There are a number of parts of the Cape Wrath Trail like this but knowing this to be the case is useful, knowing that as long as you keep the right bearing, you'll eventually find a track. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! 1C to 5C combined with driving wind, rain. 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. It contains detailed information for more than 200 of the worlds great hikes and was put together with the mission of inspiring and enabling folks to go backpacking. You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is around 320km (200 miles) long and passes through some of Scotland's wildest and most spectacular scenery. And of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the trail can become impassable in certain areas. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Ive hiked the Skye during August but had no time for the highlands. 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. I just get too chilly. Big decisions about smallest details, which I embrace. Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. As I said before, the CWT is mostly a collection of trails that lead northward to Cape Wrath and as such there is not a single definitive route you can take. The Essential Guide to Ultralight Bivy Sacks, The Hidden Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. This method involves walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the way from Fort William, and is a trip in itself. Groundhogs are great; in addition to their durability, the red colour makes me less likely to lose them than the generic silver. Its a challenge and people do it to test themselves. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. The other thing I love about hiking in inclement weather is that it acts as an affirmation. 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! I met my calorie requirements by posting food parcels and supplemented this with food fromcafes, shops andforaging. Find out more 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. When it comes to fuel foraging, take only what you need. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. The end of the trail is remote Cape Wrath, linked by a seasonal tourist bus and ferry to near Durness. 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. Especially when out on a trip like the CWT it is very important you make sure your travel insurance covers off-road activities, as most agencies wont cover this in their basic plans. 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. Chocolate Bars. Lets start with the trail itself. Overall I was happy with my gear selections on the Cape Wrath Trail. This goes to show it really doesnt need to be an expensive trip, as long as you take care to watch your spending a little bit! Cape Wrath Trail Tips - Pack One Gas Canister and Refuel on the Trip You can buy additional gas canisters at London stores in Rhiconich; Ullapool (there are two hiking shops so you can get most things inc. tent repair splints); the shop at Kinlochewe (9am-5.30pm) and the garage/campsite shop at Shiel Bridge (closes at 6pm). (Or maybe my feet had just had enough.). 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. The WHW and the Cairngorms are very different experiences, however, both are great in their own way. Hey Rob, Excellent beanie / Not too thick / Stretchy enough to fit my noggin / Doesnt seem to be available in the US at the moment. The book A comprehensive guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK, published by Cicerone and now in a fully updated Second Edition. Ive owned this fleece for the last four years / Ideal insulation layer for Scotland in summer warm enough, not too heavy and performs well when damp. 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 like the flexibility this gave me as I was not committed to being anywhere at a specific time and I could walk as far as I liked each day. I cant do that even in the 70sF! Unlike pretty much every other pair I have used, they are fairly durable. But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. Some of the scenery is incredible if you get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about. Food and Drink Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. . Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. Add weight to your squats after a while! " lizziwake says: 21st September 2021 at 2:53 pm. 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. Regards, Jamie. No matter how low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you get proper travel insurance. I'm bringing a tent with a floor . 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. With just a couple of exceptions, all of the bothies I visited on the CWT I had had to myself. Purchased hot meals at Kinloch Hourn, Shiel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Okyel Bridge, Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie; 3. Required fields are marked *. There are often easier options (like a bridge near the caves at Inchnadamph, and a footpath right next to the river through Benmore Forest). 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. I immediately adjourned to the room on the other side of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty. Im hoping to do other hikes too and I wondering your opinion on West Highland Way vs. Cairngorm National Park? I was young once upon a time. It turned out they were students in their late teens/early twenties from Bristol. Ill go into more detail in the next chapter. The Cape Wrath Trail is an unofficial, unmarked 350km hiking route from Fort William in Scotland to Cape Wrath, the most north westerly point in mainland Britain. Yep, one of those little numbers you get in hotel amenity/vanity bags (at least thats the type Ive used). 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. The ends of long trails usually have a certain drama, none perhaps more than the obligatory Katahdin sign pose at the end of the Appalachian Trail. In fact, it sits right at the corner of the north and west Scottish coasts. Day Four - Strathcarron to Shenavall Bothy (68.52km) Day Five - Shenavall Bothy to Knockadamph Bothy (41.99km) (Collected a food parcel in Clachan) Day Six - Knockadamph Bothy to Cape Wrath (124.79km) (Had some food at Inchnadamph and Glendhu Bothy) The journey was fantastic and the weather was rare for that time of year, with a big high . It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. 2. Other resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but I think it is manageable for any prepared hiker. Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. 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! For details of ferries and bus to Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com. As always, Im always available for any questions you might still have! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. My base weight was 10.5 lb (4.75 kg), and total weight was 14.4 lb (6.5 kg). Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. Cant thank Angie and John enough for a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape wrath trail. 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. A comprehensive guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK, published by Cicerone and now in a fully updated Second Edition. I had initially . Theres an Estate Office in Archfary where you might be able to pop in and enquire about the river conditions up to Rhiconich (walking south to north). Had it repaired and sewed up. The Essential Guide to Frameless Backpacks, The Cape Wrath Trail: A 200 Mile walk through the Scottish Highlands, Lightweight Backpacking in the Scottish Highlands, Katabatic Alsek 22 (Long 900fp Hyperdry Goose Down), https://www.thehikinglife.com/2015/03/how-to-ford-a-river/, https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57523. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022. 50g of sugar will offer some extra boost to the hot drinks if needed, Extra meal extra breakfast, two more oats bars and a high (1000) calorie freeze dried meal by Expedition Foods. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. Your email address will not be published. Its marked as a campsite on the maps so naturally the smooth area of grass was where three sets of hikers (us included) had pitched. I quickly shut the door, muttering three or four rapid-fire sorries as I did so. Best of luck on your trip! Now I want to try to hike it in end of October early November. I hiked the Cape Wrath Trail over ten days in the summer of 2018. Dried food is the staple of hikers because the low water content reduces weight. Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. Stick to the eastern route variations that will lead you through longer stretches of gloriously empty wilderness. I didn't book any accommodation and wild camped every night. 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. Plot a route that works best for you. Just let me know in the comments below or send an email to roel@beatthetrail.com. Green tents, on the other hand, are not immune to the midges advances. Public toilets are situated in Durness village , beside the 'spar' shop. Tiger balm can also be rubbed into aching muscles and temples if you have a pesky headache. One group of hikers were told very honestly that unless they fancied swimming, they should walk along the road to Rhiconich. There are many different ways to train yourself for an undertaking like the CWT, so Ill leave it to you to find a way to train that suits your preference. Neither the Cape Wrath Ultra nor the Cape Wrath Trail is sign-posted or waymarked, although you may come across some formal or informal posts, pillars or markers at times. 367 km / 228 miles. 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. A superb and challenging route for experienced long-distance backpackers, the Trail passes through some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes. Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! Apr 27, 2012. You could go stoveless on this trip if you wanted to. Happy with the results so far. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. I know from personal experience having endured days of agony on long treks. Which Direction? 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. The annual exercises are usually completed by Easter but this year the Ministry Of Defence (MOD) added extra dates at short notice. 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. And I wondering your opinion on West Highland Way vs. Cairngorm National Park in their own Way you! 10Th incarnation traversing 200 miles of Scotland 's wildest and most beautiful country tiger balm can also be into. 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