A83 Rest and Be Thankful
A83 Rest and Be Thankful
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful climbs Glen Croe in Argyll, under a hillside that slips in heavy rain. Here is what Traffic Scotland reports there now, the rain warnings for the area, and how the closures and the Old Military Road work.
2 restrictions or incidents at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful now, no full closure
Covers the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful and the Old Military Road. Checked at 16:46, from official sources.
Now 2
How the road closes
The hillside above the A83 in Glen Croe is prone to landslides. When heavy rain is forecast, or after inspections of the slope, traffic is moved off the A83 onto the Old Military Road, a single-track road in the floor of the glen, and run through in a convoy behind a lead vehicle.
The convoy takes about 15 to 20 minutes, against 3 to 6 minutes on the A83 itself.
When both routes are shut
If the Old Military Road cannot be used either, the diversion runs by the A82 from Tarbet to Tyndrum, the A85 from Tyndrum to Dalmally and the A819 from Dalmally to Inveraray.
| Distance | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| A83 via the Rest and Be Thankful | 24 miles | about 35 minutes |
| Diversion via Tyndrum and Dalmally | 49 miles | about 66 minutes |
Tarbet to Inveraray, Transport Scotland's figures.
The permanent fix
Transport Scotland's long-term solution is a 1.4 km debris flow shelter over the road, with catch pits on the hillside. Draft orders were published in December 2024 and consulted on until February 2025; construction can only start once the statutory process is complete. In the medium term, the Old Military Road is being made more resilient.
Questions
- Is the A83 Rest and Be Thankful open today?
- There is no full closure reported right now, but 2 restrictions or incidents are listed above.
- What is the Old Military Road?
- A single-track road along the floor of Glen Croe, below the A83. When the A83 closes, traffic is run along it in a convoy behind a lead vehicle, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
- How long is the Rest and Be Thankful diversion?
- When both the A83 and the Old Military Road are shut, the diversion via the A82, A85 and A819 is 49 miles and about 66 minutes from Tarbet to Inveraray, against 24 miles and 35 minutes on the A83.
See also
Sources
- A83 Rest and Be Thankful· Transport Scotland
- Access to Argyll and Bute (A83)· Transport Scotland
- Rest and Be Thankful FAQ· BEAR Scotland
- Military road v forest track report· Transport Scotland
Facts checked on .