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. Ullapool there are two hiking shops so you can get most things inc. The cape wrath trail was designed to thrill and makes a point of avoiding roads. 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 route is described from south to north in 14 stages, with 6 alternative stages along the way, allowing for a flexible itinerary of between two and three weeks. I wasnt really keen on doing that, so i decided to skip the first part and see what its all about around glenfinnan. In september 2014 my wife heather and i completed the 400km cape wrath trail over 15 days. A cape wrath trail guided walking holiday in scotland c. Possibly joined by those who have done the southern section, walk out of ullapool, up glen achall and over into glen einig, all day on good tracks, to be picked up somewhere beyond duag bridge.
B ecause theyre there is about climbing mountains nothing else. A cape wrath trail north guided walking holiday in. A new 200mile walking route through the northwest scottish highlands. Subsequently, in 1999, cicerone press published a guidebook by brook and hinchliffe, north to the cape, that described a somewhat different routing and also included a number of alternates. Cape wrath trail is a challenging route from fort william to cape wrath. The cape wrath trail is fairly unique in the fact that there are some many potential variations and this is an aspect that can be better explored via a website than in the book. I have always been drawn to those remote and hard trails maybe it is my need to feel that im on the edge and pushing my survival limits. Most people will start their cape wrath trail adventure with this 81 mile trek. Cape wrath trail scotland guided walk thistle trekking. Travelling through the wild and rugged landscapes of morar, knoydart, torridon and assynt, it will test the limits of. Three years in the writing, it features fully updated route descriptions, photographs and colour ordnance survey maps throughout. A comprehensive guide to the cape wrath trail, one of the most challenging long distance walks in the uk, published by cicerone. Home forums campfire posttrip reports 8 days of wrath on the cape wrath trail viewing 25 posts 1 through 25 of 27 total 1 2 forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry.
A comprehensive new guide to the cape wrath trail, one of the most challenging long distance walks in the uk. Iain harper first set out to walk the cape wrath trail in 2008. As the only time of the year he could do it was december. 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. For the experienced backpacker it offers an irresistible challenge. The walk from fort william to glenfinnan is the first stage of cape wrath trail. This guidebook describes the cape wrath trail, a longdistance trek from fort william to cape wrath crossing the wild north west of the scottish highlands. Cape wrath trail north to south itinerary yes jane can.
Coronavirus status you can buy books and ebooks to plan, enjoy and dream. 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. The original idea for the trail was by david paterson who published a photographic book in 1996. The original concept for a cwt was described in a photo essay book, the cape wrath trail, published in 1996 by david patterson. So before speaking with him, i thought i would revisit my 2008 adventure and recycle the 5 part series to inspire our audience to consider one of the last wilderness trails in the uk.
The cape wrath trail is regarded as the toughest longdistance route in britain and offers unparalleled freedom and adventure to the experienced and selfsufficient backpacker prepared to walk for many days in remote wilderness. The cape wrath trail is an unofficial long distance trail and as such it is very remote and rarely walked. 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 ullapool, where the coast is followed to cullnacraig. Having looked at the os map and thought ooer, id saved until this very last morning a laminate with unusually detailed navigation info and a printed map. A night on the cluanie ridge grunters a brew in camban bothy swimmin with the wimmin in the falls of glomach the descent of man a fire in glen elchaig bog wood setting history on fire in bearnais bothy the halfnaked man bearnais bothy to achnashellac more than 39 steps another country part. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Hiking the cape wrath trail section hikers backpacking blog.
This map covers the northern section of the route, from strathcarron to cape wrath. Part 4 of 4 inchnadamph to cape wrath and kervaig solo across some of scotlands finest landscape. Cape wrath trail how i walked 250 miles in 11 days. Picking out the very best expert services for the property is what you mostly want. Cape wrath trail guidebook walk fort william to cicerone press. The great solo cape wrath trail adventure that never. Day 7 circa 27 miles rhiconich to kearvig bothy via cape wrath. Having walked half of this longdistance trail in north west scotland in 2012, and the second half in 20 the link to the second half is at the top of this page it seemed to me that some prospective walkers would benefit from help with routefinding along a trail that seems bound to grow in popularity in coming years. Located in scotland, it runs from fort william, through the highlands and western scotland, to the lighthouse at cape wrath, the northwesternmost point of scotland. 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. The last proper day on the trail had ticked round and it was a corking day.
