Glencoul for waterfall and wilderness views.

For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This is a strong family stop because the reward is instant: you park, step out, and there’s a dramatic viewpoint with plenty to look at. Keep children close around the roadside viewpoints, and treat the visit as a short, high-impact break between longer driving legs.

If you want to add an activity, the village walk is a good option because it’s short and scenic without feeling like a “serious hike.” Boat trips can also work well for families in calmer weather, especially if you frame it as a wildlife-spotting adventure.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, Kylesku Bridge is all about atmosphere-big water, big sky, and a sense of being far from everything. It's ideal for a slow stop where you take a few photos, then simply stand and watch the tide and light move through the lochs.

Turn it into a mini date by pairing the bridge viewpoint with a boat trip or a leisurely meal nearby, then come back later for a second look when the light changes. It’s one of those places that feels different every time you see it.

Budget Travelers

Kylesku Bridge is perfect on a budget because it's free and delivers a genuinely iconic landscape moment without tickets or tours. Your main cost is transport, so the best strategy is clustering nearby stops into one loop to reduce backtracking and fuel use.

If you’re travelling the NC500 with a tight budget, this is exactly the kind of stop that makes the trip feel rich without spending much. Pack snacks, plan your fuel stops, and use the viewpoints and short walks as your “high value” highlights.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.7 (1,344)

Kylesku Bridge, Kylesku IV27 4HW, is a compact Highland stop with parking on both sides and striking viewpoints over the bridge, valley and nearby lochs; visitors praise short walks from the car park that give superb panoramas, suggest the northern car park for clear bridge-and-loch views, and note the south side has a small local restaurant and boat trips for wildlife watching, while one side is more sheltered for wild camping if it's windy.

Boxer girl
4 months ago
"Incredible. We drove up to Kylesku from Aviemore and it was the most stu ing drive. We visit the Highlands every year and each time brings newwonders. A little known viewing spot...if you're looking at the bridge head on from the car park, cross the road and walk a few feet over to the guard rail. Walk inside the rail and on the left there is a way to climb up the side of the hill, very short few steps. Views are spectacular...."
CairnAlba GSDs
2 weeks ago
"Well worth stopping off and taking in the stu ing surroundings the scenery is beautiful"
Alex Haas
2 months ago
"Been across this bridge a bunch of times. But the area offers so many views and viewpoints that I've never actually stopped. Until this years. Iparked at the northern carpark (I was the only one there that cloudy summer day) with wonderful views looking at the bridge, the valley, Loch a' Chairn Bhain and Loch Glea Dubh. The bridge co ects the latter two. It's a beautiful little spot - as there are so many. That's why I keep coming up here. There's a always some place you've missed, a new place to discover, a new walk to take...I just love the Highlands. Surely worth a stop, especially on a quiet day like we've got...."

FAQs for Visiting Kylesku Bridge

Getting There

It spans the narrow tidal channel beside Kylesku, linking the road between Kylesku and Kylestrome on the A894. You’ll naturally cross it if you’re travelling through this part of the northwest Highlands.
Park at one of the roadside viewpoint areas and do a short out-and-back walk to change your angle and height slightly. Even small shifts in position make a big difference to how the curve and lochs look.
Drive north via Unapool on the A894 and you’ll reach the bridge as the road curves along the sea lochs. It’s a scenic drive, but allow extra time for single-track etiquette and slow-moving traffic in peak season.
Yes, there are informal viewpoint pull-ins, but they can be busy in summer and require careful, considerate parking. Driving is worth it because public transport options are limited and the stop is designed around quick roadside access.

Tickets & Entry

Yes, it’s a public road bridge with free access at any time. You’re paying only with time and attention-especially when pulling in and out near viewpoints.
No booking is needed for the bridge itself. If you plan to do a boat trip from Kylesku, booking ahead can be sensible in peak summer when spaces fill quickly.

Visiting Experience

Fifteen to twenty minutes is enough for a quick viewpoint stop and photos. If the weather is changing fast, you may want longer because the scene can improve dramatically in a short window.
Yes, as long as conditions are safe, because wind and rain can make the lochs feel even more dramatic. In very strong winds, keep the stop short and stay cautious around exposed edges and passing traffic.

Tours, Context & Itineraries

Yes, it’s one of the most commonly photographed and naturally occurring “must-stop” points on the route. Many people use it as the anchor between Assynt scenery and the northwest coastal stretch.
Combine the bridge viewpoints with the short village walk for a second angle, then stop at the Rock Stop in Unapool to understand the geology you’re driving through. It’s a satisfying loop that feels varied without being time-consuming.

Photography

Yes, especially if you like wide landscapes where a strong shape anchors the scene. The bridge’s curve reads best from slightly elevated angles where you can see both the structure and the tidal channel beneath.
Late afternoon often brings softer light and more texture on the hills and water, but changing cloud can create great moments at any time. If you can, stop twice-once on the way through and once later when the light has shifted.

Accessibility & Facilities

The viewpoints are roadside, so you can get excellent views with minimal walking. The main limitation is uneven ground near some pull-ins and the need to be careful around traffic.
Facilities are limited immediately at the viewpoints, so it’s best to plan stops around nearby villages or businesses. If you’re continuing your route, build in a proper services stop before or after rather than relying on the bridge area.

Nearby Attractions to the Kylesku Bridge

  • Eas a’ Chual Aluinn: Britain’s highest waterfall, best seen by boat trip into Loch Glencoul or via a longer hike from the interior.
  • Loch Glencoul: A dramatic sea loch framed by steep hills, with viewpoints that make the landscape feel almost fjord-like.
  • The Rock Stop (Unapool): A small visitor centre and café with geology exhibits and a great vantage for understanding the Northwest Highlands landscape.
  • The Glencoul Thrust: A famous geological feature where older rocks sit atop younger layers, revealing the immense forces that shaped the Highlands.
  • Drumbeg Coastal Road: A spectacular single-track route with constant sea views and frequent “pull in and stare” moments for photographers and slow travellers.

The Kylesku Bridge appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Sutherland!

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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Planning Your Visit

Hours:

24 Hours

Price:

Free.

Address: Kylesku Bridge, Lairg, IV27 4HW, United Kingdom
Sutherland: 54 km

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