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MHG34558 - Chain Home Radar Station, Loth

Summary

The radar station at Loth, S of Helmsdale, was part of the ring of coastal Early Warning radar stations built by the British before and during World War II, codenamed Chain Home. A large number of mast bases, huts and outlook posts survive.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Created automatically by NMRS Register Utility
User: Admin, Date: Wed 13 Oct 2004
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NC91SE 32.00 centred 9622 1006

This site falls partly on sheet NC90NE

NC91SE 32.01 NC 9659 1026 Engine House
NC91SE 32.02 NC 9583 1066 Engine House
NC91SE 32.03 centred NC 9591 1015 Military Camp
NC91SE 32.04 centred NC 9575 1086 Military Camp
NC91SE 32.05 NC 9687 1015 Buildings

Loth Chain Home (W.C.H.) radar station is situated in an area annotated Crackaig Links on the current chart copy edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1964). Further elements of the station, such as the accommodation camps and the remote reserve generator building are located in and around Crackaig Farm (NC91SE 7.00). The two transmitter masts at NC c.9622 1006 and NC c.9648 1014 on Crackaig Links, and two receiver masts at NC c.9593 0967 and NC c.9600 0975 (sheet NC90NE) near Lothbeg Point.
The radar station is visible on RAF WWII oblique aerial photographs and show an earlier stage of development (241B Scot 1 SHT 21, 432254, A19-21, flown 29 March 1941). The complete layout of the radar station is visible on vertical air phtographs (CPE/Scot/UK/225, 3427-3430, flown 1947).
Information from RCAHMS (DE), February 1999

Situated on the S side of the A9 trunk road at Crakaig and Lothbeg Point. The main site covers the whole of Crakaig Links on the S side of the railway. The accommodation camp and remote reserve are situated at Crackaig farmsteading.
Many buildings are still extant, including the two transmitter (Tx) and two Receiver (Rx) blocks, mast bases, hut bases and lookout posts. This site underwent several modifications during the war which resulted in the duplication of some of the buildings. The equipment for this station came from Thrumster (ND34SW 37))
J Guy 2000; NMRS MS 810/10, Vol.1, 10, Vol.3, 9-10 <1>

Elements of the site were surveyed and recorded during the East Sutherland Coastal Survey, conducted by GUARD in Spring 2010.
Remains were recorded, spread out over c. 3 km of coastline and included bunkers, concrete bases for several masts, remains of hut foundations and lookout posts. The site was recorded as deteriorating as many parts are located in exposed positions and sand is being blown away from a bunker at the western end of the complex. The site was recommended for future monitoring.<2>

Further information on individual bunkers, lookout posts, and accomadation blocks, is available in each of the linked records. <3>

A plan of the Radio Station at Loth was received via Martin Briscoe. The site closed on 15/03/1944. He reports that there are three lookout posts along the coast and they possibly predate the use of this site as a radar station. <4><5>

Photographs were contributed by Martin Briscoe via the Highland HER Flickr group.<6>

Sources/Archives (6)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 9641 1024 (2328m by 1346m) Estimated from sources. Based on Canmore text description and extent of surveyed structures
Map sheet	NC91SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	LOTH

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Related Monuments/Buildings (12)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)