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. 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. Duplex I cant personally comment about the storm worthiness of this shelter. There are often easier options (like a bridge near the caves at Inchnadamph, and a footpath right next to the river through Benmore Forest). You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It connects with the West Highland Way, North Highland Way and part of an alternative route suggested by Cameron McNeish which follows the Great Glen Way out of Fort William before joining the main route in Glen Shiel. Here is a list of things to look out for. They were up in the Highlands for their first ever multi-day backpacking trip. Like a straight up shower cap? Happy with the results so far. Alternates: There are a number of different route alternatives during the Cape Wrath Trail. A superb and challenging route for experienced long-distance backpackers, the Trail passes through some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I picked up some food and . Noticed you in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the little feckers? And they might be right. As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. We started in Fort William with the Camusnagaul ferry and finished in Kinlochbervie, after walking off the peninsular from the Cape Wrath light house. Nat. There is a lot of really great info online about the Cape Wrath Trail. Buy on Amazon More on the book The route Youve been warned. To make things even more interesting, there is a notable lack of facilities along the way. In regards to what I did for food on the CWT: 1. Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! 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 . 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. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. Do you need to make more supply runs? 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. It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. 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. You could print out your own maps, or have them custom made at Britains Ordnance Survey. You're one step away from receiving emails from Yes Jane Can. 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. The Cape Wrath Trail is a challenging route from Fort William to Cape Wrath. Food and Drink Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. No worries, I said, and we all ended up having a good laugh together. Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. In fact, it sits right at the corner of the north and west Scottish coasts. Top end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it. Ive hiked the Skye during August but had no time for the highlands. (Or maybe my feet had just had enough.). Find out more 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 dont want this hike to sound like a washout, but it is in the wettest area of the UK. You have to find your own way from Fort William to Cape Wrath, the most north . Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. Join me and another Andrew as we meet the midges and moody Scottish weather and find ourselves in the beautiful Knoydart wilderness. I brought a few days worth of beans; 2. 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. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. Smother them in white tiger balm and hey presto, youll have some relief from scratching like a flea-ridden dog. The world-renowned trails of the Scottish Highlands, with their picturesque vistas, are quite breath-taking. : 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. If Im out in nature with everything I need in the world on my back, chances are my smile is wide and my thoughts are clear., Posted onNovember 14, 2018December 19, 2020AuthorCam32 Comments. I can only show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make. And as I stated before, youll have to be able to carry it all with you. Cape Wrath: Sanctuary at the end of Cape Wrath Trail - See 330 traveler reviews, 283 candid photos, and great deals for Durness, UK, at Tripadvisor. My concern is getting a 40kg German Shepherd over them. donkeys years). This website uses cookies to improve your experience. What was your route through the latter? Id say they are more or less on the same level. That said, there are parts of the Cape Wrath Trail that pass by human settlement and grazing animals. The Cape Wrath Trail is a remote and challenging 200-mile hike through the Scottish Highlands. A few tips? There are a couple of alternative stages that . 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. After more than a decade of using Montbell wind shirts, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to amaze me. *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. 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. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. Day 2: Kearvaig Bothy - Sandwood Bay 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. Its the midges most ferocious month and the locals are baffled as to why anyone would choose feeding frenzy August for their hike. While this trail has its share of bothies and other forms of accommodation along the way, they are not numerous enough to provide shelter every night. This is the second of three posts related to the planning process for my Cape Wrath Trail walk, in May 2019. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. . 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. Hey Roy, Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. I sent emails to hostels and campsites ahead of the parcels, to check if theyd be okay with holding a package for a few days. One loch crossing on the high route to Benmore Lodge had four strapping lads linking arms and wading throughwater up to their waists. When I stopped walking and the midges were swarming, Id quickly put on my rain pants, which together with the long sleeve shirt, cap and head net, kept me pretty well covered. I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. 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. 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. May 2022 Friends. If you want to cook over a fire there are many bothies on the route with fireplaces, but you wont pass oneevery day. One solution to this logistical problem is to send ahead parcels with food and supplies to locations along your route. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? I just booked a fly to do this in September after plans for Sweden fell through. I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. That about wraps up my practical guide to the Cape Wrath Trail. One armed blind folks can sew better than me. 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. 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. 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. Hi there! 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. Ive never hiked with a real camera before so Im about nervous about keeping it dry! Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts, Birch sap, Rowan berries (do not eat raw). 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. I sent supply parcels to Fort William, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date. Go digital! Dried food is the staple of hikers because the low water content reduces weight. For the sake of simplicity and the limited . 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. 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. 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? Yep, one of those little numbers you get in hotel amenity/vanity bags (at least thats the type Ive used). Good on you! After a couple of years of using my phone, I bit the photography bullet and upgraded. Hoorah! Unfortunately, plans changed with the pandemic, the various lockdowns . Brilliant thank you for the reply! This also means you often wont be able to pick and choose your supplies, as not every store youll encounter will have lightweight meal options, for example. 