Despite not being an officially recognised National Trail it has grown to be one of the most highly regarded backpacking routes, attracting hikers from around the world. Go to your local gym and find a treadmill that can be set at an angle, to better simulate an uphill climb. Ill go into more detail in the next chapter. The Cape Wrath Trail. Ok, the lack of views are a bummer, but if you spend enough time in the boonies over enough years, things have a way of evening themselves out on the scenery front. Couldnt resist! One loch crossing on the high route to Benmore Lodge had four strapping lads linking arms and wading throughwater up to their waists. There is a lot of really great info online about the Cape Wrath Trail. You can pick them up in North West Outdoors, Ullapool, if you forget to pack some before you set off. 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. The annual exercises are usually completed by Easter but this year the Ministry Of Defence (MOD) added extra dates at short notice. Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. Good to know you are still exploring this amazing world on foot. There are a couple of differences worth noting compared to my 2013 TGO Challenge Gear list. When it comes to fuel foraging, take only what you need. 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. First things that came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the potential for wilder (and chillier) weather. Scottish rain and acidic bog has magical properties, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable. This is because the difficulty of the terrain and the lack of way marking (or even defined paths in many places). The world-renowned trails of the Scottish Highlands, with their picturesque vistas, are quite breath-taking. Hoorah! You might even want to spend an extra day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, Britains highest mountain! With only a few kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day. 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. I brought a few days worth of beans; 2. As for spitting the dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks (i.e. 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. From south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie. Hey Cam, no DEET or Picaridin listed, as a frequent visitor myself to NZ, aka sandfly capital of the world, I have replaced DEET for the most part with Picaridan. You can lose a little loft to dampness, but provided you take the usual precautions it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties. This method involves walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the way from Fort William, and is a trip in itself. 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. I immediately adjourned to the room on the other side of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty. (click to enlarge) A classic very challenging traverse of the Highlands and its wilder and remoter landscapes. Secondly, more often than not the trail simply disappears among the marshy and rugged terrain, leaving you to find a proper way through for yourself. I left Strathchailleach Bothy fairly late. Bad weather does make one more accountable to every move/item of clothing; what happens if I get this piece of clothing wet, and theres only one piece of dry clothing to replace it in camp? We tend to use it when someone acts a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated or angry for no good reason. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. Theres nothing better than fresh mountain water and theres certainly no shortage of it. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. 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? I was young once upon a time. 6 thoughts on " Cape Wrath Trail 6 day hike Part 1 - COMPLETED! The midges drove me nuts and stopped me having breakfast on a couple of mornings with their insistent buzzing/biting. Well done on completing the CWT. It had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it. 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. This is certainly the way I would go next time. Many thanks this is an excellent report. Day 2: Kearvaig Bothy - Sandwood Bay Lets start with the trail itself. Brilliant thank you for the reply! Some of the very basics you'll need while out on the Cape Wrath Trail. Train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Fort William vary between20 and30 for a one-way trip. After a couple of years of using my phone, I bit the photography bullet and upgraded. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands That was all I had (no GPS) and I was fine. Your email address will not be published. Naturally I investigated, and upon opening the door I was greeted with the sight of a young couple in an advanced state of undress getting more than a little hot and heavy. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Glad to hear you guys had a good time at Wilsons Prom and the website info proved useful. For the sake of simplicity and the limited . Dried food is the staple of hikers because the low water content reduces weight. Because its not. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.). Tinders: Birch bark, King Alfreds cakes, birch polypore. I will list only what I consider to be the essentials here; Ill leave it up to you how much extra gear you want to bring. The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . Maybe if I wimped out and stayed in the B&Bs. 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! Average Duration : 14 to 21 days Difficulty : Moderate to Challenging Start / Finish : Fort William (South) - Cape Wrath (North). In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. All the best on the Cape Wrath! Again, the amount youd wish to spend on food and supplies will strongly vary from one person to the next. Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. Thanks for the kind words. Not an appealing prospect for a 17-day hike. It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. 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 . Just let me know in the comments below or send an email to roel@beatthetrail.com. The Cape Wrath Trail is considered the UK's toughest long distance walk. I took mainly dried, long-life food with me on the Cape Wrath Trail. 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). Buy on Amazon More on the book The route To make things even more interesting, there is a notable lack of facilities along the way. 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 . 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. 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. A few hours later a shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn. As always, Im always available for any questions you might still have! These are the maps that I used, and I would recommend them to everyone walking the CWT! I quickly shut the door, muttering three or four rapid-fire sorries as I did so. Get someone more experienced to go with you or test your ability on other trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness! Now I'm a freelance, I can (kind of) afford to allow myself time to complete the Trail in my own time, at a pace that suits the conditions and my own fitness. 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! Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. Hi Maureen, glad the tips were useful. It's not the longest. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . Sanctuary at the end of Cape Wrath Trail. We didnt move, the midges were attacking everyone, but had they not have been, she would have made sure everyone relocated. Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. And we heeded the same advice going in the opposite direction. Now this can be a tough one. As I headed back out into the storm I broke out into a wry grin. You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. Especially when its not overly humid. Cam. Last year I hiked the CWT (Knoydart variant) and really enjoyed it! On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. 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!! 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! Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map (Cicerone Press). Chocolate Bars. All-time favorite liner gloves. 