A notorious hill pass in the Highlands has finally been cleared after a 10ft snow drift blocked the road.
The Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) road to Applecross in Wester Ross is 2,000ft above sea level and is regularly blocked by piles of the white stuff.
But the recent blizzard conditions particularly tested the staff at Highland Council, who were able to reopen the road yesterday after the mammoth accumulation. They posted a picture on Twitter of the progress on Thursday, with the comment: “Highland Council continue the effort to clear the infamous Bealach na Ba pass in Wester Ross. Massive snow drifts being encountered.”
Driving conditions on the road have been difficult in the past few weeks due to drifting snow and ice.
Police Scotland’s Lochaber and Skye officers said council staff were doing their “very best” to keep it open.
The officers have shared pictures showing large banks of snow on either side of the Bealach na Ba and their efforts at keeping the road clear for drivers.
They tweeted: “Hats off to the @HighlandCouncil team doing there very best to keep the BealachNaBa open on the Applecross peninsula.
“Just another day in the BestBeatInTheWorld.”
The Bealach na Ba is one of the steepest roads in the country and the third highest in Britain.
The single-track road has four hairpin bends and many blind corners.
