It is 122 miles (196 km) long[1] and runs from Ross and Cromarty to Caithness, with the majority of its length in Sutherland.

At 58.648°N where it passes through East Mey,[2] it is the northernmost A-class road in mainland Great Britain.

At Tongue the road turns east, following the north coast, passing through Thurso, and eventually ending at John o' Groats, where it meets the A99.

The A836 passes through some of the loneliest and most sparsely populated parts of Britain,[3] and despite having an 'A' classification, is a single track road in many places.

[6] The opening of the bridge removed a 26-mile (42 km) detour around the firth for traffic using the A9.