It starts in Fort William and ends at the lighthouse . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Especially at that time of year; its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. First things that came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the potential for wilder (and chillier) weather. Tiger balm can also be rubbed into aching muscles and temples if you have a pesky headache. I saw many fires on the route that had left scars on the landscape and the owners hadnt bothered to tidy them up either. I sent supply parcels to Fort William, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date. Thecalorie content should be well above your normal daily intake. But a gorgeous landscape! Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. Grid: NC 259 746 Add weight to your squats after a while! This guidebook describes the Cape Wrath Trail, a long-distance trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath crossing the wild north west of the Scottish Highlands. The Cape Wrath Trail 2021 | Part 1: Midge Tea In August 2021, we disembarked from the Camusnagaul Ferry and set off on what has been described as the Toughest Hike in Britain. After slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the first day of the Glenfinnan Variant, Ma Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow. The route is described from south to north in 14 stages, with 6 alternative stages along the way, allowing for a flexible itinerary of between two and three weeks. This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. The Cape Wrath Trail is a challenging route from Fort William to Cape Wrath. Thanks for the kind words. Karen Ive used down bags and quilts in the Scottish Highlands for half a century. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Here is a list of things to look out for. As a general rule, you should eat around 1kg of food a day while hiking otherwise you will lose weight. The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. Still my favourite Merino liners after more than a decade / Cheaper and more durable than the big sock companies. Average Duration : 14 to 21 days Difficulty : Moderate to Challenging Start / Finish : Fort William (South) - Cape Wrath (North). Work has been crazy this year, so my list of Website: Things to Do has grown to Russian novel proportions! Black coffee with sugar. Hello Cam, Thank you so much for a great report as well as inspiration. We'll be hiking the final stage of the trail, 120km from Oykel Bridge to Cape Wrath, through some of the UK's most wild, rugged and remote landscapes, wild camping along the way. Buy on Amazon More on the book The route This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. I took mainly dried, long-life food with me on the Cape Wrath Trail. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. That said, there are parts of the Cape Wrath Trail that pass by human settlement and grazing animals. Duplex I cant personally comment about the storm worthiness of this shelter. Had it repaired and sewed up. You could print out your own maps, or have them custom made at Britains Ordnance Survey. *Disclosure:This post contains some affiliate links, which means The Hiking Life receives a small commission if you purchase an item after clicking on one of the links. Great, lets keep going. What was your route through the latter? I picked up some food and . Thank you for the kind words. This leaves you with a highly efficient, if not slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a fraction of the weight! Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. Mother Nature had other ideas. Cheers, It had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it. Get someone more experienced to go with you or test your ability on other trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness! Breakfast - Granola, Muesli or Porridge with dried milk. A packet of jelly sweets which you can devour/savour (delete as appropriate) will make the world of difference to your energy and mood. Dates You have to find your own way from Fort William to Cape Wrath, the most north . Hey Cam, no DEET or Picaridin listed, as a frequent visitor myself to NZ, aka sandfly capital of the world, I have replaced DEET for the most part with Picaridan. Hope that helps. So you need a storm-worthy shelter with good coverage to keep your quilt dry. Planning for the CWT mid-May 2019. I had wet, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be in a competition with a snail for the slowest pace. Buy a green midge head net, not one for mosquitoes as the holes are too big, and youll attract less of the Scottish blighters than your black-netted hiking counterparts. I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. I havent forgotten my experiences with the latter in places like Fiordland and Stewart Island. Although the thought of carrying all your own kit and food needed for 3 days isn't everyone's cup of tea, it certainly is mine. If for whatever reason you decide you cant go on anymore, at least youll know where to go to get back to civilisation! Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point trail near Fort William, Highlands. Cheers, Did you have any time to dry out? As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. Hey Cam, great to see this hike.wow! 9 top tips for hiking the Cape Wrath Trail No.9 is the most important Gear and food reviews Exped Synmat UL Winter M An extremely comfortable winter sleeping mat. We didn't start walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining. Nature was wonderful with singing cuckoos everywhere! The trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. Good to know you are still exploring this amazing world on foot. The plan was to camp a little shy of Okyel Bridge and then head to its namesake hotel the following morning for a big breakfast. Here's our advice after spending two weeks on the Cape Wrath Trail, with links to the most helpful articles online and our own (slightly adapted)itinerary. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. Learn how your comment data is processed. I seemed to be very much in the minority! Bad weather does make one more accountable to every move/item of clothing; what happens if I get this piece of clothing wet, and theres only one piece of dry clothing to replace it in camp? While this trail has its share of bothies and other forms of accommodation along the way, they are not numerous enough to provide shelter every night. Thanks for your message. Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. Groundhogs are great; in addition to their durability, the red colour makes me less likely to lose them than the generic silver. All the gear. Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. Just a wee note about the post about the Carnoch bridge (at the head of Loch Nevis, crossing into knoydart proper).. theres a shiny new one!! Want to rough it out in solitude for a few days? The Durness bus can provide onward transport. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. No matter how low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you get proper travel insurance. Lastly, youll need to plan your route. Here is a typical day of food on the trail, usually totalling around 3500-4000 calories. Plot a route that works best for you. During the days Id also eat bars, trail mix, crisps, nuts; basically whatever I could find. See you on the Trail! But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! My base weight for the Cape Wrath Trail was 9.2 lbs (4.2 kg), and the total weight came in at 12.3 lb (5.6 kg). And possibly in bucketfuls. Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.). Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. I brought my own Breakfast Porridge Mix to start the day with, hardtack (army ration biscuits) with peanut butter for lunch and dehydrated instant meals for dinner. Summary: The Cape Wrath Trail, reputed as the toughest long distance walk in Great Britain, is a hiking route that runs through the Scottish Highlands and along the west coast of Scotland. Cheers, This is the second of three posts related to the planning process for my Cape Wrath Trail walk, in May 2019. I can highly recommend the local Durness Bus service. For those of you planning on starting the CWT at Cape Wrath, I recommend you take a train to Inverness (around 45 from Edinburgh) and book a bus to Durness from there. Whenever possible Id pack out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points. It is also possible to simply buy food supplies along the CWT as you go, but be prepared to make a little detour every now and then as youll be dependent on visiting towns a lot more. Required fields are marked *. NZs sandies or the Scots midges-which animal rules for sheer bastadry? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. For most of the other route variations it is best to simply check with your own needs and expectations. Hop over to Ullapool (I went from Inverness bus station) and get an afternoon bus at about 16.00-17.00-ish from Ullapool to Durness or go direct from Inverness to Durness at 10.00 or 17.00 (route 805 for the latter time). . The other thing I love about hiking in inclement weather is that it acts as an affirmation. I hiked this route from 17th Apr 8th May, early enough to see no midges at all. Just a few minutes' walk away from the Cape Wrath Trail route is the Great Glen Hostel at Laggan, which provides good value accommodation and meals ideal for walkers. The Premui Trail: A perfect guide to the Velebit mountains, Sustainable tourism destinations to inspire your next adventure, A Practical Guide to hiking Tara National Park, 5 Long Hiking Trails in Tara National Park, Stara Planina: Hiking one of Serbias hidden gems, Cycling in Japan: 6 days through Niigata and Nagano. I was wondering if you could tell me if there are any deer fences to cross on the route? I was young once upon a time. Day 1 - rain and sunsets. Resupplying on the Cape Wrath Trail can be difficult so I set off with 7 days food and had a 7 day resupply package at Kinlochewe. The Essential Guide to Ultralight Bivy Sacks, The Hidden Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? Hoorah! Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Another option that is easier and cheaper is to buy the special Cape Wrath Trail maps made by Harvey Maps. Upsized from the Solomid XL for a little more space on what promised to be a cold and wet trip / Very quick set up / Holds up well in a storm. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Above the animal grazing line you wont need to filter or purify the water, but if youre in lowland areas, use a filter or purification tablets and fill up into a bottle. The passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul (10 minutes) the official start of the CWT. Obviously the former is a lot more of a sociable hike. Secondly, more often than not the trail simply disappears among the marshy and rugged terrain, leaving you to find a proper way through for yourself. Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. Because of its remoteness (there are parts of the CWT that require the intrepid adventurer to carry enough food to last a few days) - and changeable conditions (rivers suddenly in spate, weather conditions changing in moments etc.) The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! When it comes to fuel foraging, take only what you need. Have a read of this article from Jorgen Johansson which talks specifically about how the tent performs in inclement weather in an environment not dissimilar to what you will encounter in Scotland. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. There are a couple of alternative stages that . Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. For the edification of us ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the dummy when such an act is indeed appropriate? They obviously hadnt expected company any more than I had. But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. As expenditure is something that varies strongly from one person to the next, Ill say only this: in the end, you decide how much you want to spend. While not the most storm-worthy shelter in the Tarptent stable, I think the Aeon Li should suffice for the Cape Wrath Trail. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. Find out more Whether it be on trail or in your everyday life, being able to accept, embrace and learn from the tough periods is fundamental to growth. Which is what I did; never let it be said that Cameron James Honan stood in the path of young love! Odds are, youll be soaked through by the time you get there anyway.. Hey Cam, Grid ref. Perhaps she has put a sign up directing people where to go by now. This probably doesnt sound too exciting, but it still is a vital part of the journey. Its a challenge and people do it to test themselves. The Cape Wrath Trail runs from Fort William to Cape Wrath on Scotland's northwest coast, for approximately 280 miles. Here is a list of things to look out for. Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. Theme by Jason M Design. the Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good idea of how to navigate such conditions. So far the story of this trip. What sections would you suggest to skip? Theres a whole load of bog trotting to be done on the 199-mile hike so invest in gaiters to keep the splodge out of your boots. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. So plan your gear accordingly. I completed the trail then,and still have the battle scars to prove it. With all that and a comfortable bed for the night, it was the perfect pit stop for us. CategoriesGear Lists, Scotland, The Hiking Life Blog, Thru-hiking, TrailsTagsAlex Roddie, Brooks, Cape Wrath, Cape Wrath Trail, Cicerone Press, Gaia GPS, Harvey Maps, Hiking, Katabatic Gear, Montbell, Mountain Laurel Designs, Patagonia, Sandwood Bay, Scottish Highlands, TGO Magazine, The Hiking Life, Thru-hiking, thru-hiking Gear Guide, thru-hiking-topics, ultralight backpacking. That said, all rain isnt necessarily driving, and I found it worth the relatively small weight penalty for the number of hours I ended up using it (Note: Better not quote me on that one!). I am planning to do the Cape Wrath trail between Glenfinnan and Ullapool perhaps roughly following Mountainstar's route ( ). The Cape Wrath Trail Project aims to promote an excellent Cape Wrath Trail journey 'Scotland's wildest long distance trail' Using local knowledge and the mountain skills of many people who live, work and play here a trail has been identified after several years of extensive research that is designed to give potential walkers the best possible . Scottish rain and acidic bog has magical properties, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable. When its wet here it doesnt get all that cold. The route is unmarked and there is no official line. We then had a wonderful camp near by and had a tasty breakfast the next morning. Hey Rob, Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! To make things even more interesting, there is a notable lack of facilities along the way. I cannot recommend sending parcels poste restante (to hold) to post offices, as Britains Royal Mail officially only allows for envelopes to be held, not packages. 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