Kylesku Bridge

From ferry crossing to landmark bridge — connecting communities across Assynt

Opened in 1984, Kylesku Bridge transformed travel through north-west Sutherland. Spanning the sea loch between Kylesku and Kylestrome, its distinctive curved structure has become one of the best-known landmarks on the west coast.

But the story of the bridge is also the story of the communities it connected: the ferry that came before it, the people who built it, the landscape and geology that shaped its design, and the changes it brought to everyday life in Assynt.

We are working with the Northwest Geopark on creating new interpretation display of the construction of this iconic bridge.

Before the Bridge

Postcards of the Kylesku Ferry

  • the traditional Kylesku ferry crossing;
  • why the crossing mattered;
  • the road journey before the bridge;
  • local ferrymen and community connections;

Newspaper article from the Press & Journal in November 1984

Building the Bridge

Before the building starts
Taking Shape
Lifting the middle section into place
The final touches

Historic Assynt has recently been given access to an important collection of photographs documenting the construction of Kylesku Bridge. Together they provide a remarkable record of a major engineering project taking shape in one of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes.

Engineering in the Landscape

  • the location presented engineering challenges;
  • geology and topography influenced the project;
  • the bridge was deliberately designed to sit within a dramatic landscape;
  • construction had to contend with an exposed Highland environment.

Geology | Design | Foundations | Construction methods | Weather

Changing Lives

For local communities, the significance of the new bridge went far beyond its construction. It changed journeys to work, school and services; affected businesses and tourism; and altered the experience of travelling through Assynt and north-west Sutherland.

Do you remember travelling on the Kylesku ferry, watching the bridge being built or crossing it for the first time? We would love to hear your memories.

Share your knowledge

We look forward to bringing you more on this developing project.

In partnership with