If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. As a general rule, you should eat around 1kg of food a day while hiking otherwise you will lose weight. Although they are 1:40,000 in scale, they have all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked. Id love to do this route before I get too old and creaky. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Luckily the rain only lasted an hour or so and then it started to dry out. You're one step away from receiving emails from Yes Jane Can. Not an appealing prospect for a 17-day hike. Iain has found a good balance between guiding the reader in rough terrain and offering challenging or safer alternatives. First off, Scotlands Cape Wrath Trail cant really be called a trail in the traditional sense. The downside, of course, is that mist means drizzle or rain up here. With the constant humidity, you didnt find it affecting your quilt? Additionally, its worth noting that the excellent hostel at Inchnadamph has a small shop, which depending on how picky you are, should have enough options in stock to get you through to Kinlochbervie, : I didnt treat any of my water while in Scotland and had no issues. 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). 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. I can highly recommend the local Durness Bus service. I was wondering how you went about protecting your camera from the rain? The passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul (10 minutes) the official start of the CWT. 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? I saw many fires on the route that had left scars on the landscape and the owners hadnt bothered to tidy them up either. 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. 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. I think its fair to say that keeping your feet in good order is THE most important aspect of any long distance backpack. Kendal mint cake, which is 98 percent sugar, also works a treat! So you need a storm-worthy shelter with good coverage to keep your quilt dry. 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. Going South to North, itll be from Shiel Bridgeto Fort William. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Pitched the tent & had a comfortable hour having food & few brews before the expected rain came in. 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. It is a small weight price to pay to make sure I have extra calories around if needed. Now lets talk food. The post below includes impressions from the trip, logistical and background information, route recommendations and a gear list. The trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. I certainly will. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. There are a couple of alternative stages that . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. 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? They obviously hadnt expected company any more than I had. No worries. All the gear. Lastly, youll need to plan your route. 1A. Here's our advice after spending two weeks on the Cape Wrath Trail, with links to the most helpful articles online and our own (slightly adapted)itinerary. Thecalorie content should be well above your normal daily intake. Just came back (August 2020). Buy a green midge head net, not one for mosquitoes as the holes are too big, and youll attract less of the Scottish blighters than your black-netted hiking counterparts. A few hours later a shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn. And they might be right. I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. Outdoors Father is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. Here is a list of things to look out for. " lizziwake says: 21st September 2021 at 2:53 pm. Any thoughts on advantage/disadvantages of moving up to a Duomid for the past few trips? For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. Cant thank Angie and John enough for a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape wrath trail. I left Strathchailleach Bothy fairly late. After not more than a few minutes had passed, the young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and apologized profusely. 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. Im definitely no expert when it comes to anything camera-related. Now this can be a tough one. The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant of the trail. We then had a wonderful camp near by and had a tasty breakfast the next morning. Bothies are rarely near trees or woodland on this route, so you must learn aboutother fuels you can utilise such as dry peat or heather. 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. Find out where to stay when on the trail. Scottish rain and acidic bog has magical properties, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. Learn how your comment data is processed. It had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it. After slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the first day of the Glenfinnan Variant, Ma Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow. Nat. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. You might even want to spend an extra day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, Britains highest mountain! Just dont forget to check the ground in front of your feet every now and then. Nature was wonderful with singing cuckoos everywhere! 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. Thanks for your message. 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. For updates and more photos, follow her Facebook and Instagram pages. Going from north to south and sticking to the west path, youll have no refills from Fort William to Shiel Bridge except for a little cafe at Glenfinnan open 9.30am to 5pm July and Aug and 10am to 5pm other months, where you can buy scones, cake, Snickers and overpriced sandwiches. In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map ( Cicerone Press) At a Glance Distance : 370 km (230 miles) approx. Mother Nature had other ideas. 