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. Pitched the tent & had a comfortable hour having food & few brews before the expected rain came in. 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. The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . the Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good idea of how to navigate such conditions. not too fast / not too slow in order to minimise sweating yet still stay warm), layering, changes in conditions, and calorie and H2O intake. Kindlings:Dead bracken, Dead heather, Birch twigs, Feather sticks. This leaves you with a highly efficient, if not slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a fraction of the weight! 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. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. Not as good as new, but still functional / From what Ive seen, the latest models have a different design, and arent in the same league as the old ones. Grid: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Nat. However, because of timings and a bumpy ride along the track, you are advised to "go before you go". Pack light. 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. 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. Youll want to bring lightweight meals, enough to sustain you on a daily basis but also something that will provide you with enough nutrients and energy to make it through those three weeks. You're one step away from receiving emails from Yes Jane Can. 1A. Peat and forest fires can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates. Want to rough it out in solitude for a few days? This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! First things that came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the potential for wilder (and chillier) weather. One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. 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. And for good reason. I certainly will. Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. 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. A memorable beginning to a hike I had long been looking forward to. Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. 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. Some of the scenery is incredible if you get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about. Cheers, I just get too chilly. Back from the dead. I would have been fine with the Palisade 30, but wanted to take the brand new Alsek for a test run. Some of the very basics you'll need while out on the Cape Wrath Trail. Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. Get someone more experienced to go with you or test your ability on other trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness! 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. Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. With only a few kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day. The Cape Wrath Trail is considered the UK's toughest long distance walk. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. 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). 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. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! See the, : There arent as many resupply options on the CWT as there are on Britains more popular long distance rambles. Kept with sunscreen & hand sanitizer in shoulder pocket. As mentioned in the disclosure at the bottom of the post, The Hiking Life receives a small commission if the reader purchases something after clicking on one of the affiliate links. This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. With up to 6 days of food, it will never exceed 28 pounds. Bog, bog and more bog. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. There is no single definitive . I dont want this hike to sound like a washout, but it is in the wettest area of the UK. Hey Cam, great to see this hike.wow! Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Towel, neck/face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups when low on cash. 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 water level was low; June and July had been quite dry from the reports I heard. Day 1 - rain and sunsets. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. Black coffee with sugar. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. In fact it's only 200 - 250 miles. Ive hiked the Skye during August but had no time for the highlands. Initially following the Great Glen, the route turns north to cross Glen Garry, Glen Loyne and Glenshiel before crossing the wilderness to Strathcarron, continuing north through Torridon, Dundonnell (ferry) and . From south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie. 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. Hey Roy, Its a gruelling hike in parts, and that teamed with torrential rain can really dampen your spirits. Couldnt resist! Lockdown has given me the opportunity to start working on a long-postponed project, a new YouTube channel. Thanks for the kind words. While not the most storm-worthy shelter in the Tarptent stable, I think the Aeon Li should suffice for the Cape Wrath Trail. I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. 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. Hi Frederick, Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. It had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it. For details of ferries and bus to Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com. No matter how low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you get proper travel insurance. That said, there are parts of the Cape Wrath Trail that pass by human settlement and grazing animals. When it comes to fuel foraging, take only what you need. After not more than a few minutes had passed, the young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and apologized profusely. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. And they might be right. In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. Just remember to train your core, lower back and legs most of all. Do you need to make more supply runs? This probably doesnt sound too exciting, but it still is a vital part of the journey. I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. Public toilets are situated in Durness village , beside the 'spar' shop. This is because the difficulty of the terrain and the lack of way marking (or even defined paths in many places). The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant of the trail. The nearby stream offers a good water . The end of the trail is remote Cape Wrath, linked by a seasonal tourist bus and ferry to near Durness. You have to find your own way from Fort William to Cape Wrath, the most north . But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. That heralded a time to zip the tent up & say goodbye to a successful, uneventful, first day. Hard ice en route to Sandwood Bay. I just booked a fly to do this in September after plans for Sweden fell through. The Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself in pathless terrain. A 250g gas can lasted me the whole journey and proved more efficient than alcohol. Thanks for the kind words. Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. Want to know what I did? Use hostels, hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to stay a night or two and give them your business! and thick fog) is that it makes me a better hiker. Seasons greetings to you all. Although they are 1:40,000 in scale, they have all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked. 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! 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. Hi there! 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. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands 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. The Cape Wrath Trail. All-time favorite liner gloves. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022. One solution to this logistical problem is to send ahead parcels with food and supplies to locations along your route. I can highly recommend the local Durness Bus service. 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. 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 . Covid rules scuppered my plans to go to Corsica so I instead I headed to Fort William to start the Cape wrath trail - an epic and unsignposted trail that goes through 320km of . It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. And for those of a wayfaring disposition such as myself, I cant think of a better teacher than Mother Nature. In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. Grid: NC 259 746 It has the reputation of being Britain's toughest long distance walk. We sensibly did the route to Inchnadamph instead. Join me and another Andrew as we meet the midges and moody Scottish weather and find ourselves in the beautiful Knoydart wilderness. I think its fair to say that keeping your feet in good order is THE most important aspect of any long distance backpack. Everyone I met for the first four days had bailed somewhere along the route by hitching or cutting their trip short. Leave enough for others and the ecology. Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! Fats and slow-burning carbs (like beans and whole grains) provide your body with long-term energy, while fast-burning, simple carbohydrates like fruits and sugars can provide that extra bit of short-term kick to get you going. Cam. All the best on the Cape Wrath! Cape Wrath Trail Walk 5th June 2022 This is a post about our Cape Wrath Trail walk we completed in April 2022. I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. Now lets talk food. The Altiplano Traverse is an approximately 600 km (372 mi) backcountry route across Bolivia's Altiplano region. I live in Alaska and its often damp, breezy, cloudy, foggy. Last year I hiked the CWT (Knoydart variant) and really enjoyed it! Regards, Jamie. Does this sound good to you? 2. Also just to let you know my wife and I did the Wilson Prom Circuit in March and your post was the major resource we used. 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. Alternates: There are a number of different route alternatives during the Cape Wrath Trail. 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!! I seemed to be very much in the minority! Find out more Do squats, a lot of them. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. Chocolate Bars. As with my other Katabatic quilts, the workmanship is top notch. Take lightweight diving or pool shoes with a strong grip on the soles and a secure fit around your feet. Tomorrow is the first officially planned zero day of the trip in the last town (village) of any size (Ullapool) before the end point of Cape Wrath. Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. It turned out they were students in their late teens/early twenties from Bristol. It's not the longest. Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. A superb and challenging route for experienced long-distance backpackers, the Trail passes through some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes. In order to stay safe and semi-comfortable in such weather, I need to be completely focused in regards to navigation, pace (i.e. The biggest choice facing hikers is how to begin their journey; via the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant (Note: The two options eventually meet up at Shiel Bridge). Fuels: Dried Peat,Driftwood, Birch, Pine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Hiking Life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques, and improving your wilderness skill set. 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. 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. As for disadvantages, the only ones that come to mind are that its a bigger footprint (not really an issue in Scotland), and theres a small weight penalty of an ounce or two over the Solomid. Its possible to get breakfast cereals, instant pasta, rice etc and in most of them its possible to buy hot meat pies/pastas and sausage rolls. My base weight was 10.5 lb (4.75 kg), and total weight was 14.4 lb (6.5 kg). Not an appealing prospect for a 17-day hike. It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. With all that and a comfortable bed for the night, it was the perfect pit stop for us. The former is wilder, more challenging and generally considered to be more scenic. Good photos & Video / Have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It is around 320km (200 miles) long and passes through some of Scotland's wildest and most spectacular scenery. Train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Fort William vary between20 and30 for a one-way trip. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.). In regards to what I did for food on the CWT: 1. For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. I was wondering if you could tell me if there are any deer fences to cross on the route? I redid part of Cape Wrath in 2017 wearing these and had happy, dry feet. Another important note is to know your exit points in advance. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. Im definitely no expert when it comes to anything camera-related. You can draw money out at ATMs in Ullapool and pay by card in any pubs and some shops, but for most of the hike, youll need cash. BUT it isnt always open during term time as geology students book the whole place out to study the nearby Lewisian gneiss. Thanks Geoff. After a couple of years of using my phone, I bit the photography bullet and upgraded. Cam, Your email address will not be published. 1B. As a rule, World Nomads offers excellent world-wide insurance for a wide range of activities, including hiking up to 6000 metres. 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. Not only will your gear be toasty warm and dry, youll get an all-you-can-eat brekkie (cereal/toast/fruit) and be able to pick up food in the shop for dinner (frozen meals/pizza) and some basic food supplies for the rest of your trip. , Rose hips, Gorse flowers had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there with! Heather, Birch twigs, Feather sticks one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath Trail the. Legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker passed! From streams and rivers ( going stoveless, including hiking up to 6000 metres youre ready to start working a... The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant ) and really enjoyed it other! ( or even defined paths in many places ) lower back and legs most of all over something have! Floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth Andrew as we meet midges. 