Leave stirling and travel by minibus to ullapool overnight at ullapool hostel for 1 night. Buy the cape wrath trail cicerone guides by iain harper isbn. This classic stage crosses the great wilderness as the letterewe and fisherfield forests are known. The cape wrath trail is considered the hardest hiking route in the united kingdom. On friday janet and i headed west along fairly good paths past the south side of lochan a mhaim and down over a new footbridge to sourles bothy, a singleroom shelter with a hammock at one end and a fireplace at the. Cape wrath trail guide a new guide to britains toughest. Both blair atholl and kingussie are accessible by train and from the borders to blair could be done in a fortnight. At over 200 miles long, it takes aspirant crossers from out underneath the shadows of ben nevis at fort william through the remoteness and isolation of the scottish mountainscape to cape wrath, the uks most northwesterly point. I will be walking 4065 km 2440 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. A superb and challenging route for experienced longdistance backpackers, the trail passes through some of scotlands most spectacular landscapes. Photos from expeditions along cape wrath trail in the north west highlands of scotland. A good weeks walking on one map the cape wrath trail is a challenging route from fort william to cape wrath. So when it to concerns cleansing a little something in your house, just like the carpet, you ensure that you are choosing the proper carpet cleaner at the proper price tag which features you the best expert services the hills carpet cleaning. The plan is to develop a website to support the book at.
The cape wrath trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of scotlands wildest and most beautiful country. A new guide book for the trail is coming later this year, published by cicerone. Cape wrath trail backpacking guide the hiking life. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised. All that remained of my scottish national trail, after a companionable night at strathchailleach with several other cwters, was the stroll to cape wrath itself. It takes 10 minutes but there will be several crossings depending on the amount of passengers it can only take 10 at a time. From the station, a short but scary stretch of busy road took me to the bridge over the river carron, where i was able to escape from the cars by walking along the river bank. Iain harper, walking the cape wrath trail cicerone guides kindle version available the book includes logistical beta, basic. Then for another fortnight, given good weather, the snt takes us from kingussie to cape wrath. Its no accident that william shakespeare chose to set some of his most famous and groundbreaking plays here, and no one captures their eerie magnificence quite as well as the master himself one magical environmental gem. A guidebook to the cape wrath trail, a longdistance trek through the scottish.
It is around 200 miles long and passes through some of scotlands wildest and most spectacular scenery. As explained, cape wrath is the ultimate rural country escape, and is a location that is sparsely populated. T he cape wrath trail is the best longdistance hike in the uk. The south section of the cape wrath trail takes you from kinloch horn to leckhelm near ullapool. The cape wrath trail is one of britains toughest long distance walking trails. Passing the falls of glomach, gaining views of the torridon mountain range and experiencing the wilderness of the fisherfields along the way. The cairngorms section could be a separate long weekend. This trail has a simple philosophy to take the wanderer from fort. We found a bone fide shop and bought snacks with the alacrity of school children. I am soon to be interviewing keith foskett regarding his forthcoming book high and low, part of which touches on the cape wrath trail. This is a variation of the cape wrath trail which normally starts at fort william. A cape wrath trail very achievable, definitely adventurous, continuous trek, from fort william in the heart of the highlands, to cape wrath, the north west tip of the uk mainland. Cape wrath trail is a hiking route that runs through the scottish highlands and along the west coast of scotland it is approximately 200 miles in length and is considered to be one of the most challenging long distance walks in the uk.
There are good paths and tracks apart from a rough, pathless section across classic high level torridon mountain terrain from loch fada to loch an nid. However, if sleeping under the open stars in the wilderness in a tent gives you the heebiejeebies and isnt your idea of adventure, fear not, there are a number of campsites dotted along the trail. Cape wrath trail trek 7 jours seule en ecosse duration. The downside was the early start needed for getting the train back to the cape wrath trail. Cleansing the carpets is usually a quite tiresome task and. The cape wrath trail organization is a coming together of community groups from lochaber in the south to sutherland in the north with the aim of promoting an excellent cape wrath trail journey scotlands wildest long distance trail. The scottish highlands are undoubtedly a high contender on the list of the greatest scenic landscapes on the planet. Even so, such knowledge doesnt prepare you for quite how hauntingly wild it gets. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised national trail. The cape wrath trail is often referred to as britains toughest long distance walk.
The sun was beating down and i had to put sun cream on. Starting in fort william scotland, the cape wrath trail is an incredible journey linking ancient footpaths and remote tracks to the furthest northwesterly point. Cape wrath trail tip 15 pack one gas canister and refuel on the trip you can buy additional gas canisters at london stores in rhiconich. The name actually originates from the norse words for turning point area called am parth in norse i think as this is where the norse ships turned east to go back home on their trading or being a viking voyages. It is a superb route for very experienced longdistance backpackers, passing through magnificent wild landscapes for most of the route, with the freedom to choose your. The route is unmarked and there is no official line. Approximately 230 miles in length, most people take 23 weeks to backpack the trip. The cape wrath trail is a long distance walk from fort william to the northwesternmost point of mainland britain, cape wrath. A classic very challenging traverse of the highlands and its wilder and remoter landscapes. A new guide to britains toughest backpacking route.
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