Scotland
 

Just a short Question for a trip spec up north, Is it possible to get to "Cape Wrath Lighthouse" in the far north west of Scotland by motorcycle, my friend and myself are planning a trip up the west coast and would like to get there, we have been informed that there is a military bombing range :tank: there and that its a no-go area, any info would be gr8.
Thanks to all see you at the H.U meet in July

Roi n Bron.

not got to :stuart:z yet but we're getting there!!

I'm not sure you can get there by bike or car, people do it on foot. There is a ferry ( weather dependant), then a mini bus to cape wrath - a bit cheesy but well worth it when you get there. Details are available in Scourie, which you will pass through, watch out for the post office. There may be an offroad trail but I don't know. If you look at the Scottish Tourist board web site there should be links through. I was there in Sept 2001 and had a fantastic time - amazing scenery.

It's a few years since I was up there and you wouldn't have been able to get a bike across on the little ferry. A cycle yes. Most people take the minibus from the ferry to the cape.
Apparently the two minibuses still have to be MOT'd and the only way to get them back to the mainland is to float them across using the two ferries strapped together!
Could well have changed a bit in the last 20 years though.

Yes its done on foot.

Cape Wrath incidentally doesnt mean the "angry" Cape, it comes from the Old Norse word for a turning point, when they steered their ships there.

It is highly unlikely that there are any off road trails. The local authority would inform you of any vehicular rights of way. If yes, you would then need to check with either the CO of the Cape Wrath range or the Defence Training Estate HQ to enquire about firing times and when public access is permitted. Why not try Faraid Head to the east (again when there is no firing) and hack along the dunes?

I agree, and anyway the soft peaty soil cant take any wheeled traffic without deep scarring and irreparable damage. And, to paraphrase British Telecoms "It's good to walk". A little further south is Sandwood bay - remote, deserted, highly recommended. Stay a night under the stars or tent.

Cape Wrath
 

Sorry for not getting back to you all, ive been away in Europe, thanks for the info on the area you have supplied, im really interested in getting to Sandwood Bay by MC if that is possible, have anyone of you done the trip (weather permitting), ive found you can get as far as Balchrick or possibly the campsite at the end of the road, "can you get any further" is there a road, path or a sheep path to Sandwood Loch an then on to the beach (bay).

Thanks to all see you at the H.U meet in July

Roi n Bron.

not got to :stuart:z yet but we're getting there!!

Have a look at this site - has some good informatrion

Undiscovered Scotland: Home Page

I've walked in a couple of times from the south (Kinlochbervie). It's very soft and peaty and a bike would do a lot of damage to the path. It's not really on for a bike - the south end at least is cared for by the John Muir Trust. There's a car park and toilet - it's a nice walk, although in my opinion there are better beaches up around Durness area.

i rode my XR400 out to sandwood back in 2002-4 cant quite remember when, then did the 8 mile pathless journey to cape wrath the next day leaving my gear in the tent at sandwood,it wasnt easy and it isnt legal,so bear this in mind if you decide to do it,theres loads more scenic stuff to do a bit more south down the coast around the foot of the assynt range,trailriding is regaurded as illegal in scotland though some of us continue to do it,so while people may say something is unridable cause theres no track or trail dosnt always mean a motorbike hasnt been riden there!

when we passed by sandwood earlier this year, we were told the owners were doing as much as possible to prevent the beach ever becoming accessable by vehicle, since its one of the very few (only?) beaches left that can only be reached by a long walk by foot, and the seclusion and "feel" that gives. if filling the beach up, charging entry, and an ice cream van were important to them a road would have been put in long before now. so if you can walk there then its fairly safe to assume you could take anything you fancied with an engine too. question is, should you?