Kylesku Bridge

Kylesku Bridge is a sweeping, curved concrete span that carries the North Coast 500 across the narrows of Loch a' Chairn Bhain in remote north-west Sutherland. Opened in 1984, its elegant S-curve set against a backdrop of rugged Assynt peaks makes it one of the most photogenic pieces of engineering in the Highlands. For drone pilots this is a dream: laybys and a small car park at the southern end give immediate access, and the aircraft can lift to trace the bridge's curve with the mountains of Quinag rising behind and sea lochs branching inland. Reflections in still morning water are exceptional. This is a genuinely remote spot with no FRZ, the nearest airport being far to the east, and airspace is clear. The location is exposed to wind funnelling down the loch, so pick a calm window and watch your battery in the cold. Traffic on the single-track NC500 can be steady in summer, so launch away from the road and parked vehicles and never fly low over the carriageway. Boat trips to the nearby Eas a' Chual Aluinn, Britain's highest waterfall, depart from below. Dawn gives glassy water and soft light on Quinag.