To the lighthouse – one of the UK’s toughest bike rides

[Mick F]

Is it Cape Rath or Cape Roth?

[bikepacker]

First time I went I met a guy just before the lighthouse who had rode, walked and even at one point carried his bike from Sandwood Bay. That must have been the toughest way to get there.

When talking about toughest ride are they including the distance to get there? If not as others have said there are lots of tougher rides on this island of ours.

[PH]

The toughest bit seems to be getting there, I've failed three time, once due to the weather, the second time the ferry wasn't running (I've forgotten why) and the third it was closed for military reasons (Which had overrun)
I'm not sure I'll get a forth attempt, I'd rather be exploring somewhere else than repeating quite a lot of miles just for the few on Cape Wrath.

[Jon Lucas]

Is it Cape Rath or Cape Roth?

It is pronounced 'rath'.

I described it earlier as one of the most remote roads in the UK, but as well as not being the toughest, it is even the most remote, in terms of accessibility. I would give that award to the road on Knoydart that runs for 6 miles from Inverie to Airor. That doesn't link to any other roads (just to tracks that cross very many mountainous miles before they reach a road), so can only be reached by a far longer ferry ride than the road to Cape Wrath. And having ridden both, I would say the Knoydart road is perhaps the more enjoyable, with stunning views as it clambers over the beautiful western tip of the peninsula.

[dodger]

The only reason I'd like to visit Cape Wrath is to make it the end point of a ride from Cape Cornwall, as an alternative to LEJOG.
I guess much of the route would be the same, but, if JOG is as touristy as Lands End, I wouldn't want to go there anyway.

[Manc33]

Why is it one of the UK's toughest bike rides?

That's a newspaper headline - how else would they get us to read the article?! These days, it's called 'click-bate'.

You click-baited me into correcting you, it's click-bait.

[Mick F]

Is it Cape Rath or Cape Roth?

It is pronounced 'rath'.

Excellent.
Thanks.

[Cunobelin]

I considered it when planning my Grand Tour, but the ferry is the unreliable part of the task. I dismissed it as I didn't want to go up there to be disappointed. I wanted to go there and back from somewhere B+B. Not far from the nearest reasonable settlement of Durness and it's only a dozen miles each way. I had a mate from there many years ago.

Been to the Cape - or at least off it - with the RN a few times bombarding the cliff and rocks. Couple of different ships - HMS Gurkha and HMS Ambuscade. 4.5" high explosive shells at maybe ten miles range.

PS:
Why is it one of the UK's toughest bike rides?
Doesn't look so tough to me.

'cos you are lobbing shells at them?

[mercalia]

I considered it when planning my Grand Tour, but the ferry is the unreliable part of the task. I dismissed it as I didn't want to go up there to be disappointed. I wanted to go there and back from somewhere B+B. Not far from the nearest reasonable settlement of Durness and it's only a dozen miles each way. I had a mate from there many years ago.

Been to the Cape - or at least off it - with the RN a few times bombarding the cliff and rocks. Couple of different ships - HMS Gurkha and HMS Ambuscade. 4.5" high explosive shells at maybe ten miles range.

PS:
Why is it one of the UK's toughest bike rides?
Doesn't look so tough to me.

'cos you are lobbing shells at them?

I was wondering that my self. a bit surprized.

[Cunobelin]

I considered it when planning my Grand Tour, but the ferry is the unreliable part of the task. I dismissed it as I didn't want to go up there to be disappointed. I wanted to go there and back from somewhere B+B. Not far from the nearest reasonable settlement of Durness and it's only a dozen miles each way. I had a mate from there many years ago.

Been to the Cape - or at least off it - with the RN a few times bombarding the cliff and rocks. Couple of different ships - HMS Gurkha and HMS Ambuscade. 4.5" high explosive shells at maybe ten miles range.

PS:
Why is it one of the UK's toughest bike rides?
Doesn't look so tough to me.

'cos you are lobbing shells at them?

I was wondering that my self. a bit surprized.

There is an adjacent range

[Mick F]

TBH, I can't remember specifically where the range was, or what we were lobbing shells at. I seem to remember it was just rocky outcrops.
I was always down in the Ops Room with the equipment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Wrath

[philvantwo]

No mention of you on there mick f?

[Cunobelin]

[youtube]Riyo7NDMjj4[/youtube]

[Mick F]

No mention of you on there mick f?

Probably pushing 40years ago since I was on a ship bombarding Scotland.

NGS.
Naval Gunfire Support.

We would get our radar to lock on to a known fixed discreet point, and by triangulation know the range and bearing of the target.
The ship could steam past the target whilst bombarding the same spot.

No need for GPS.

[Cunobelin]

No mention of you on there mick f?

Probably pushing 40years ago since I was on a ship bombarding Scotland.

NGS.
Naval Gunfire Support.

We would get our radar to lock on to a known fixed discreet point, and by triangulation know the range and bearing of the target.
The ship could steam past the target whilst bombarding the same spot.

No need for GPS.

Garmin do a Ballistic GPS!!!!


[youtube]bWXFqyqnCmY[/youtube]