Cape Royds is a dark rock cape forming the western extremity of Ross Island in Antarctica, overlooking McMurdo Sound at 77°33′S 166°09′E.
The cape was discovered during the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901–1904 and named for Lieutenant Charles Royds of the Royal Navy, who served as the expedition’s meteorologist. Royds later rose to the rank of Admiral and became Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London. Cape Royds gained historical significance as the site of Shackleton’s Hut, built as the base camp for Ernest Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition of 1907–09. The hut remains one of Antarctica’s most important heritage sites, marking an era when explorers pushed toward the South Pole under brutal conditions with minimal shelter and support. The cape’s dark volcanic rock stands in stark contrast to the surrounding ice, a navigational landmark on Ross Island’s west side.