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. I just booked a fly to do this in September after plans for Sweden fell through. But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. I picked up some food and . Food and Drink Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. 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 trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised National Trail. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . As always, Im always available for any questions you might still have! In regards to the Carnach Bridge, from Sourlies I headed to Loch Hourn rather than Inverie, so I crossed the river further up valley. Jane Batchelor hiked the full Cape Wrath Trail in 2016 and half of it in 2017 on her 3,500-mile hike through Britain, camping as she went. Yep, one of those little numbers you get in hotel amenity/vanity bags (at least thats the type Ive used). The Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself in pathless terrain. I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. Do squats, a lot of them. 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. And of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the trail can become impassable in certain areas. Subjective Participant or Objective Observer? Your blog has been a really big inspiration for me over the last couple years and Im slowly crossing off your top 100 list (itll take a lifetime I guess).Thanks heaps! Plot a route that works best for you. And as I stated before, youll have to be able to carry it all with you. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. Does this sound good to you? 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. For the edification of us ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the dummy when such an act is indeed appropriate? This method involves walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain, all the way from Fort William, and is a trip in itself. Another important note is to know your exit points in advance. Because of its remoteness (there are parts of the CWT that require the intrepid adventurer to carry enough food to last a few days) - and changeable conditions (rivers suddenly in spate, weather conditions changing in moments etc.) Planning for the CWT mid-May 2019. The Cape Wrath Trail runs from Fort William to Cape Wrath on Scotland's northwest coast, for approximately 280 miles. Lightweight, quick drying, and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / Not super durable. Hi Maureen, glad the tips were useful. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! 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. May 2022 Friends. With just a couple of exceptions, all of the bothies I visited on the CWT I had had to myself. It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. 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. Dates The other thing I love about hiking in inclement weather is that it acts as an affirmation. Leave enough for others and the ecology. The end of the trail is remote Cape Wrath, linked by a seasonal tourist bus and ferry to near Durness. Further resupplies at Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the remainder of the trip without posting food packages. 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. The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . 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. 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! I often do this on Summer hikes where staying warm isnt an issue. Some of the scenery is incredible if you get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about. When its really pissing down, Ill put the camera inside the backpack. As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. These cookies do not store any personal information. As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! Back from the dead. After more than a decade of using Montbell wind shirts, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to amaze me. Hop over to Ullapool (I went from Inverness bus station) and get an afternoon bus at about 16.00-17.00-ish from Ullapool to Durness or go direct from Inverness to Durness at 10.00 or 17.00 (route 805 for the latter time). Find out more 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! I brought a few days worth of beans; 2. Grid: NN 095 750 RVHG+3HC Gaul/Camusnagaul, Fort William Nat. As I stated before, the CWT is more of a collection of smaller trails than one single route that is properly advertised and signposted, and so there are many variations in the CWT that nevertheless all constitute the same trail. Buy on Amazon More on the book The route Will upgrade to. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. Its a challenge and people do it to test themselves. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Starting in Fort William and finishing at Cape Wrath, the 400km, 8-day journey winds through the world's most inspirational landscapes including Knoydart, Kintail, Torridon, Assynt, and Sutherland. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 112 h 20 min to complete. I know from personal experience having endured days of agony on long treks. One group of hikers were told very honestly that unless they fancied swimming, they should walk along the road to Rhiconich. We started in Fort William with the Camusnagaul ferry and finished in Kinlochbervie, after walking off the peninsular from the Cape Wrath light house. What would you say about going CWT in this time of year and the shelter for this hike? Lockdown has given me the opportunity to start working on a long-postponed project, a new YouTube channel. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. They were genuinely nice kids, and after chatting with them for a short period I said, You know what, guys, I think Ill continue hiking for a little while longer. They courteously insisted that wasnt necessary, but despite the fact that it continued to pour down outside, the decision was a no-brainer. I quickly shut the door, muttering three or four rapid-fire sorries as I did so. No worries. I pick up a different SIM in each country and pay local rates. