Stranded woman misses Christmas

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8438481.stm

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A woman who left her remote home in the Scottish Highlands to buy a turkey two days before Christmas has still not made it home.

Heavy snow meant it was not possible for Kay Ure to get back to Cape Wrath after a shopping trip to Inverness.

The 54-year-old and her husband John live in the Lighthouse Keeper's cottage at Cape Wrath, on Britain's north western tip, where they run a cafe.

Her trip involved an 11-mile car drive, a boat trip and a bus ride.

On her return, the road to the lighthouse was blocked by heavy snow, and Mrs Ure has been stranded 11 miles from home ever since.

She spent Christmas in a friend's caravan in Durness, while her husband had the company of their six dogs, and two walkers who popped into the cafe.

They have spoken on the phone each night and are hoping to be reunited on Monday if the road to the lighthouse is clear.

We've got rain coming in today which is breaking up the ice so with a bit of luck tomorrow she might get back John UreStranded woman's husband

Mrs Ure left for Inverness on an organised shopping excursion on 23 December.

Her husband drove her the 11 miles to a jetty where their boat is moored and from there they crossed the Kyle of Durness where Mrs Ure was picked up by a minibus.

On her return to Durness the heavy snow had blocked the route to the lighthouse and Mr Ure, 57, was unable to make the drive to pick her up.

The couple moved from Glasgow to Durness several years ago before moving further north to Cape Wrath. They opened the lighthouse cafe in the summer.

Mr Ure told BBC Scotland: "We've got rain coming in today which is breaking up the ice so with a bit of luck tomorrow she might get back, fingers crossed.

"It's the first time we've been separated. We've been snowed in here for three weeks before, so we are well used to it and it's quite nice to get a bit of peace and quiet."