Cape Wrath

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Image:Cape Wrath lighthouse.jpg Cape Wrath (Template:Coor dms) is a cape in Sutherland, Highland, in northern Scotland. It is the most northwesterly point of the mainland of the island of Great Britain.

The name Cape Wrath, though perhaps apt when taken in context of its remote and foreboding landscape, is actually derived from the Old Norse for "turning point". Vikings would often turn their crafts for home at Cape Wrath.

Image:Kyle of Durness.jpg

The Cape can be reached only on foot from the south, or by taking a passenger ferry from Keoldale near Durness across the Kyle of Durness, and then walking, cycling or taking a minibus. The journey of around 11 miles to the lighthouse takes the visitor through one of the last remaining wildernesses in Britain. The area is used as a military bombardment range; hence travel to the Cape is restricted at certain times of year. There is a lighthouse at the cape, built in 1828 by Robert Stevenson which was manned until 1998. Overlooking the Cape are the ruins of the Lloyd's signal station which were used to monitor shipping as it passed by.

Four miles east of the cape, lie the Clò Mór cliffs, the highest sea cliffs of the British mainland.

Trivia

Cape Wrath is one of only two places prefixed with the name "Cape" in Great Britian, the other being Cape Cornwall in south-western England.

See also

External links

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