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. 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. You can lose a little loft to dampness, but provided you take the usual precautions it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties. 16.95 16.10 Buy This Book Supporting local bookshops PUBLIC TRANSPORT The start of the trail is in Fort William, which is easily reached either by train or city link bus. For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. After more than a decade of using Montbell wind shirts, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to amaze me. 6 thoughts on " Cape Wrath Trail 6 day hike Part 1 - COMPLETED! Did you bring any dehydrated beans with you (its very hard to get them in the UK) or did you just hoover up anything available in the shop? 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. Grid: NN 095 750 RVHG+3HC Gaul/Camusnagaul, Fort William Nat. If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. Towel, neck/face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups when low on cash. First things that came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the potential for wilder (and chillier) weather. Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. This looks amazing! Grid: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Nat. 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. Input your search keywords and press Enter. After slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the first day of the Glenfinnan Variant, Ma Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow. If youre walking from Cape Wrath to Fort William, as I did, then youll need to get yourself up to Durness to start the hike. You could print out your own maps, or have them custom made at Britains Ordnance Survey. In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. And for good reason. Cheers. And for those of a wayfaring disposition such as myself, I cant think of a better teacher than Mother Nature. With all that and a comfortable bed for the night, it was the perfect pit stop for us. Looking back at Sandwood bay on route to Cape Wrath | Final morning. 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. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? We then had a wonderful camp near by and had a tasty breakfast the next morning. 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. Did you use it much on the CWT?? Youve been warned. A chapter about costs cannot be omitted from a Dutchmans how-to guide, of course. Hey Rob, For updates and more photos, follow her Facebook and Instagram pages. Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Do you need to make more supply runs? Grid ref. A singular landscape of salt flats, volcanoes, fantastical rock formations and coloured lakes, I completed the journey over 16 days in August, 2017. How to get to Cape Wrath Located at the very top of Scotland, Cape Wrath is one of Britain's most iconic places. Jane Batchelor hiked the full Cape Wrath Trail in 2016 and half of it in 2017 on her 3,500-mile hike through Britain, camping as she went. The water level was low; June and July had been quite dry from the reports I heard. They obviously hadnt expected company any more than I had. One armed blind folks can sew better than me. Sealskinz waterproof socks are equally as magic, being the one thing that keeps the water out. Especially when its not overly humid. 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. Most Cape Wrath Trail hikers take a hybrid approach, combining wild camping with overnight stays in villages and bothies (free mountain huts) along the way. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. 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. Although they are 1:40,000 in scale, they have all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Tinders: Birch bark, King Alfreds cakes, birch polypore. Lovely overview of a wonderful hike. River crossings, along with midges, will become the bane of your trip. The Cape Wrath Trail is often considered to be one of Britain's most challenging trails, mostly due to its remoteness and rough terrain. I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. Overnight te https://t.co/h8vrc5D90S, A comprehensive guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, Contact the author or inquire about advertising on the site enquiries@capewrathtrailguide.org, Watercolour of Sourlies Bothy, Knoydart by Anthony Harper Going South to North, itll be from Shiel Bridgeto Fort William. One group of hikers were told very honestly that unless they fancied swimming, they should walk along the road to Rhiconich. I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. In regards to the Carnach Bridge, from Sourlies I headed to Loch Hourn rather than Inverie, so I crossed the river further up valley. We didn't start walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining. I wonder whether Harvey Maps has made it deliberately difficult in parts to keep up the arduous name this route has. Whenever possible Id pack out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. My name is Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild places! BUT and this is a big but, look ahead at the route. 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) I must admit, not completing it hadnt occurred to me, but with gales that had lifted tents from campsites and continual rain only four days before we set off, it was easy to see why. I brought a few days worth of beans; 2. Very good, informative and helpful, I dont know how you do it! And we heeded the same advice going in the opposite direction. I sent supply parcels to Fort William, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date. I cant do that even in the 70sF! I dont think humidity is an issue in the Highlands. 