A9 - Cromarty Bridge to Scrabster
This route guide takes you north along the A9 from Cromarty Bridge up to Scrabster. It includes sections around Invergordon and Tain where you may find some tidy sightings. However, if your target is to visit the D. Steven depot at Scrabster and you are running to a tight schedule (e.g. Scrabster and back in a day), I would suggest that you give them a miss. As the round trip from Inverness to Scrabster amounts to 220 miles, it is a big day out and the results may disappoint when weighed against time spent looking. If you choose to bypass these locations, just stay on the A9.
The Inverness to Cromarty Bridge section is covered by the 'A9 - Inverness to Muir of Ord & Dingwall' guide
Evanton - Skiach Services
Services are located approximately 4.5 miles north of Cromarty Bridge and signed from A9. Can produce some good sightings. Also serves good value grub, if you need to stop for a food break.
Evanton - J. & D. Cowper
J. & D. Cowper operates a fleet of mainly DAF units on fridge work all over U.K. From services turn left into I.E. and follow road round and under A9. Yard is located on left immediately after underpass. Return to A9 by outward route.
Invergordon - Admirality Yard
Continue north along A9 for about 2.4 miles then take left junction (signed for Alness). At top of slip road, take left onto B817 and follow for about 3 miles to Invergordon. Having passed the port, you will come to Admirality Yard on your right. This is an operating centre for Bannermans of Tain and Carntyne Transport. Any vehicles present can be seen from the fenceline.
Invergordon - Port Services
Continue along the B817, following the shore, for about a mile until you reach a light-controlled junction. Turn left and follow this road round for about a mile. You will see an industrial estate on your right. This is Cromarty Industrial Park, the former British Alcan smelter site. It is currently being monitored for ground pollution pending new use in the future. Go down slip road into IE. At T-junction turn right and follow road round perimeter of field. Port Services are located in yard at far end of road. If yard is closed then you can walk along fence line, inside the field, to see what is present.
Invergordon - Ferguson Transport (Spean Bridge)
Ferguson Transport also have a base on this IE. Go back around field perimeter and their yard is located just past the T-junction, on the left.
Invergordon - Skretting
Leave Cromarty Industrial Park, turn left and then first right. You are now entering Inverbreakie IE. Follow the road, turning first left, then right. You will then come to Skretting's premises on your right. Ferguson Transport haul for Skretting - who manufacture fish feed - and you may see some of their vehicles in the yard. Continue to T-junction and turn right. Follow this road for a mile until you reach the A9. Turn right to continue north.
Tain - Bannerman
From A9, follow HGV signs for the IE (at north end of Tain bypass). Turn right off A9, then left at supermarket. Follow road round through IE, turn left at end of road, then immediate right. Bannerman garage/workshop in yard on right. Difficult to say if anything will be present - Bannerman units can be hard to pin down. Retrace route back to A9 and turn right for north.
Brora - Edward Mackay
Edward Mackay are a civil engineering contractors who are also involved in heavy haulage and wind turbine transportation. They run in a very smart yellow and red livery and operate several tippers as well as several DAF tractor units. The Mackay yard is on the right of the A9 as you are approaching the south side of Brora. You should be able to see if there is anything present from the A9, so you can decide if you want to stop at the yard.
Helmsdale - E.M. & T. Rapson
Rapsons operate a garage in the village of Helmsdale. They run a couple of light and medium recovery vehicles, as well as a DAF tractor unit. The vehicles carry a red and blue livery, reminiscent of the old Wishart of Kirkcaldy colour scheme. To find their garage, take the A897 Dunrobin Street(second junction on the left after crossing the river). Take the second junction on the left into Shore Street and the garage is just around the the corner. Return to the A9 and turn left.
Scrabster - D. Steven
Follow the A9 right to the top of the mainland. The D. Steven depot is located on Scrabster Business Park. Best time of the week to see the majority of the fleet is Saturday mornings, although you should see something most days. If you are in need of a cuppa and a bite to eat when you arrive there is a Fishermen's Mission on the estate.
Wick - D. Steven
D. Steven also have a small depot by Wick harbour. You may see something on the quayside. If the DAF CF85 tractor or Scania rigid are not at Scrabster, you may get them here.