A significant landslide on the Isle of Skye has forced the closure of a major route, leaving drivers with a 40-mile alternative journey. The collapse occurred on the A855 north of Uig on Friday afternoon, when soil and rocks gave way from the roadside and tumbled onto a smaller access road below. No injuries resulted from the incident.
The A855 forms the main circuit around the Trotternish peninsula in the island's north. Following an inspection on Saturday morning, Highland Council confirmed the road would remain shut while teams worked to clear debris and assess what repairs would be needed. According to local councillor Chrissie Gillies, the road may need to remain closed for days to come as detailed surveying work continues.
The incident was captured on closed-circuit television by a nearby resident, providing a record of the moment the ground failed. The collapse also created an unexpected complication for a visiting school group, whose children found themselves separated from their packed lunches when the landslip blocked access to the area. A local resident stepped in and retrieved the meals by bicycle.
What caused the closure?
The collapse involved a section of hillside adjacent to the A855 giving way completely. Soil and rocks cascaded down the slope onto the local access road beneath, leaving it entirely impassable. The scale of the material that fell made it clear the route could not safely reopen without significant clearance work.
What are the diversion routes?
Drivers requiring access to areas beyond the closure point have been directed to use a 40-mile diversion route that circumnavigates the affected section of the Trotternish peninsula. The primary diversion uses the A87 and A855 Staffin Road. The C1225 Quiraing Road is also open as a temporary alternative route for road users, though Highland Council notes it requires significant improvement work and is not suitable for high volumes of traffic. Drivers have been asked to use the A855 diversion if possible, especially if travelling in larger vehicles.
What happens next?
Highland Council's roads team began removing the slipped material from the access road on Saturday. Simultaneously, engineers were conducting a detailed assessment to determine what structural repairs would be necessary before the A855 could be reopened to traffic. Remedial work was continuing, though no specific reopening date has been provided.