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. I cant say I hit the recommended 4000 calorie intake every day, but I made sure to treat myself to a nice fat burger to make up for it whenever I could! 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. and thick fog) is that it makes me a better hiker. Cheers, MLD Duomid (0.75 DCF) with Solomid Silnylon Innernet. Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. 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. Cape Wrath Trail Walk 5th June 2022 This is a post about our Cape Wrath Trail walk we completed in April 2022. Some things, however, definitely took us by surprise. I think its fair to say that keeping your feet in good order is THE most important aspect of any long distance backpack. Good photos & Video / Have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas. With all that and a comfortable bed for the night, it was the perfect pit stop for us. The ferry runs four times a day and from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. I spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. No worries, I said, and we all ended up having a good laugh together. You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. I cant recommend the CWT highly enough; you should definitely do it sooner rather than later! Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Peanut M&Ms. Quick release sugar - Haribo/Jelly Sweets. No matter how low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you get proper travel insurance. Essentially, Cape Wrath is used for aerial target practice - not something even a bomber 3-layer waterproof will protect you from. This is probably the most important part of this guide. The route is unmarked and there is no official line. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. Lets get you started! Happy with the results so far. Sounds like you had a real Cape Wrath trail experience! I seemed to be very much in the minority! Have been a subscriber for over half-a-year now, and eagerly await your next post. 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. Im looking forward to reading the post the Lofoten Islands. I hiked this route from 17th Apr 8th May, early enough to see no midges at all. One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. Grid: NC 259 746 Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. Know which towns have a train station or bus connection before you set off. For the planning of Cape Wrath Trail, I use a similar approach to Te Araroa. Did you use it much on the CWT?? Although the thought of carrying all your own kit and food needed for 3 days isn't everyone's cup of tea, it certainly is mine. It takes place annually in Karen Ive used down bags and quilts in the Scottish Highlands for half a century. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised National Trail. . 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. It turned out they were students in their late teens/early twenties from Bristol. You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They know the area and what to expect on higher routes. Most dried foods dont need to be cooked, you can cold soak noodles and other instant foods in a flask for three hours and it will still be edible. Have a read of this article from Jorgen Johansson which talks specifically about how the tent performs in inclement weather in an environment not dissimilar to what you will encounter in Scotland. : 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. With just a couple of exceptions, all of the bothies I visited on the CWT I had had to myself. Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. Fort William (South) Cape Wrath (North). It's hard to believe that this website is now nearly five years old. 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. 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 marked as a campsite on the maps so naturally the smooth area of grass was where three sets of hikers (us included) had pitched. 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. Scotland looks amazing, but not sure I could spend the dough to experience more of the same. 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. For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A few tips? I was wondering if you could tell me if there are any deer fences to cross on the route? Very good, informative and helpful, I dont know how you do it! 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. Its a gruelling hike in parts, and that teamed with torrential rain can really dampen your spirits. Go digital! Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. I completed the trail then,and still have the battle scars to prove it. Long-term review: Bridgedale Stormsocks 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! Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! Although they are 1:40,000 in scale, they have all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked. The post below includes impressions from the trip, logistical and background information, route recommendations and a gear list. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. The Great Glen route is slightly quicker to rejoin the rest of the trail near Shiel Bridge, but the Knoydart variant is generally considered to be the most beautiful if not the most challenging choice. Im definitely no expert when it comes to anything camera-related. 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. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. Top food, very very good coffee and a lovely warm spot by the gas fire . In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. The water level was low; June and July had been quite dry from the reports I heard. This is all about learning from my own mistakes. 1C to 5C combined with driving wind, rain. Overall I was happy with my gear selections on the Cape Wrath Trail. Here is a typical day of food on the trail, usually totalling around 3500-4000 calories. 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. Which brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina. Kendal mint cake, which is 98 percent sugar, also works a treat! Thecalorie content should be well above your normal daily intake. BUT it isnt always open during term time as geology students book the whole place out to study the nearby Lewisian gneiss. Thanks for the kind words. Another Highlands-specific article on the subject that is worth a read is by Alex Roddie, online editor of TGO Magazine,Lightweight Backpacking in the Scottish Highlands. (Or maybe my feet had just had enough.). Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. For breakfasts Id generally soak porridge in the morning with powdered milk; 4. 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) Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. . Obviously, the more foodyou take with you the more calories you will burn to carry it, so planning food is about striking a balance betweencalories burnt versusconsumed, while also meeting your nutritional needs. The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant of the trail. I'm bringing a tent with a floor . Duct Tape, Mini Tube Super Glue (repairs). Theme by Jason M Design. Cape Wrath Trail. Odds are, youll be soaked through by the time you get there anyway.. Hey Cam, So be prepared to do some research on the different routes available, and bring a map and compass! 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. We sensibly did the route to Inchnadamph instead. 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. 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. 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. 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). Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. But a gorgeous landscape! I took a gas canister stove, but I saw shops that sold both meths and gas along the route, (Shiel Bridge Petrol Station, Ullapool Northwest Stores, Kinlochbervie London Stores). As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. Required fields are marked *. Hey Roy, I redid part of Cape Wrath in 2017 wearing these and had happy, dry feet. Hope that helps. I sent supply parcels to Fort William, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date. Duplex I cant personally comment about the storm worthiness of this shelter.

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