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CAPE WRATH Eighteen kilometres from Durness Village is Cape Wrath .
In approximately 1795, a proposed improvement to navigation would be
contributed if a lighthouse were erected at Cape Wrath
. Some
shipwrecks had happened in the previous ten years off the coast of Durness and
it was considered the bearings of the rocks ought to be accurately ascertained.
Built in 1828 by Robert Stevenson at a cost of fourteen thousand pounds, the
buildings are extensive and spacious surrounded by a high wall. The white tower
is twenty meters high with eighty one steps to the top. The tower is built of
hand dressed stone and the rest of the building is constructed of large blocks
of granite quarried from Clash Carnoch. The lighthouse tower and dwelling houses
are listed buildings of Architectural and Historic Interest. |
"Cape Wrath is one of the last untouched wilderness areas in Britain Between the Kyle of Durness to the lighthouse on the tip of the Cape, where there was once a small community, there is now just rough terrain populated by deer and sea birds." |
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The
Cape Wrath
lighthouse
stands over one hundred and twenty one meters high above mean sea level on
spectacular cliffs facing the stormy Atlantic Ocean. To reach this point there
is the choice of either a passenger ferry across the Kyle of Durness
followed
by a minibus ride of nearly eighteen kilometres on a narrow rough winding road
through wild moorland, a twenty five mile walk up the coast from an approach at
Sandwood Bay, landing by sea or by helicopterThe
Cape Wrath road
is rough but has some magnificent views. From the bus, several interesting
landmarks can be seen. Lying at the side of the road at Achiemore is a tin roof
from the old Side School This
was used last in 1947. The Royal Marines constructed the wooden bridge at Daill in
1980. Before the bridge was built the bus would frequently stall in
the ford and the passengers used to get out and push. At Inshore
there is a house owned by the MOD. The yellow and black huts are
sentry posts manned during times when the naval range is active. The
road ends at the lighthouse where there is an average of gales on
thirty eight days of the year.
The word Wrath is a corruption of the Norse word 'Hvarf' meaning turning point.
Looking out to sea from the point are two low rocks, Am Bodach - The Old Man and
A'Chailleach- The Old Woman. |
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| From May to September the Cape Wrath ferry and Mini bus services carry passengers from Keoldale to the lighthouse. Two mini buses are transported over the Kyle of Durness on a purpose built raft towed by the smallest ferry operation in the land. Until recently the raft was a home constructed barge type vessel made from oil drums and palates. | |
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The frequency of the service is dependant on the state of the tide
and weather conditions. Sometimes about two hours either side of low tide the
service can stop altogether. There is a channel on the Cape Wrath side, so
sometimes a smaller boat is used to ferry passengers across the channel and they
have to walk over the sand back to Keoldale.
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