Cape Wrath.
The Far North West of Scotland. A place so difficult to get to that the only way in is a long walk, or a small boat onto a peninsula, and then another journey on foot along a rough road to the lighthouse beyond. On an empty moorland ringed by mountains, the only immediate signs of military activity are an unmanned sentry box, and warnings from Range Control about upcoming training exercises. It’s a place of austere beauty, and is home to Kearvaig Bothy, a simple shelter in one of the finest bays in Scotland.
Signs of military activity are largely hidden from the public, and require the photographer to stray from the road into a landscape pitted by craters and unexploded munitions.
“Cape Wrath Training Area provides opportunities for a wide variety of field fire and dry training exercises across 25,000 acres of severe and isolated upland moorland.
It is the only range in Europe where land, sea and air training activities can be conducted simultaneously and where the Royal Air Force can train using live 1,000lb bombs. The range forms part of an area that is often referred to as “the last great wilderness”, due to its remoteness. Various parts of the training area have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an EU Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as well as a Special Protection Area (SPA).”
- Ministry of Defence