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. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . Thanks Geoff. I just get too chilly. Brilliant thank you for the reply! Nat. Here is a list of things to look out for. As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! I was young once upon a time. 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. Hiking 370km on the Cape Wrath Trail, Scotland | Kit, planning, logistics, food, and top tips 41,726 views Oct 17, 2021 1.8K Dislike Share Fit for Adventure 17.1K subscribers This was. It turned out they were students in their late teens/early twenties from Bristol. The Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself in pathless terrain. May 2022 Friends. 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. Hope that helps. 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! The Cape Wrath Trail is considered the UK's toughest long distance walk. Ta again. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Everyone I met for the first four days had bailed somewhere along the route by hitching or cutting their trip short. Perhaps she has put a sign up directing people where to go by now. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. Use hostels, hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to stay a night or two and give them your business! Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. For the sake of simplicity and the limited . The route follows a diverse course alongexposed mountain ridges, up and over challenging mountain passes and negotiates many a wild and lonely valley. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised National Trail. Hey Cam, great to see this hike.wow! Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 112 h 20 min to complete. Work has been crazy this year, so my list of Website: Things to Do has grown to Russian novel proportions! I can only show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make. Despite some wet and wild weather, I was never uncomfortable during the hike and felt prepared for any meteorological scenario that may have occurred. Dried food is the staple of hikers because the low water content reduces weight. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Instead of taking yet another bus all the way to Cape Wrath, we walked about 8km along a dirt road through MOD territory to Kearvaig bothy, which is an absolutely lovely place to start your journey and is located about 3km before the official start of the Cape Wrath Trail. Ah young love/lust! In fact it's only 200 - 250 miles. " lizziwake says: 21st September 2021 at 2:53 pm. There are a couple of alternative stages that . Thanks for the kind words. In regards to general tips on fording, I wrote an article on the subject that might be helpful: https://www.thehikinglife.com/2015/03/how-to-ford-a-river/ All the best on your hike! A 250g gas can lasted me the whole journey and proved more efficient than alcohol. Unless you are in a rush or looking to ease your way into the trip, go for the Knoydart route. The path is not waymarked and has many variations. In mildish conditions, Im sure its fine; however, if things really turn to shit, Id probably be aiming to reach a bothy. Going from north to south and sticking to the west path, youll have no refills from Fort William to Shiel Bridge except for a little cafe at Glenfinnan open 9.30am to 5pm July and Aug and 10am to 5pm other months, where you can buy scones, cake, Snickers and overpriced sandwiches. About the Trail Fuels: Dried Peat,Driftwood, Birch, Pine. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be much help. Smother them in white tiger balm and hey presto, youll have some relief from scratching like a flea-ridden dog. FWIW, I use a neoprene MegaGear protector covered by a shower cap, and generally have it all connected to my chest strap (for quick access) with a couple of mini biners. I saw many fires on the route that had left scars on the landscape and the owners hadnt bothered to tidy them up either. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. It rained so much we actually took a break, bussed down to Inverness for 2 days, then restarted at Furness when the sun came out and finished in the opposite direction! Id say they are more or less on the same level. MLD Duomid (0.75 DCF) with Solomid Silnylon Innernet. There is no lovely way marked footpath. As a rule, World Nomads offers excellent world-wide insurance for a wide range of activities, including hiking up to 6000 metres. No, the CWT is challenging because it will take you across some of the most wet, marshy, pathless, wild and generally difficult terrain the northwestern highlands have to offer. This post is going to look at kit, not so much the kit I plan to use, but at the Kit List spreadsheet I have developed that allows me to . If after all these years of rambling I can still enjoy meeting meteorological and environmental challenges, then I know that the unconditional love Ive always felt for heading out into the wilderness remains unchanged. . Join me and another Andrew as we meet the midges and moody Scottish weather and find ourselves in the beautiful Knoydart wilderness. You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. The Cape Wrath Trail. 