Cape Wrath
Eighteen kilometers from Durness Village the most north-westerly point on the British mainland.

It must be remembered that although the "Cape Side" is beautiful and in good weather
can be a place for solitude and remote walking, weather conditions can change very quickly.

A walk on the Cape side should be well planned and arrangements made with the ferry operator and
mini bus operator for return.

No excursions to such a remote area should be taken lightly.

In emergencies, The Ozone Café have a telephone - as mobile phone signals are extremely sparse on the Cape.
First Aid is also available here.

The Cape / Kearvaig Walk (From the Norse for Galley)

This walk is about six kilometers and can comfortably be completed in four hours. This walk can only be performed between May and September as arrangements must be made with the minibus driver and ferryman. Only attempt this expedition in good weather. The walk covers some quite rough ground heading in a south east direction from Cape Wrath Lighthouse to Kearvaig Bay along a spectacular cliff top route. Care must be taken on the cliffs - fences should never be crossed, as erosion is constantly occurring. Many seabirds can be seen.

What to look for

• The old ruins on the hill behind the lighthouse are the remains of Lloyds signal station. The station opened in the 1930s and all passing shipping had to signal to the station information about cargo, port of departure and estimated time of arrival at next port.

• The supply jetty was used when the lighthouse was stocked and serviced from the Pole Star supply ship. The seven green tanks at the jetty held thirteen thousand gallons of diesel each. Collectively they were able to supply the energy requirements of the light house for one year.

• The Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) can usually be seen at the jetty. In June and July, young often bask on the rocks. These seals mainly eat bottom dwelling fish, do not live in herds and live for between twenty to thirty years.

• Stack Clo Kearvaig has in recent years become known as the Cathedral. It has two spires at either end and a window can be seen in the centre just below the base of the two spires.

The Walk
From the lighthouse, follow the road until a track leads off to the left. Follow this path up to the old signal buildings on the hill. Behind these buildings, a summit with a cairn can be seen. Walk to the cairn with Dunan Mor on the right (Mor means large whilst Dunan means Fort). This area probably was named due to the lay of the land looking as if it covered the remains of a fort. From the cairn walk in a south east direction viewing Geodha Glas (sea gulley or cleft, Glas means grey) following the sea cliffs. Climb the small wall, make for the left of the small loch, just before reaching the jetty. A detour inland is required here at Clais Charnach (small stony valley) to find a suitable approach to the jetty. On leaving the jetty ascend the slope to the moorland plain and follow the cliff to Geodha na Seamraig (Seamraig means four leafed clover) and the view of Kearvaig Bay. The name is believed to have derived from the Norse boats (Galleys) landing here. Continue to trace the cliff top until a descent to the Kearvaig River, which is easily crossed. After exploring the Kearvaig Bay, walk up the track from behind Kearvaig house to the arranged pick up point for the mini bus.

In addition to these routes, there are possibilities for other superb walking. Faraid Head supports easily accessible puffin colonies and a popular area for watching sunsets and sunrise at midsummer.

Strath Beag at the end of Loch Eriboll wind among the hills. One of the corries that rise from the glen is named Uruisg Choire. There is one of the same name in the Trossachs. The Uruisg was a supernatural being and only a wild and grim corrie would bear the name! Strath Dionard below Foinaven and Cape Wrath are popular walking areas. The Mountain Bothies Association has bothies at Kearvaig, Strathbeg and Strathchailleach.

A very popular and demanding walk is from Cape Wrath to Sandwood Bay but only for the experienced and well equipped. There is no way marked path to the Cape and there is nothing on the ground either. From the bay it is at least five hours of hard pushing over very boggy ground to reach the road to the Light House. Arrangements with the ferry operator and the bus service should be made in advance. It is recommended that this walk start from Cape Wrath and terminate at Sandwood.

For those who are truly serious about their walking, there is the Cape Wrath Trail, which is a walk just short of 200 miles, starting from Fort William and ending at the Cape Wrath lighthouse.

For more walks in the Durness area, over on the www.durness.org website, there is a page describing the Durness Path Network which includes two walks where Cape Wrath/Garvie Island can be clearly observed. These are;
    5. The Faraid Head Walk (4.0 km/2.5 miles) and
    7. The Kyle of Durness Walk (5.0 km/3.0 miles).

For a wider selection of walks in the Durness and Sutherland area, over on the www.walkhighlands.co.uk website, there is a page describing over two dozen walks, which includes several challenging hill walks.

More information about walking and other countryside events can be obtained from the North West Sutherland Ranger (Donald Mitchell), who's contact details are shown on the The Highland Council Countryside Ranger Contacts Page or via e-mail at the following address [email protected]

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Page maintained by Francis Beardsell contact via e-mail, last updated 3rd October 2011.