‘It looks like the MoD missed their bombing target!’: Cape Wrath minibus operator forced to cancel summer bookings due to ‘waist high’ potholes
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It is arguably the least used road in the country - partly because it goes through a bombing range.
But the mini-bus service that takes tourists to remote Cape Wrath in Sutherland has had to cease because of "waist deep" potholes described as among the "deepest in the country".
The area's local councillor says it looked like the MoD had "missed their bombing target!”
Stuart Ross, the operator of Cape Wrath Mini Bus, is now seeking compensation from Highland Council for not repairing the road, officially known as the U70.
He first pointed out the issue to the council in February following prolonged storms which worsened the road.
Now he has had to cancel all his bookings for the seasonal service until the end of June.
Mr Ross, 54, took over the service two years ago and sunk more than £60,000 into the business, which caters for around 5,000 passengers over the season with a round-trip costing £15. He has a fleet of four 16-seater buses, two of which are licensed to operate on the route at any time.
Mr Ross also pointed out that it was not just his business suffering but Britain's smallest ferry across the Kyle of Durness and the cape's only permanent residents John Ure and his daughter Angela, who run a cafe and bunkhouse at the iconic lighthouse.
"I have ploughed a lot of money into my business and now I cannot operate. We were promised by the council that the road would get fixed but it hasn't been and now I've had to cancel all my bookings to at least the end of June," said Mr Ross, who lives in nearby Durness.
"There are some potholes that are waist deep - you just could not drive with passengers over several sections of that road. It is horrendous. I am now looking for compensation from the council. There are huge ruts deeper than a tire. Even the MoD vehicles are struggling - one of them burst two tires."
Mr Ure said:"We rely greatly on the mini buses for trade. The road is impassable - it needs completely re-surfacing. This has been going on for months and we are struggling on.
"Almost £7 million of government help has come the way of Angus Council to repair the devastation of Storm Babet from the Bellwin scheme. The vast majority is for road repairs. Why can't our council do the same?"
Durness Community Council decided on Monday to write to Highland Council urging repairs to be carried out urgently.
Local Highland Councillor Hugh Morrison, who owns the Smoo Cave Hotel at Durness, said that as well as the three businesses directly affected, it was also hitting the wider village - which is on the popular NC500 route - as going to Cape Wrath was one of the main attractions.
He said he received assurances on Monday from the council that repairs would soon be carried out.
"But it still will take weeks to repair and people are suffering. Some of these potholes must be among the worst and deepest in the country. It looks like the MoD missed their bombing target, it's that bad," said Mr Morrison.
"Many people come to Durness just to visit Cape Wrath so it is also affecting the B&Bs and other businesses too. The storms caused terrible damage, but this has been going on for too long."
The road can only be reached by passenger ferry across the Kyle of Durness – or by hiking 11 miles from near Kinlochbervie over rough, unmarked, but stunning, terrain.
Any vehicles have to be conveyed by barge – and there is usually only just a couple of civilian vehicles that use the track.
One belongs to the Ures. Their home is at the top of the 11 mile pot-holed ridden road that leads to the area's famous Stevenson-designed lighthouse.
The Ministry of Defence - who own virtually all the land on the cape – usually close the military range to the public for several periods of the year when exercises are taking place.
Mr Morrison added:"It seems a forgotten road. It is a council owned road and the council is responsible for maintaining it. I've been banging my head against the wall for some time over this. It a public road and important to the local economy. It was last tarred about 50 years ago."
Ironically the road race to the lighthouse lost its status as a marathon because of the number of potholes on the route.
It climbs to nearly 2500ft through some of the most spectacular and remotest wilderness in the country.
But Scottish Athletics said that it could longer call itself a 'road marathon' because the potholes are so deep and numerous - the governing body said there is not one continuous road surface.
In fact runners would have to weave around the pot holes so much, one said they would end up running more than the official 26 mile, 385 yard distance.The race is no longer run.
There was once a full-time community of around 35 people living on the cape in the 1930s.
However the military in recent years has increased its use of Cape Wrath - with the installation of three new major gun battery sites.
The military usually shell from the land at the Faraid Head peninsula - opposite the cape at Durness - and often to Garvie Island.
Cape Wrath was previously estimated to be worth more than £600,000 to the nearby Durness economy.
Highland Council have been asked for comment.
