North of Tore Roundabout the A9 is entirely single carriageway. The section between Tore and the junction with the A949 at Clashmore near Dornoch is DMRB compliant with good forward visibility and overtaking opportunities.
A949 Clashmore to Latheron
North of Clashmore, alignment and widths of the road are to a lower standard with only short sections at The Mound and The Ord of Caithness being to the standards seen further south. The route follows the coast through this section and the alignment is generally made up of tight radius bends and poor forward visibility that present few overtaking opportunities. There is a substantial change in altitude north of Helmsdale where the A9 climbs from sea level to over 200 metres on the recently improved section over the Ord of Caithness.
Latheron to Scrabster Harbour
North of Latheron the A9 becomes a moorland route crossing the exposed Causey Mire. Alignment is generally good with excellent forward visibility. There is the settlement of Spittal midway along this section but overall the frontage is overwhelmingly rural with agriculture predominating to the north of the junction with A882.
The A9 passes through the centre of the town of Thurso to end at the port facilities at Scrabster Harbour.
Traffic within this section is subject to the national speed limit.
The major towns with junctions on the A9 along this section are:
- Evanton
- Tain
- Golspie
- Brora
- Helmsdale
