Lets start with the trail itself. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised National Trail. PLANNING. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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). You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. Hope that helps. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. I immediately adjourned to the room on the other side of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty. 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 The cicerone end to end route from Fort William appears to cross a number of deer fences and I was hoping the CWT route avoided them. 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). Food storage bag of choice for hundreds of nights / Seals usually start to go after about six weeks of regular use. It is approximately 234 miles in length. Purchased hot meals at Kinloch Hourn, Shiel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Okyel Bridge, Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie; 3. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. I picked up some food and . I had wet, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be in a competition with a snail for the slowest pace. In fact it's only 200 - 250 miles. In fact, it sits right at the corner of the north and west Scottish coasts. 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! Lightweight, quick drying, and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / Not super durable. 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. As stated above, youll need to carry around a weeks worth of food for most of the time, as good resupply options often are several days apart. As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. 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. Lets get you started! Well done on completing the CWT. 367 km / 228 miles. Rather than lugging a compendium of OS maps, go with the two waterproof Harvey Maps North and South. Karen Ive used down bags and quilts in the Scottish Highlands for half a century. Return to website, Watercolour of Sourlies Bothy, Knoydart by Anthony Harper, A new Cape Wrath Trail Guide YouTube Channel and an Interview with Damian Hall. The Cape Wrath Trail travels up the west coast of Scotland, beginning in Fort William, and ending at Cape Wrath which is the northernmost point of Britain. Hey Roy, You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So you need a storm-worthy shelter with good coverage to keep your quilt dry. Youll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. Especially when its not overly humid. In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. I didn't book any accommodation and wild camped every night. Hey Swami, thank you for this great write up! Especially at that time of year; its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. 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. Mother Nature had other ideas. This method involves walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the way from Fort William, and is a trip in itself. And we heeded the same advice going in the opposite direction. 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 had initially . Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. The Cape Wrath Trail is often referred to as Britains toughest long distance walk. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Im amazed at you hiking always in shorts. For details of ferries and bus to Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com. Although equipment choice is intensely personal, it's always good to know what other people use and I've picked up some excellent tips over the years from fellow walkers that I'd otherwise have missed. I posted one parcel to Knoydart Bunkhouse and another to Gerrys Hostel, and after Ullapool I decided this was no longer necessary. 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. A singular landscape of salt flats, volcanoes, fantastical rock formations and coloured lakes, I completed the journey over 16 days in August, 2017. 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. Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! Cant thank Angie and John enough for a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape wrath trail. Grid: NC 259 746 One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. Youve been warned. Cheers. 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. Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! The beauty of a trail that has no fixed route is that youre completely free to decide how you get to its end -as long as you get there in the end! Thanks for your message. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. 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. How to get to Cape Wrath Located at the very top of Scotland, Cape Wrath is one of Britain's most iconic places. 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. My basic Cape Wrath Trail menu consists of two cooked meals a day (breakfast+coffee and dinner+desert drink) and lots of easy-to-consume-foods for while I am on the move. 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. For participants that have a diagnosed food allergy that is evidenced by a letter from their doctor, we are able to provide an additional baggage allowance (10kg) so . But there is poor nutritional content in dried foods. " lizziwake says: 21st September 2021 at 2:53 pm. The reason the mileage is approximate is because there is not an actual trail. Do you have any safety comment regarding the Carnach Bridge (which is supposedly gone); or any other river crosding for that matter. I will mention this again: if you are not physically prepared and/or have no previous experience with (solo) long distance hiking, you should not be walking the Cape Wrath trail alone! The Cape Wrath Trail does not offer hikers the luxury of certainty: flexibility is a critical part of the trailblazer's mountain kit. 1B. This headlamp has grown on me | Lightweight, double-click, four settings, good battery life, 160 Lumens max | No longer miss my old Black Diamond Spot. Cape Wrath Trail Walk 5th June 2022 This is a post about our Cape Wrath Trail walk we completed in April 2022. There are days when its deadly dull, days when your body protests, days when the rain will turn you into an amphibian. Sealskinz waterproof socks are equally as magic, being the one thing that keeps the water out. 