Excellent beanie / Not too thick / Stretchy enough to fit my noggin / Doesnt seem to be available in the US at the moment. I dont want this hike to sound like a washout, but it is in the wettest area of the UK. 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. We sensibly did the route to Inchnadamph instead. 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. Cape Wrath Mini Bus Tel: 07534591124 Email:info@visitcapewrath.com 'Ozone cafe' provide toilet facilities at Cape Wrath. Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. You're one step away from receiving emails from Yes Jane Can. 367 km / 228 miles. I dont think humidity is an issue in the Highlands. Pack light. 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. When in spate, the rivers can flow at full force up to your thighs, hips or waist. Other resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but I think it is manageable for any prepared hiker. *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. Hope that helps. 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. It is approximately 234 miles in length. Sounds like you had a real Cape Wrath trail experience! In regards to the Carnach Bridge, from Sourlies I headed to Loch Hourn rather than Inverie, so I crossed the river further up valley. Will upgrade to. There is no single definitive . Do you only make money when someone clicks on an equipment link in your posts? Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy. And possibly in bucketfuls. This is probably the most important part of this guide. We just did the section from Ullapool to CW this September and all your advice was spot on! It's hard to believe that this website is now nearly five years old. Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Chocolate Digestives or Hob Nobs. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. They were up in the Highlands for their first ever multi-day backpacking trip. Find out where to stay when on the trail. 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. How to get to Cape Wrath Located at the very top of Scotland, Cape Wrath is one of Britain's most iconic places. Here's what to expect: 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. Always make sure to thoroughly check your insurance plan, as conditions may vary for your nationality or itinerary. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. Hope that helps. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. 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 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. . 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. The Cape Wrath Trail does not offer hikers the luxury of certainty: flexibility is a critical part of the trailblazer's mountain kit. Hey Swami, thank you for this great write up! 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!! Black coffee with sugar. Ill go into more detail in the next chapter. Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! I completed the trail then,and still have the battle scars to prove it. Thanks for the kind words. 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. Now I want to try to hike it in end of October early November. 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. See the, : There arent as many resupply options on the CWT as there are on Britains more popular long distance rambles. Buy on Amazon More on the book The route Frameless backpack of choice for almost a decade. I cant recommend the CWT highly enough; you should definitely do it sooner rather than later! HiI really enjoyed reading your account and was especially impressed with the low base weight of your pack. . 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. What sections would you suggest to skip? The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. 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). And as I stated before, youll have to be able to carry it all with you. Green tents, on the other hand, are not immune to the midges advances. Required fields are marked *. Some of the very basics you'll need while out on the Cape Wrath Trail. 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! Want to know what I did? 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. Do you need to make more supply runs? These are the maps that I used, and I would recommend them to everyone walking the CWT! Here are some of my personal highlights from my CWT hike: Walking barefoot along the beach on the final morning | A few moments after this shot was taken I went for a bracing swim in the Atlantic. Ive hiked the Skye during August but had no time for the highlands. Its a gruelling hike in parts, and that teamed with torrential rain can really dampen your spirits. 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. 2. 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 find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. The trail starts in Fort William and finishes at Cape Wrath in the far North West of Scotland, nominally 230 miles (370km), although it can be walked in either direction. Its a challenge and people do it to test themselves. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Tent setup / Fencing practice during breaksTokyo 2020 here I come. Especially at that time of year; its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Cape Wrath Trail Walk 5th June 2022 This is a post about our Cape Wrath Trail walk we completed in April 2022. I will be walking 40-65 km (24-40 miles) per day so I need a lot of food to keep going while keeping it simple enough to eat even if the weather is bad. 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. Do squats, a lot of them. It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. I didn't book any accommodation and wild camped every night. Hi Maureen, glad the tips were useful. Ultimately, it might depend somewhat on transport/accessibility options from the various trailheads. Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. Stick to the eastern route variations that will lead you through longer stretches of gloriously empty wilderness. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. But more on this later. Hey Cam, great to see this hike.wow! Thanks Geoff. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands Which brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina. This leaves you with a highly efficient, if not slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a fraction of the weight! The other thing I love about hiking in inclement weather is that it acts as an affirmation. Cam, Your email address will not be published. As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. Great, lets keep going. Hey Rob, I also need to stay positive, calm and objective in order to make the best decisions possible. Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point trail near Fort William, Highlands. Go to your local gym and find a treadmill that can be set at an angle, to better simulate an uphill climb. Leave enough for others and the ecology. You might even want to spend an extra day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, Britains highest mountain! Like a straight up shower cap? Good on you! In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. The weather for the walk was mostly pleasant, which was lucky for April. Its the midges most ferocious month and the locals are baffled as to why anyone would choose feeding frenzy August for their hike. Best of luck on your trip! 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. As for spitting the dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks (i.e. Fort William (South) Cape Wrath (North). River crossings, along with midges, will become the bane of your trip. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Looking back at Sandwood bay on route to Cape Wrath | Final morning. Toughen up your knees, especially the ligaments surrounding the joints. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. Well done on completing the CWT. Top food, very very good coffee and a lovely warm spot by the gas fire . This method involves walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the way from Fort William, and is a trip in itself. If you are wildcamping, Id recommend you choose to camp near a woodland area which will provide shelter, fuel and better drainage. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. Hoorah! 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. Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022. I just get too chilly. Seasons greetings to you all. 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. Couldnt resist! I left Strathchailleach Bothy fairly late. All the gear. 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. Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! No worries. 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. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. 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! Despite some wet and wild weather, I was never uncomfortable during the hike and felt prepared for any meteorological scenario that may have occurred. A highly efficient, if not slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a of... Bane of your preparation: stamina parts, and best suited to and... Out of some of the website is manageable for any prepared hiker for any prepared hiker of must-have gear the... To know this 233.9-mile point-to-point Trail near Fort William, and is post! 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