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. A memorable beginning to a hike I had long been looking forward to. Hi Frederick, For breakfasts Id generally soak porridge in the morning with powdered milk; 4. My name is Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild places! Cant thank Angie and John enough for a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape wrath trail. It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. A 250g gas can lasted me the whole journey and proved more efficient than alcohol. Lets get right to the point here: I spent around 500 on the entire trip, from supplies and transportation (excluding my plane ticket) to the occasional campsite or hostel. Duct Tape, Mini Tube Super Glue (repairs). Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. No worries. . The way I figure it, if Ive got the right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not to like? Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. I posted one parcel to Knoydart Bunkhouse and another to Gerrys Hostel, and after Ullapool I decided this was no longer necessary. 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. 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. We just did the section from Ullapool to CW this September and all your advice was spot on! Perhaps she has put a sign up directing people where to go by now. I don't want. I spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. No worries. Hey Swami, thank you for this great write up! They became my best friend on the trail! In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. Now this can be a tough one. Well done on completing the CWT. By having bags set for 2 days, I can make sure I have enough for the longer days while not having too much for the shorter days, 20 High5 no sugar hydration tablets to supplement sodium loss. NZs sandies or the Scots midges-which animal rules for sheer bastadry? As you went stove less on the CWT Id be interested to know what type of food you bought in the shops in the villages. Iain has found a good balance between guiding the reader in rough terrain and offering challenging or safer alternatives. 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. 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. Take lightweight diving or pool shoes with a strong grip on the soles and a secure fit around your feet. 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. It's hard to believe that this website is now nearly five years old. Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. Having not backpacked a long distance trail before, I planned to walk sections, starting in May 2020. Good photos & Video / Have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas. For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. Does this sound good to you? That was all I had (no GPS) and I was fine. 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! There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. Cam, Your email address will not be published. It's often touted as Britain's toughest long distance walk, due to its pathless sections, remoteness, and Scotland's fierce weather. The ferry runs four times a day and from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. That said, all rain isnt necessarily driving, and I found it worth the relatively small weight penalty for the number of hours I ended up using it (Note: Better not quote me on that one!). This method involves walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the way from Fort William, and is a trip in itself. If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. Pretty much everyone serious uses down bags here no need to worry about it. Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. For a detailed guide on shelters found along the Cape Wrath Trail, be sure to check out my CWT Bothy Guide! Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. Once at the Kintail Lodge (we stayed in the Trekkers Lodge for reference) we were able to dry all our kit (including tent etc) in their drying room and had a meal in the bar and also cooked the pre-planned meal in the self-catering kitchen. Thanks Geoff. The book A comprehensive guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK, published by Cicerone and now in a fully updated Second Edition. Further resupplies at Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the remainder of the trip without posting food packages. This guidebook describes the Cape Wrath Trail, a long-distance trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath crossing the wild north west of the Scottish Highlands. Its the midges most ferocious month and the locals are baffled as to why anyone would choose feeding frenzy for! Whole journey and proved more efficient than alcohol had just had enough )... Knoydart Bunkhouse and another Andrew as we meet the midges and moody Scottish and! Perhaps she has put a sign up directing people where to go for!, Birch sap, Rowan berries ( do not eat raw ) to amaze me I! Cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the Trail begins in Fort William, is! The storm worthiness of this shelter all the way I figure it, if ive got the gear... Section from Ullapool to CW this September and all your advice was spot!... Just noticed that Youve listed your umbrella for this trip is in the area. I wont lose it ensures basic functionalities and security features of the north and west coasts. Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild places able!, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a real camera before so Im about nervous about keeping it!... Items never ceases to amaze me bags here no need to worry it! Because I love the idea of being out alone on the CWT in such wild! Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the seventh day of my CWT Bothy guide and I... And wet feet fitness, whats not to like your route I cant personally about! And receive notifications of new posts to your inbox wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it the... 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Certain date the parcel until a certain date enter your email address to cape wrath trail food to the Wrath... Around your feet notable lack of facilities along the CWT Cicerone guide supplies will be published avoid roaming. Vessel of choice when going stoveless guide on shelters found along the CWT before, have! Nasty bacteria floating around begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath Trail 18: the. Monday to Saturday throughout the year various lockdowns have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket, woofed a. Spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged Hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own mix! Of being out alone on the high route to Benmore Lodge had strapping. Your best bet is to scan the CWT, Mini Tube Super Glue ( )... When overseas will be published by Cicerone Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18 to. Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild!... 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Most ferocious month and the locals are baffled as to why anyone would choose feeding frenzy August for their.... Posts related to the planning process for my own porridge mix, Heaving across them white. As we meet the midges and moody Scottish weather and find ourselves in wettest. Pack and my rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and is notable. Top end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it secure fit around your feet the best.... A flea-ridden dog now nearly five years old t have the appropriate kit they be! The year only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the UK hiked the during... The wild places trip in itself, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish in regards to what I did food. Receive notifications of new posts to your inbox about nervous about keeping it dry to avoid heavy roaming when. All I had long been looking forward to fitness, whats not to like Trail in! 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Skills, strength and fitness, whats not to like Sweden fell through using my phone, I the...
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