The most remote public loo on mainland Britain is to be built – more than 300 feet above the sea and in a bombing range.
The toilet at Cape Wrath – the most north westerly point on mainland UK – is being constructed by the peninsula’s only resident.
John Ure is also converting the old machine room near Cape Wrath Lighthouse into a bunkhouse capable of taking ten people.
He is also opening the loo for the public in a nearby outbuilding.
Mr Ure runs the remotest cafe in the country right next to the lighthouse and admits he has not see any customers for more than a month.
He usually serves around 3000 people-a-year – concentrated in the main season – when the area is not being used as a bombing range by the MoD.
But getting to the Sutherland lighthouse, four miles from the 900-feet highest vertical cliffs on mainland UK, is not easy. It involves a seasonal ferry journey across the narrow Kyle of Durness and a 11 mile trip up a bumpy road. The only other route an 11 mile walk from near Kinlochbervie over rough, unmarked, but stunning, terrain. But still a few thousand walkers and tourists head to the cape each year.
“I think the main thing that has been missing up here is a public toilet so I am planning to install one in an outbuilding and have it open around May,” said Glaswegian Mr Ure, 63, a former engineer.
“I am hoping to also have the full bunkhouse facilities open at the same time. But if anybody makes it up here before then there are bunkhouse facilities in the cafe.
“I once had 17 people stay – they got caught in a storm last year. They just kept coming in twos and threes. It was a great night. The walkers are always good company.
“Storm Barbara was pretty fierce. The winds were over 100mph but I have known a lot worse up here.
“I just thought it would be great to upgrade the facilities and a loo was desperately needed. There’s none literally for miles and we are trying to discourage people using the place as a wild toilet.
“I will also be offering evening meals and breakfast, a grocery shop in the cafe for the walkers – as well as among the best views on the planet.”