| Cape Wrath Air Weapons Range | |
|---|---|
| Near Durness, Highlands in Scotland | |
 | |
  Cape Wrath Location in the Highlands | |
| Coordinates | 58°35′34″N 04°56′33.9″W / 58.59278°N 4.942750°W |
| Type | Air weapons range |
| Area | 5,973 hectares (14,760 acres) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Defence Infrastructure Organisation |
| Controlled by | Defence Estates |
| Condition | Operational |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1930s to present |
| In use | xxxx – present |
Cape Wrath Training Centre, also known as Cape Wrath Air Weapons Range and Cape Wrath Naval Bombardment Range is a military training range located on the north coast of Scotland, near the village of Durness in the Highlands. The range is owned by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, part of the Ministry of Defence.
History edit
Military activity has taken place at Cape Wrath since the early 1900s, at which time was used as a naval bombardment range by the Royal Navy through a lease with the landowner.[1]
In recognition of the increased frequency of use, military bye laws were established in 1933 to facilitate the use of the range and prohibiting public access whilst it was in use.
Cape Wrath Training Centre covers an area of 25000 acres. The area is coastal with sea cliffs and a tidal loch (Kyle) acting as three of its boundaries. The terrain within the training area is extremely arduous and subject to extreme weather conditions. The area is subject to bylaws when military activity is in progress.
The area has been in use since the early 1930’s predominantly as a naval bombardment range and an air bombing range. Its use as a tri service facility has become more popular in recent years and it is an ideal range for the practice of littoral warfare.
Location
The range is situated in the far northwest corner of the UK mainland near the village of Durness in the county of Sutherland and approximately 120 miles north of Inverness. Range control is located at Faraid Head. Access onto the area is difficult and is achieved by a pedestrian ferry or on foot.
History
Military activity has been recorded at Cape Wrath since the beginning of the last century. Mostly at that time being used by the Royal Navy to practice Gunnery under a leasing agreement with the local landowner. Use became more frequent and in 1933 Bye – Laws were published to facilitate range activity. These Bye – Laws were written on behalf of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and are still in force to this day!
At the beginning of 1999 the landowner, for various reasons decided to sell the land giving the MoD the option to purchase outright. Due to funding problems the area was purchased in a 50/50 split between the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force who by this time had been using the area for its own bombing practices. In April 2006 ownership was passed to the newly formed Defence Training Estate (DTE) an organisation formed to rationalise and standardise training areas and ranges and it now forms part of the multi faceted DTE Scotland whose headquarters are in Stirling..
Public access
Access is via the ferry on the eastern side which connects with the road to the lighthouse and by a coastal footpath on the western side which also ends at the lighthouse. The public is welcome to walk on the area when the red flags / lights are not displayed. Although clearance is carried out, there may be unexploded ordinance on the surface and the public is warned not to touch anything
Facilities edit
The range extends to 5,973 hectares (14,760 acres).[2]
Garvie Island edit
Natural heritage edit
https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2014/07/28/more-than-a-flock-of-seagulls-sea-birds-at-cape-wrath/
It is a RAMSAR Site, or in other words a wetland of international importance, a Site Of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and an Special Protection Area.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22513993
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11023729
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22902233
- ^ Public Information Leaflet – DTE Scotland (PDF). Defence Estates. 2007.
- ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. A3. Retrieved 21 April 2016.