Bog, bog and more bog. 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! Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. The Cape Wrath Trail is an unofficial, unmarked 350km hiking route from Fort William in Scotland to Cape Wrath, the most north westerly point in mainland Britain. Hey Swami, thank you for this great write up! Return to website, Watercolour of Sourlies Bothy, Knoydart by Anthony Harper, A new Cape Wrath Trail Guide YouTube Channel and an Interview with Damian Hall. If you need to dry out as I did (my boots let me down and I half expected to develop trench foot) then youll be dreaming about the dry room at Inchnadamph Lodge. Find out more I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. Hard ice en route to Sandwood Bay. Ill take my ZPacks Duplex tent and EE quilt. No worries, I said, and we all ended up having a good laugh together. Deserts, jungles, mountains or coast; Ive never had a preference. Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts, Birch sap, Rowan berries (do not eat raw). The way to Cape Wrath is not an official national trail at all, more a loose collection of old stalkers' tracks, drovers, and coffin roads. Most Cape Wrath Trail hikers take a hybrid approach, combining wild camping with overnight stays in villages and bothies (free mountain huts) along the way. Having no experience with Scottish winds, do you think that a Tarptent Aeon Li is suitable or do I need something more storm-worthy? 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. Nat. The Cape Wrath Trail is often considered to be one of Britain's most challenging trails, mostly due to its remoteness and rough terrain. Leave enough for others and the ecology. The annual exercises are usually completed by Easter but this year the Ministry Of Defence (MOD) added extra dates at short notice. Exped Thunder 70 A big pack that still manages to keep the weight down. Your first order of business will be getting to Fort William to start your adventure. Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. Sign up for occasional email updates with news and updates from the trail. I brought a few days worth of beans; 2. Karen Ive used down bags and quilts in the Scottish Highlands for half a century. Although equipment choice is intensely personal, it's always good to know what other people use and I've picked up some excellent tips over the years from fellow walkers that I'd otherwise have missed. While not the most storm-worthy shelter in the Tarptent stable, I think the Aeon Li should suffice for the Cape Wrath Trail. donkeys years). Cant thank Angie and John enough for a wonderful welcome after completing the Cape wrath trail. Last year I hiked the CWT (Knoydart variant) and really enjoyed it! 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. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Long-term review: Bridgedale Stormsocks 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. Ill go into more detail in the chapter appropriately called The Route. This is all about learning from my own mistakes. Your email address will not be published. Frameless backpack of choice for almost a decade. The weather for the walk was mostly pleasant, which was lucky for April. Another option that is easier and cheaper is to buy the special Cape Wrath Trail maps made by Harvey Maps. Go digital! 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? 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. Hoorah! It's hard to believe that this website is now nearly five years old. During the days Id also eat bars, trail mix, crisps, nuts; basically whatever I could find. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. Here is a list of things to look out for. You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Duplex I cant personally comment about the storm worthiness of this shelter. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. 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. This is probably the most important part of this guide. Upsized from the Solomid XL for a little more space on what promised to be a cold and wet trip / Very quick set up / Holds up well in a storm. I know from personal experience having endured days of agony on long treks. Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. Just remember to train your core, lower back and legs most of all. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised National Trail. 1C to 5C combined with driving wind, rain. Peat and forest fires can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates. I will mention this again: if you are not physically prepared and/or have no previous experience with (solo) long distance hiking, you should not be walking the Cape Wrath trail alone! Required fields are marked *. One of the few bothies to have a working power grid! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Snacks - Dried fruit and nuts. I just get too chilly. Hope that helps. See the, : There arent as many resupply options on the CWT as there are on Britains more popular long distance rambles. As for spitting the dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks (i.e. 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. Nature was wonderful with singing cuckoos everywhere! From south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie. As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. 367 km / 228 miles. I took mainly dried, long-life food with me on the Cape Wrath Trail. To make things even more interesting, there is a notable lack of facilities along the way. Top end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it. Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy. Add weight to your squats after a while! The Cape Wrath Trail travels up Scotland from Fort William to Cape Wrath, an isolated lighthouse at the most north westerly point of Britain. Theres a whole load of bog trotting to be done on the 199-mile hike so invest in gaiters to keep the splodge out of your boots. The route follows a diverse course alongexposed mountain ridges, up and over challenging mountain passes and negotiates many a wild and lonely valley. 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. Some of the scenery is incredible if you get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about. 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. Ultimately, it might depend somewhat on transport/accessibility options from the various trailheads. Use hostels, hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to stay a night or two and give them your business! The Cape Wrath Ultra is Scotland's finest multi-stage ultra running event. Wet cold is always more challenging, and windy to boot. Odds are, youll be soaked through by the time you get there anyway.. Hey Cam, One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. Black coffee with sugar. 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. Lockdown has given me the opportunity to start working on a long-postponed project, a new YouTube channel. The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant of the trail. 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. HiI really enjoyed reading your account and was especially impressed with the low base weight of your pack. Happy with the results so far. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands The nearby stream offers a good water . In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. 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. Luckily the rain only lasted an hour or so and then it started to dry out. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. 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). Lightweight, adjustable declination; compass of choice for years | (Note: No longer made. Thank you for the kind words. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. If for whatever reason you decide you cant go on anymore, at least youll know where to go to get back to civilisation! The Essential Guide to Ultralight Bivy Sacks, The Hidden Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path. The streams and rivers can rise a couple of inches within just a few hours of heavy rain, so be prepared to wait out the bad weather in a bothy for day or two, until the water levels have subsided. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. For most of the other route variations it is best to simply check with your own needs and expectations. Dates Ta again. Other resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but I think it is manageable for any prepared hiker. Grid ref. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. Maybe if I wimped out and stayed in the B&Bs. 9 top tips for hiking the Cape Wrath Trail No.9 is the most important Gear and food reviews Exped Synmat UL Winter M An extremely comfortable winter sleeping mat. Excellent beanie / Not too thick / Stretchy enough to fit my noggin / Doesnt seem to be available in the US at the moment. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). I wonder whether Harvey Maps has made it deliberately difficult in parts to keep up the arduous name this route has. 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! In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. Great, lets keep going. Or plot your own route! The passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul (10 minutes) the official start of the CWT. not too fast / not too slow in order to minimise sweating yet still stay warm), layering, changes in conditions, and calorie and H2O intake. Scottish rain and acidic bog has magical properties, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. Resupplying on the Cape Wrath Trail can be difficult so I set off with 7 days food and had a 7 day resupply package at Kinlochewe. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. and thick fog) is that it makes me a better hiker. A few tips? I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. As a general rule, you should eat around 1kg of food a day while hiking otherwise you will lose weight. 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. Whenever possible Id pack out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points.