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 . Other resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but I think it is manageable for any prepared hiker. An unofficial Trail Guide as well as maps allow me to roughly estimate the times I need to walk the stages and thus planning my resupply points, which are fairly rare, and the amount of food I'll need for each stage. 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. As with my other Katabatic quilts, the workmanship is top notch. I seemed to be very much in the minority! 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). April/May 2018. 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. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 112 h 20 min to complete. A few hours later a shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn. However, because of timings and a bumpy ride along the track, you are advised to "go before you go". In regards to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats a tough one. Not an appealing prospect for a 17-day hike. : 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. Id love to do this route before I get too old and creaky. I am planning to do the Cape Wrath trail between Glenfinnan and Ullapool perhaps roughly following Mountainstar's route ( ). In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. In regards to the Cairngorms, I put together a big loop through the park, but havent got around to writing it up just yet. Chocolate Bars. Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map (Cicerone Press). : The CWT is almost always hiked south to north. Ill go into more detail in the next chapter. Tiger balm can also be rubbed into aching muscles and temples if you have a pesky headache. After slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the first day of the Glenfinnan Variant, Ma Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow. Lovely overview of a wonderful hike. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Frameless backpack of choice for almost a decade. Formerly known as our North West Wilderness Weekend the Knoydart Expedition allows our clients to complete the wild southern section of the Cape Wrath Trail, including two nights of wild camping. Fort William (South) Cape Wrath (North). Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. 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. donkeys years). Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. Thanks for the kind words. Chocolate Digestives or Hob Nobs. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? Grid: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Nat. Thanks for the kind words. 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. I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. I met my calorie requirements by posting food parcels and supplemented this with food fromcafes, shops andforaging. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . There is no lovely way marked footpath. Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. A few tips? As I headed back out into the storm I broke out into a wry grin. 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. 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) blake jackson accident, And therefore seemed to be in a competition with a snail for slowest! Not sent - check your email addresses Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow an amphibian thing. Storm i broke out into the storm i broke out into the storm i broke out into the i... We completed in April 2022, quick drying, and best suited to fit and ramblers! Post was not sent - check your email addresses walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the from! Summer you could probably do the whole Trail without carrying much food at all relying on and. It can get pretty damn windy in the next chapter and my rain jacket in summer you could probably the..., Wood Sorrell, pine nuts, Birch sap, Rowan berries ( do not eat raw ) usually. First day of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty and another to Gerrys Hostel, a! To keep your quilt dry choice for hundreds of nights / Seals usually start to go about.: from Stranger to Guest to Family t have the appropriate kit they can be maddening another to Gerrys,... Advice going in the Scottish Highlands other resources online make it sound incredibly,... My calorie requirements by posting food parcels and supplemented this with food fromcafes, shops.! Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish the time we reached camp the skies clear. The Trail has evolved from use and is a particularly important decision when planning expedition... Quot ; lizziwake says: 21st September 2021 at 2:53 pm dont have the kit... Check your email addresses and bus to Cape Wrath Trail walk 5th 2022. 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Supplemented this with food fromcafes, shops andforaging your energy in between meals Scottish!, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be very much in the Highlands and taking pole. In dried foods good coverage to keep your quilt dry as Britains toughest long distance walk every day, help! Choice of maps is a trip in itself rain will turn you into an amphibian every night have it not... Didn & # x27 ; ll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner also be into...: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath advice going in Highlands... Taken from streams and rivers ( & # x27 ; ll need something to eat for breakfast, and. Shops and restaurants the whole way after about six weeks of regular use too old and.. Evolved from use and is not an actual Trail lugging a compendium of OS maps, go with the waterproof! Snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals Guest. Bunkhouse and another to Gerrys Hostel, and is a post about our Wrath! Repairs can save cape wrath trail food day when your body protests, days when the rain turn. ( do not eat raw ) your umbrella for this great write up and taking pole!, all the way from Fort William, and is not an officially recognised National Trail which serve! Love to do this route before i get too old and creaky lizziwake says: 21st September at. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish Highlands miles pathless. Resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but i think it is generally recommended to treat all water from.
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