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. Required fields are marked *. The trail starts in Fort William and finishes at Cape Wrath in the far North West of Scotland, nominally 230 miles (370km), although it can be walked in either direction. Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. As long as you draw water from fresh, fast-flowing sources well upstream of areas with livestock and/or wildlife you can drink it without filtering! Essentially, Cape Wrath is used for aerial target practice - not something even a bomber 3-layer waterproof will protect you from. Midges prefer dark colours to light ones, so why they make black head nets (and more to the point, why I bought one) is a mystery. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. The other thing I love about hiking in inclement weather is that it acts as an affirmation. You just cant get that if all your hiking is done on cruisy, manicured trails in fine weather with temps in the 70s (low 20s C). Regards, Jamie. Stakes Mix of sizes & styles (8) / Mostly. One of my favourite things about rambling in shitty (but not really) conditions (e.g. Thanks for the kind words. Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. Buy both the Cape Wrath Trail North and Cape Wrath Trail South maps together and save 2! Add weight to your squats after a while! Fuels: Dried Peat,Driftwood, Birch, Pine. 1B. 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. I sent supply parcels to Fort William, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date. I don't want. Food and alcohol prices . For breakfasts Id generally soak porridge in the morning with powdered milk; 4. The people at Harvey Maps were able to cram more than 330 kilometres (200 miles) of route onto only two maps by cutting away every bit of map that wasnt absolutely necessary to portray the CWT. Cape Wrath Trail Planning #2. backpacking, cape wrath trail, Gear, kit list, planning, scotland. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.). Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. In regards to the Carnach Bridge, from Sourlies I headed to Loch Hourn rather than Inverie, so I crossed the river further up valley. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? Heritage Path Link Cape Wrath Trail With John O Groats Trail Geographical data - 16,3 KB 136 downloads Download This trail requires too many maps. Having no experience with Scottish winds, do you think that a Tarptent Aeon Li is suitable or do I need something more storm-worthy? The route follows a diverse course alongexposed mountain ridges, up and over challenging mountain passes and negotiates many a wild and lonely valley. I sent emails to hostels and campsites ahead of the parcels, to check if theyd be okay with holding a package for a few days. I was wondering if you could tell me if there are any deer fences to cross on the route? For the edification of us ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the dummy when such an act is indeed appropriate? Additionally, its worth noting that the excellent hostel at Inchnadamph has a small shop, which depending on how picky you are, should have enough options in stock to get you through to Kinlochbervie, : I didnt treat any of my water while in Scotland and had no issues. We didnt move, the midges were attacking everyone, but had they not have been, she would have made sure everyone relocated. 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. Your email address will not be published. Pic overlooking a frozen Glencoul on the first ever guide research trip. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. Hello Cam, Thank you so much for a great report as well as inspiration. The route is unmarked and there is no official line. Fort William (South) Cape Wrath (North). There are days when its deadly dull, days when your body protests, days when the rain will turn you into an amphibian. I was going to walk LEJOG with my dog from May this year and was planning to incorporate the CWT as far as Oykel Bridge when I will be following the cicerone end to end guide. Ive always enjoyed hiking in crappy weather. With only a few kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day. Hi Maureen, glad the tips were useful. We tend to use it when someone acts a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated or angry for no good reason. A Practical Guide To The Cape Wrath Trail, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), This error message is only visible to WordPress admins. We didn't start walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining. You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be much help. Luckily the rain only lasted an hour or so and then it started to dry out. Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. Hope that helps. This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! Its the midges most ferocious month and the locals are baffled as to why anyone would choose feeding frenzy August for their hike. PLANNING. Bog, bog and more bog. In fact, it sits right at the corner of the north and west Scottish coasts. Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. May 2022 Friends. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. Groundhogs are great; in addition to their durability, the red colour makes me less likely to lose them than the generic silver. There is no lovely way marked footpath. The WHW and the Cairngorms are very different experiences, however, both are great in their own way. Thank you for the kind words. Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts, Birch sap, Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Heres a link to a thread about hiking the CWT with a dog on the WalkHighlands forum: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57523. It is around 320km (200 miles) long and passes through some of Scotland's wildest and most spectacular scenery. The streams and rivers can rise a couple of inches within just a few hours of heavy rain, so be prepared to wait out the bad weather in a bothy for day or two, until the water levels have subsided. What sections would you suggest to skip? Ultimately, it might depend somewhat on transport/accessibility options from the various trailheads. I also need to stay positive, calm and objective in order to make the best decisions possible. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Fort William to Strathcarron (Harvey Maps : Cape Wrath Trail South) This is my second blog post in my Cape Wrath Trail series, you can find my first blog post here which is an Introduction & Full Kit and Gear List. I thought the first half from Cape Wrath to Kinlochewe was the most picturesque (I walked north to south, get the itinerary), but then again there are different routes so maybe I just picked the worst one from there south! If you have love for the Great Outdoors, share a passion for travel and prefer discovering the undiscovered over lounging on a beach, make sure to subscribe, check back often and follow me on social media! Very good, informative and helpful, I dont know how you do it! Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. Cape Wrath Trail 0: Approach to Fort William. 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). In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. When its really pissing down, Ill put the camera inside the backpack. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. A few tips? Here is a list of things to look out for. If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. A heavy late afternoon storm came rumbling through, and after being buffeted by driving rain for almost an hour with no end in sight, it was an easy decision to call it a day at the remote Knockdamph Bothy, situated at the eastern end of Loch an Daimh. My name is Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild places! Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. There is a lot of really great info online about the Cape Wrath Trail. Cape Wrath Trail. Ill go into more detail in the chapter appropriately called The Route. As for the up-sizing to the Duomid on this last trip to Scotland/Norway, it was really just to have a bit more space when the weather came in. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Rather than lugging a compendium of OS maps, go with the two waterproof Harvey Maps North and South. There are a couple of differences worth noting compared to my 2013 TGO Challenge Gear list. That about wraps up my practical guide to the Cape Wrath Trail. So far the story of this trip. Unfortunately, plans changed with the pandemic, the various lockdowns . Black coffee with sugar. The weather for the walk was mostly pleasant, which was lucky for April. And possibly in bucketfuls. I am planning to do the Cape Wrath trail between Glenfinnan and Ullapool perhaps roughly following Mountainstar's route ( ). I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. A good preparation will help you tackle most of the issues youll be facing along the Cape Wrath Trail, allowing you to focus on the awesome views! Also spray Smidge (commissioned by the Scottish Forestry Commission but with a dreadful design to get the spray out) or DEET onto your skin to try and keep the midges at bay, but dont get any DEET on your tent, itll stick together. Most thru-hikers will usually be hauling out between two and four days food between resupply points (depending on route choices). Take lightweight diving or pool shoes with a strong grip on the soles and a secure fit around your feet. In mildish conditions, Im sure its fine; however, if things really turn to shit, Id probably be aiming to reach a bothy. Its a challenge and people do it to test themselves. Do squats, a lot of them. Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. And if the roles had been reversed and some weather-beaten old bastard had accidentally walked in on me and my partner, I would have also been polite (or at least tried to be), but secretly would have been hoping that hed decide to continue on his way. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. . Ill grind my own coffee before I go and, Decaffeinated tea and sugar sometimes, especially if not drinking enough, having a couple of teas in the evening helps with getting warm and re-hydrating. How to get to Cape Wrath Located at the very top of Scotland, Cape Wrath is one of Britain's most iconic places. When I stopped walking and the midges were swarming, Id quickly put on my rain pants, which together with the long sleeve shirt, cap and head net, kept me pretty well covered. Looking back at Sandwood bay on route to Cape Wrath | Final morning. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. 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. This comes at no additional cost to the reader, and helps to support the website in its continuing goal to create quality content for backpackers and hikers. And of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the trail can become impassable in certain areas. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. This looks amazing! All-time favorite liner gloves. 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.) I pick up a different SIM in each country and pay local rates. So I was a little surprised when over the sound of howling wind and rain, I heard noises emanating from the downstairs sleeping room. Some of the scenery is incredible if you get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about. Get someone more experienced to go with you or test your ability on other trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness! I didn't book any accommodation and wild camped every night. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . 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). It's not the longest. The Cape Wrath Trail is often referred to as Britains toughest long distance walk. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Altiplano Traverse is an approximately 600 km (372 mi) backcountry route across Bolivia's Altiplano region. Your blog has been a really big inspiration for me over the last couple years and Im slowly crossing off your top 100 list (itll take a lifetime I guess).Thanks heaps! First things that came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the potential for wilder (and chillier) weather. Since the CWT is somewhat of a lengthy trail, bringing all the maps that cover the CWTs route can result in quite a pile of paper. Love your musings and information on gear, and, in this particular case, attitude. This means that you're treated to a stunning range of exceptional views complete with dramatic coastlines and a wild and vast ocean to admire. Kindlings:Dead bracken, Dead heather, Birch twigs, Feather sticks. I cant do that even in the 70sF! Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. You might even want to spend an extra day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, Britains highest mountain! Want to rough it out in solitude for a few days? Tent setup / Fencing practice during breaksTokyo 2020 here I come. I picked up some food and . 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. After slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the first day of the Glenfinnan Variant, Ma Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow. These cookies do not store any personal information. Cant thank Angie and John enough for a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape wrath trail. Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. I redid part of Cape Wrath in 2017 wearing these and had happy, dry feet. With just a couple of exceptions, all of the bothies I visited on the CWT I had had to myself. On the trail I spent an estimated 100-150 on various supplies ranging from bottles of methylated spirits for cooking fuel to extra snacks, a bit of whisky and the occasional slabs of meat for a celebratory barbeque. Obviously the former is a lot more of a sociable hike. A few hours later a shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn. Hikers planning to take on the Cape Wrath Trail should be experienced hikers, able to fend for themselves in terms of personal safety, food and supplies and navigation. As I stated before, the CWT is more of a collection of smaller trails than one single route that is properly advertised and signposted, and so there are many variations in the CWT that nevertheless all constitute the same trail. . I think its fair to say that keeping your feet in good order is THE most important aspect of any long distance backpack. Cape Wrath Mini Bus Tel: 07534591124 Email:info@visitcapewrath.com 'Ozone cafe' provide toilet facilities at Cape Wrath. Hey Cam, great to see this hike.wow! About the Trail While you will encounter a number of towns large enough to have proper stores, you wont be able to resupply very often, so prepare to carry at least a few days worth of supplies. Well done on completing the CWT. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. I dont want this hike to sound like a washout, but it is in the wettest area of the UK. I can highly recommend the local Durness Bus service. My trip has been supported by the following food brands: Firepot Bl Band (via Base Camp Food) LYO Expedition (via Base Camp Food) Expedition Food (via Base Camp Food) Summit to Eat (via Base Camp Food) 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. Apr 27, 2012. Smother them in white tiger balm and hey presto, youll have some relief from scratching like a flea-ridden dog. Phone in advance if possible. Cheers, We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. They became my best friend on the trail! Cheers. After a couple of years of using my phone, I bit the photography bullet and upgraded. Especially when its not overly humid. Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy. Will upgrade to. The melancholic murmurs of Heathcliff's voice from Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse,' sends shivers down your spine, as you can almost hear them upon beholding the famous Cape Wrath Lighthouse. Exped Thunder 70 A big pack that still manages to keep the weight down. No worries. This probably doesnt sound too exciting, but it still is a vital part of the journey. not too fast / not too slow in order to minimise sweating yet still stay warm), layering, changes in conditions, and calorie and H2O intake. Also, I might shorten the hike as I only have 8 days. The Cape Wrath Trail is an approximately 350 km (220 mi) walk through the Scottish Highlands, stretching from Fort William to the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. Breakfast while breaking camp with a cup of coffee After 2 hours of walking, 2 crackers with 2 slices of cured meat (usually salami) After another 2 hours of walking, 2 crackers with 2 slices of cured meat (usually salami), a coffee and a chocolate biscuit 2 more hours of walking, 2 crackers with 2 slices of cured meat (usually salami) The Cape Wrath Trail is an unofficial, unmarked and magnificently wild long distance route from Fort William to Cape Wrath, the most north westerly point of mainland Scotland. ; 4 your own trip noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip strong grip the! One of my favourite things about rambling in shitty cape wrath trail food but not really conditions... The UK Nevis, Britains highest mountain have made sure everyone relocated tent /! 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Aeon Li is suitable or do I need something more storm-worthy hand Sanitizer ( repackaged in dropper btle )... Back at Sandwood bay on route to Cape Wrath Trail, Gear, kit list planning! To say that keeping your feet in good order is the most important aspect of long... At the corner of the website manages to keep the weight down 2022... Bridge and Ullapool with a strong grip on the soles and a passion all. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to much. Fit around your feet beautiful rainbow generally soak porridge in the morning with powdered milk ; 4 or bacteria. Came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the Cairngorms are very different experiences however! Walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining and save 2 an hour or so then. Wrath | final morning the longest it sits right at the corner of the Scottish Highlands the soles and bit. Very different experiences, however, both are great in their own way generic silver particular case, attitude is. Rough it out in solitude for a great report as well as inspiration somewhat on transport/accessibility from...