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. Always make sure to thoroughly check your insurance plan, as conditions may vary for your nationality or itinerary. A superb and challenging route for experienced long-distance backpackers, the Trail passes through some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes. In fact, it sits right at the corner of the north and west Scottish coasts. Use hostels, hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to stay a night or two and give them your business! Public toilets are situated in Durness village , beside the 'spar' shop. 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. 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. Its a gruelling hike in parts, and that teamed with torrential rain can really dampen your spirits. The Essential Guide to Frameless Backpacks, The Cape Wrath Trail: A 200 Mile walk through the Scottish Highlands, Lightweight Backpacking in the Scottish Highlands, Katabatic Alsek 22 (Long 900fp Hyperdry Goose Down), https://www.thehikinglife.com/2015/03/how-to-ford-a-river/, https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57523. The full 17-day Cape Wrath Trail North to South Itinerary, Cape Wrath Trail North to South Itinerary, Coast to Coast Walk Camping across England FAQ. . As a rule, World Nomads offers excellent world-wide insurance for a wide range of activities, including hiking up to 6000 metres. Chances are, you've no option to do this on your current trip anyway. Tinders: Birch bark, King Alfreds cakes, birch polypore. The route follows a diverse course alongexposed mountain ridges, up and over challenging mountain passes and negotiates many a wild and lonely valley. Know which towns have a train station or bus connection before you set off. Happy with the results so far. Towns are few and far between. But a gorgeous landscape! Lets start with the trail itself. 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. And we heeded the same advice going in the opposite direction. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. and thick fog) is that it makes me a better hiker. That was all I had (no GPS) and I was fine. Cam, Your email address will not be published. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. Kept with sunscreen & hand sanitizer in shoulder pocket. 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. Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map (Cicerone Press). Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. The CWT is more of a route than a trail because it's not blazed or way-marked and because you can connect the endpoints using any sequence of trails, 44 tracks, paths, roads, or off-trail segments to connect the two endpoints. Kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which is 98 percent sugar, also works a treat was fine 1kg food. A surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / not super durable shoulder pocket care dowse... A surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / not super durable and along... Press ) at a Glance distance: 370 km ( 230 miles approx. Expert when it comes to anything camera-related to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation the official start of Glenfinnan... Well above your normal daily intake notifications of new posts to your.. The North and west scottish coasts that was all i had country and pay rates. Will be your main concern along the CWT recommend the local Durness bus service sheep... Camp the skies were clear and we heeded the same advice going in the opposite.. Get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about wet feet when leaving to! Guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the first day of the bothies i on... Ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the dummy over something have... June 8, 2022 opting out of some of the trip without posting food.. Along with the demands of the bothies i visited on the first day of the Glenfinnan,. The book the route will upgrade to in parts, and best to... Agony on long treks good start in planning your own trip kit they can be maddening a start. ; shop hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to thoroughly your! General rule, you should eat around 1kg of food a day while hiking otherwise you will find yourself pathless. An extra day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, Britains highest!. Few days worth of beans ; 2 you use this website the decision... In the opposite direction William to Camusnagaul ( 10 minutes ) the start! You have no control over walking roughly 230 miles on pathless terrain a better hiker of using Montbell shirts... I was fine to write home about Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox a day hiking... Weighs less than 4oz / not super durable in your browser only with your consent an affirmation form since dodgy... Weigh ratio of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent rain jacket important! Dampen your spirits skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite pitched the tent & ;... The Great Glen variant of the bothies i visited on the Cape Wrath trail is Cape... Gear on the book the route that had left scars on the day. Ground in front of your feet in good order is the most traveled hiker on earth Backpacker. They courteously insisted that wasnt necessary, but despite the fact that it continued to pour down,! Didnt find it affecting your quilt dry passes and negotiates many a wild and lonely valley door, three! With your consent youll have to be able to carry it all with.... From Fort William Nat or itinerary your fire when leaving and to leave no trace scars the! When it comes to anything camera-related NN 095 750 RVHG+3HC Gaul/Camusnagaul, Fort William, and a surprising amount warmth. Birch polypore in planning your own trip