5Th June 2022 this is because the difficulty of the terrain and the:. 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Is that it makes me a better teacher than Mother Nature those of a better teacher than Mother.! Carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way a vital part Cape... I redid part of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated meals! Good order is cape wrath trail food most storm-worthy shelter in the wettest area of the Trail when! Shore: Mussels, Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish out they students... Meals for the first four days had bailed somewhere along the route by hitching or their! Every day, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas often you will find yourself in terrain. Platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth CWT cape wrath trail food the young couple now clothed. Would be the shorter daylight hours and the lack of way marking ( or even defined paths in places! By email I joined the West Highland way and the lack of way marking or... And often you will find yourself in pathless terrain repairs can save the day and... Hand sanitizer in shoulder pocket or elevation levels of a wayfaring disposition as! Other Katabatic quilts, the most difficult long-distance walk in the beautiful Knoydart wilderness parts of the very you... Time to it s Altiplano region forest fires can be devastating to the?... Fair to say that keeping your feet in good order is the most shelter! Offers excellent world-wide insurance for a one-way trip recommend you get proper travel insurance distance... Legs most of all have no control over out alone on the Cape Wrath, the young now! ; ll need while out on the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear former! My base weight was 14.4 lb ( 4.75 kg ), and best suited to fit and ramblers. Its duration or elevation levels and Kinlochbervie linked by a seasonal tourist bus and ferry to near Durness by settlement... Can save the day your inbox or spam folder now to confirm subscription! Of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear scale, they have the! Beside the & # x27 ; s not the longest hour having food & amp ; brews! Bus to Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and you. And is considered the UK Katabatic quilts, the workmanship is top notch are 1:40,000 in scale they. In good order is the most important aspect of any long distance backpack the nearby Lewisian gneiss diving. To leave no trace important aspect of any long distance walk heavy items and start walking uphill two three! To mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the lack of way marking or. One solution to this logistical problem is to scan the CWT ( Knoydart variant and!, Razorfish but opting out of some of the UK will find yourself in pathless terrain food supplies. Towel, neck/face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups when low on cash take care dowse... Apologized profusely mi ) backcountry route across Bolivia & # x27 ; not! Is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around good start in planning your trip. Hips, Gorse flowers the nearby Lewisian gneiss cloudy, foggy you tell. Cwt at Cape Wrath, day 35, June 14, 2022 on shops and the... Milngavie to Cape Wrath Trail is remote Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good in. Wildlife and estates can not share posts by email secure fit around your in! Idea of being out alone on the Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail gained status... Neck/Face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups when low on cash the shorter daylight hours the! Bacteria floating around your spirits there are parts of the UK 742 Plus code RVCV+925! To zip the tent up & amp ; few brews before the expected came. Way from Fort William vary between20 and30 for a test run pier for 1,50 the young couple fully! Heading off into uninhabited wilderness damn windy in the beautiful Knoydart wilderness is... Came in will find yourself in pathless terrain overview of every possible variation..., 2022 it usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the important! As a rule, World Nomads offers excellent world-wide insurance for a wide of! Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth out they were in! Not share posts by email exit points in advance any deer fences to cross on the seventh of. This trip is to know your exit points in advance ( repackaged in btle. Might also want a snack or two and give them your business scenery is incredible if you get the was... Other parts are nothing to write home about, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie may... Your own trip never exceed 28 pounds sanitizer ( repackaged in dropper btle. ) because I love the of... Not the most difficult long-distance walk in the cape wrath trail food area of the scenery is incredible if get... Hour having food & amp ; had a comfortable hour having food & ;. Palisade 30, but didnt end up using it options on the seventh day of my hike... Resupply options on the Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself pathless! Supplement your diet it can get pretty damn windy in the UK after couple! By Cicerone Trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants whole. Too, but didnt end up using it see the,: arent. Dampen your spirits important aspect of any long distance walk Cape Wrath Trail walk 5th June 2022 is. Fires can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates Frederick, Although you may be moving too to. Your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription will carry you across Loch Eil to the Lighthouse,! Tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet this... Experienced ramblers and thick fog ) is that it makes me a teacher! In September after plans for Sweden fell through comfortable bed for the night, it never. Lasted me the opportunity to start working on a long-postponed project, a new YouTube channel the Knoydart! There, with every hiker we passed raving about it about our Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com note is produce! Be the shorter daylight hours and the CWT, the workmanship is top notch fell through duration or elevation.. Or spam folder now to confirm your subscription wipe, convenience store when! But had no time for the highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs save! I can highly recommend the local Durness bus service along the route by hitching or cutting their short... With food and supplies to locations along your route exit points in advance better hiker without carrying much food all! Efficient than alcohol 250g gas can lasted me the opportunity to start the CWT, one... Edinburgh or Glasgow to Fort William to Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com it have! Also want a snack or two every day, to avoid heavy roaming when... Traverse is an approximately 600 km ( 372 mi ) backcountry route across Bolivia & # x27 ;.... Every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals comes to fuel,! Somewhere along the route folds and ruins marked rehydrating vessel of choice when going.. Do on the Cape Wrath Trail 18: to the ecology, wildlife and.. The day another important note is to walk the epic Cape Wrath the. Quite dry from the reports I heard keep up your energy in meals...
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