Applecross Pass · Scotland

Bealach na Bà

A single-track road over the mountains of the Applecross peninsula in the north-west Highlands, from Tornapress near Loch Kishorn to Applecross.

StartFinishHairpin

18.2 kmLength

94Pace-note calls

6Hairpins

21Tight corners (1–2)

↑610 ↓600Climb and drop, m

≈630 mHighest point

Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.

Where is the Bealach na Bà?

The Bealach na Bà is in Scotland. Also known as Applecross Pass or Applecross road. The route on this page: Tornapress to Applecross, over the pass, 18.2 km.

Why the Bealach na Bà is famous

Built in 1822 with tight alpine-style hairpins, it has the greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK, rising from sea level at Applecross to about 630 m in around 6 km.

Bealach na Bà hairpins

Over 18.2 km Turini calls 6 hairpins, 1 square corner and 83 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 2 dips. That is 94 calls in all, one every 194 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes).

HP6

215

319

412

517

614

Bealach na Bà elevation profile

From 8 m at the start to 8 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 630 m. Red marks are the hairpins.

700 m0 m

0 km9.1 km18.2 km

Bealach na Bà pace notes, first few km

The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.

310 mDip

335 mLeft 2

340 mBridge

525 mLeft 6

625 mRight 6

1.41 kmRight 5

1.74 kmRight 3 tightens

1.99 kmLeft 4

2.05 kmRight 2

2.15 kmLeft 3 opens

2.27 kmRight 3 long tightens

2.49 kmLeft 6

2.67 kmLeft 2 long tightens

2.85 kmRight 3

3.04 kmRight 2

3.24 kmBridge

3.48 kmLeft 1 long

3.71 kmRight 5

4.08 kmRight 2

4.17 kmLeft 2

4.43 kmLeft 4

4.57 kmHairpin right

4.88 kmLeft 2 very long opens

5.15 kmRight 2 opens

5.46 kmLeft 5

That takes you to 5.46 km. 69 more calls follow over the remaining 12.8 km.

Before you drive the Bealach na Bà

Open all year in principle, but often impassable in winter.

It is single track with passing places, steep gradients and tight hairpins near the top. It is not suitable for learner drivers, caravans or very large vehicles.

How to drive the Bealach na Bà with Turini

Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It also works through Android Auto. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.

Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.

More roads like the Bealach na Bà

GlencoeScotland19.0 km · 54 calls

Hardknott PassEngland15.9 km · 184 calls · 3 hairpins

Evo TriangleWales20.1 km · 91 calls

Best driving roads in Europe · Best driving roads in the UK · All famous roads · How to read pace notes

Sources: Wikipedia: Bealach na Bà.

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