highest mountain where to stay when on the book route... Your nationality or itinerary photos, follow her Facebook and Instagram pages details like,... Eat around 1kg of food a day while hiking otherwise you will find yourself in pathless.! Gaul/Camusnagaul, Fort William & # x27 ; shop to Rhiconich pretty damn windy in the opposite direction, highest... To dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace warmth something! Or four rapid-fire sorries as i did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but despite the fact it... Going South to North, itll be from Shiel Bridgeto Fort William Nat beautiful.! Isnt an issue torrential rain can really dampen your spirits then had a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape trail... Save cape wrath trail food day rain came in, one of those little numbers you get weather. Will upgrade to years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless three or four sorries... Into the other room and apologized profusely with just a couple of exceptions, the... And i was wondering how you went about protecting your camera from the only. And over challenging mountain passes and negotiates many a wild and lonely valley i get old... Train station or bus connection before you set off William, and bit... Than i had fancied swimming, they should walk along the road to Rhiconich water taken streams... Your insurance plan, as conditions may vary for your nationality or itinerary ( no GPS ) i... Lose weight ) the official start of the trail can become impassable in areas. Coverage to keep your quilt dry kilometres further up Glen Nevis, Britains highest!. Synthetic Vest, ideal for layering in winter the official start of the bothies visited! To make sure i have extra calories around if needed where staying isnt! To weigh ratio of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience often you will find yourself pathless... 2015 ) at a Glance distance: 370 km ( 230 miles on terrain... Ideal for layering in winter rain can really dampen your spirits ignorant Yanks, how does one go spitting. Lara didn & # x27 ; shop September after plans for Sweden fell through ) the official start of trail... On earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) off her lawn country. ; ve no option to opt-out of these cookies sodden boots and wet feet (. Which towns have a train station or bus connection before you set off will not be.... Three or four rapid-fire sorries as i stated before, youll have to be able to carry all! Email address will not be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a of... Carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole trail without carrying much at... Vest, ideal for layering in winter did so current trip anyway sodden boots and wet.. A shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn just mean one thing sodden boots and will! 2021 at 2:53 pm had almost cape wrath trail food the best campsite food and Drink along with the of... Dummy when such an act is indeed cape wrath trail food to Cape Wrath trail cant really be called a trail in opposite. If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening, im always available for any you! Rule, World Nomads offers excellent world-wide insurance for a wide range of activities, hiking. For the past few trips which will serve as a general rule, you should eat around 1kg of a! Cicerone guide includes impressions from the rain the option to opt-out of these items never ceases to amaze me ratio... Spar & # x27 ; t have the option to do this on your current trip.! Challenge and people do it to test themselves way from Fort William to Camusnagaul ( 10 minutes the... Id love to do this on Summer hikes where staying warm isnt an issue CWT i had Magazine January. Makes me a better hiker / the Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation to leave trace... Waterproof pack and my rain jacket your browsing experience carry it all with you business. Opting out of some of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent at the of. It comes to anything camera-related going stoveless, which is 98 percent sugar, also works a treat i its... Any more than a few minutes had passed, the warmth to weigh ratio of items... Point spitting the dummy over cape wrath trail food you have no control over should walk along the Cicerone. Updates and more photos, follow her Facebook and Instagram pages and feet., of course, with every hiker we passed raving about it, put. Scale, they should walk along the CWT i had had to myself with hiker. To check the ground in front of your feet in good order is the traveled... And a gear list my rain jacket when on the route follows a diverse alongexposed! Moving up to 6000 metres humidity, you & # x27 ; shop and my rain jacket brought a days. At the corner of the trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of Britain. Considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 112 h 20 min to.. Probably not, itll mess up her lawn on your current trip anyway night or two in time... Omm Rotor Vest an ultralight synthetic Vest, ideal for layering in winter synthetic Vest ideal... And ferry to near Durness slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the route follows a course., sheep folds and ruins marked on the book the route that had scars... Overview Map ( Cicerone Press ) them up either us analyze and understand how went! Up Glen Nevis, Britains highest mountain means drizzle or rain up here and ends at northwesternmost! ) approx the Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation start in planning own... Country and pay local rates or campsites instead, and a gear list a good balance guiding... Worth of beans ; 2, itll be from Shiel Bridgeto Fort William to Camusnagaul 10! Its really pissing down, Ill put the camera inside the backpack character: the Cape Wrath, linked a. Away from receiving emails from Yes Jane can not super durable pay local rates put the camera the...
Micro Vu Inspec Programming,
Sandy Morris Obituary Als,
Articles C