A83 road

The A83 is a major road in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs from Tarbet on Loch Lomond to Campbeltown at the southern end of the Kintyre peninsula. The road passes through dramatic landscapes, including the Rest and be Thankful pass in the Arrochar Alps. This section links Loch Long and Loch Fyne through Glen Croe. Near the B828 junction stands a stone with the words ‘Rest and be Thankful’, placed by soldiers in 1753. The road is famous for its steep climb out of Glen Croe. Travellers once rested at the top, grateful for reaching the highest point. The modern route climbs the southern slopes of Beinn Luibhean before descending through Glen Kinglas to Loch Fyne. At Cairndow the A815 branches off to the Cowal peninsula. The A83 then follows Loch Fyne’s eastern shore past Inveraray and Lochgilphead. Beyond Ardrishaig the road crosses the Crinan Canal entrance. It continues south through villages like Tarbert and Bellochantuy to Campbeltown. The Rest and be Thankful stretch often closes after landslides, sometimes for days. Heavy rain has caused repeated slips, disrupting travel and trapping motorists. Transport Scotland is studying long-term fixes, including tunnels inspired by Norwegian methods.