📌 Glacial feature in Roybridge, Highland
★★
The Parallel Roads are one of the most prominent, yet unusual reminders of Scotland’s glacial past. Appearing as horizontal tracks following the contours of upper Glen Roy, they’re actually the shorelines of an ancient loch, dammed by a glacier at the foot of the glen about 10,000 years ago. The glacier is of course long gone, and hence the loch too. The terraces were left behind, eroded by wave action at three different heights – the level of the loch varied in response to changes in glacier level. The “roads” are most conveniently seen from a signposted viewpoint on the narrow road up the glen (though they continue for miles around the hillside), and appear clearest during spring before summer vegetation has sprung up.
🌍 Location
📌 Main viewpoint is on minor road 3 mi north of Roybridge
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 298853
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.927827,-4.798317
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