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). That about wraps up my practical guide to the Cape Wrath Trail. From south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie. PLANNING. : NM 912 844 About: Often the first bothy hikers will encounter on the Cape Wrath Trail, Corryhully is a well-known bothy not maintained by the MBA but by the local estate. The Cape Wrath Trail runs from Fort William to Cape Wrath on Scotland's northwest coast, for approximately 280 miles. Bad luck/good luck. I pick up a different SIM in each country and pay local rates. Chances are, you've no option to do this on your current trip anyway. I seemed to be very much in the minority! The benefit, though, is they are added protein when they kamikaze into your food, which they will do, at every opportunity. I certainly will. Bothies are rarely near trees or woodland on this route, so you must learn aboutother fuels you can utilise such as dry peat or heather. Obviously the former is a lot more of a sociable hike. One of my favourite things about rambling in shitty (but not really) conditions (e.g. Due to the unpredictable weather and challenging terrain, it is a hike that is best suited to experienced ramblers who possess a good level of fitness, navigation skill, and a stoic disregard of having wet feet. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. Luckily the rain only lasted an hour or so and then it started to dry out. *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. 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! When it comes to fuel foraging, take only what you need. Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cape Wrath Trail. Now lets talk food. Stretching approximately 230 miles (370 km) from the Highland hub of Fort William to the remote lighthouse of Cape Wrath, it is an unmarked and sometimes trailless route that passes through the wild and spectacular landscapes of northwestern Scotland. Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. Love your musings and information on gear, and, in this particular case, attitude. 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). Another important note is to know your exit points in advance. Odds are, youll be soaked through by the time you get there anyway.. Hey Cam, Many thanks this is an excellent report. As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. Which is what I did; never let it be said that Cameron James Honan stood in the path of young love! When in spate, the rivers can flow at full force up to your thighs, hips or waist. I haven't managed a night in my tent since last October (in Zagori) and I have been desperate to get off grid for a few days. 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) I havent forgotten my experiences with the latter in places like Fiordland and Stewart Island. 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. Take lightweight diving or pool shoes with a strong grip on the soles and a secure fit around your feet. the Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good idea of how to navigate such conditions. Hey Swami, Im heading up to Scotland in May to have a go at the cape wrath, Im toying with taking a dedicated compact camera as the lens on my phone camera is wrecked. Im looking forward to reading the post the Lofoten Islands. Lets get you started! 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. Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. Especially at that time of year; its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Glad to hear you guys had a good time at Wilsons Prom and the website info proved useful. Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. This book definitely does justice to the tough character of the trail. Ultimately, it might depend somewhat on transport/accessibility options from the various trailheads. Note in particular his comments regarding guyline length, and the modifications made to the corner struts. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. They were up in the Highlands for their first ever multi-day backpacking trip. That was all I had (no GPS) and I was fine. Pitched the tent & had a comfortable hour having food & few brews before the expected rain came in. . 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. Deserts, jungles, mountains or coast; Ive never had a preference. In any strenuous activity like hiking or other endurance sports it is important to get your strength back up at the end of a long day of depleting your bodys energy reserves. Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy. This is certainly the way I would go next time. Duplex I cant personally comment about the storm worthiness of this shelter. Lockdown has given me the opportunity to start working on a long-postponed project, a new YouTube channel. Lets start with the trail itself. 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. There are some similarities between hiking there and in Alaska, but for the most part I feel like they are quite distinct experiences. Which brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina. The Cape Wrath Trail is a long distance hike through some of the most remote areas in Scotland, the trail is around 250 miles long and it takes the average backpacker around 2-3 weeks to complete. 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). Cheers, 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. Yup, seven days. It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. The way I figure it, if Ive got the right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not to like? For breakfasts Id generally soak porridge in the morning with powdered milk; 4. Thank you for the kind words. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around.
cape wrath trail food