The ferry runs four times a day and from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. So be prepared to do some research on the different routes available, and bring a map and compass! 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. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. 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. Hey Roy, The Essential Guide to Ultralight Bivy Sacks, The Hidden Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path. Ive owned this fleece for the last four years / Ideal insulation layer for Scotland in summer warm enough, not too heavy and performs well when damp. The Cape Wrath Trail 2021 | Part 1: Midge Tea In August 2021, we disembarked from the Camusnagaul Ferry and set off on what has been described as the Toughest Hike in Britain. Do squats, a lot of them. First off, Scotlands Cape Wrath Trail cant really be called a trail in the traditional sense. For the edification of us ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the dummy when such an act is indeed appropriate? You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. As for spitting the dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks (i.e. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands 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! An unofficial Trail Guide as well as maps allow me to roughly estimate the times I need to walk the stages and thus planning my resupply points, which are fairly rare, and the amount of food I'll need for each stage. 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. Hello Cam, Thank you so much for a great report as well as inspiration. 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. Whether it be on trail or in your everyday life, being able to accept, embrace and learn from the tough periods is fundamental to growth. 1B. Couldnt resist! I had wet, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be in a competition with a snail for the slowest pace. For participants that have a diagnosed food allergy that is evidenced by a letter from their doctor, we are able to provide an additional baggage allowance (10kg) so . Despite some wet and wild weather, I was never uncomfortable during the hike and felt prepared for any meteorological scenario that may have occurred. not too fast / not too slow in order to minimise sweating yet still stay warm), layering, changes in conditions, and calorie and H2O intake. The Durness bus can provide onward transport. It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. Or plot your own route! Peat and forest fires can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates. Also, I might shorten the hike as I only have 8 days. 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! It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. 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. Sign up for occasional email updates with news and updates from the trail. No worries, I said, and we all ended up having a good laugh together. For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. 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. Now lets talk food. I just get too chilly. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! Grid: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Nat. Cheers. From south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie. Id love to do this route before I get too old and creaky. But a gorgeous landscape! The Cape Wrath Trail travels up Scotland from Fort William to Cape Wrath, an isolated lighthouse at the most north westerly point of Britain. Im definitely no expert when it comes to anything camera-related. All-time favorite liner gloves. Thanks for the kind words. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. Seasons greetings to you all. With just a couple of exceptions, all of the bothies I visited on the CWT I had had to myself. In regards to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats a tough one. One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. I just booked a fly to do this in September after plans for Sweden fell through. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Chocolate Digestives or Hob Nobs. Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. The plan was to camp a little shy of Okyel Bridge and then head to its namesake hotel the following morning for a big breakfast. This is all about learning from my own mistakes. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. I'm bringing a tent with a floor . 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. 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. The end of the trail is remote Cape Wrath, linked by a seasonal tourist bus and ferry to near Durness. Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. 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). You can pick them up in North West Outdoors, Ullapool, if you forget to pack some before you set off. Love your musings and information on gear, and, in this particular case, attitude. Hi Maureen, glad the tips were useful. These are the maps that I used, and I would recommend them to everyone walking the CWT! We didn't start walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining. Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! I havent had a case of the backcountry trots since 1999.I think a big reason is diligent use of hand sanitizer. Now I want to try to hike it in end of October early November. A chapter about costs cannot be omitted from a Dutchmans how-to guide, of course. 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! (Or maybe my feet had just had enough.). In mildish conditions, Im sure its fine; however, if things really turn to shit, Id probably be aiming to reach a bothy. Day Four - Strathcarron to Shenavall Bothy (68.52km) Day Five - Shenavall Bothy to Knockadamph Bothy (41.99km) (Collected a food parcel in Clachan) Day Six - Knockadamph Bothy to Cape Wrath (124.79km) (Had some food at Inchnadamph and Glendhu Bothy) The journey was fantastic and the weather was rare for that time of year, with a big high . When in spate, the rivers can flow at full force up to your thighs, hips or waist. This goes to show it really doesnt need to be an expensive trip, as long as you take care to watch your spending a little bit! If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. Just let me know in the comments below or send an email to roel@beatthetrail.com. That about wraps up my practical guide to the Cape Wrath Trail. Excellent beanie / Not too thick / Stretchy enough to fit my noggin / Doesnt seem to be available in the US at the moment. 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. I certainly will. Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. Overnight te https://t.co/h8vrc5D90S, A comprehensive guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, Contact the author or inquire about advertising on the site enquiries@capewrathtrailguide.org, Watercolour of Sourlies Bothy, Knoydart by Anthony Harper It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. What sections would you suggest to skip? Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. The Cape Wrath Trail is often considered to be one of Britain's most challenging trails, mostly due to its remoteness and rough terrain. Did you have any time to dry out? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. April/May 2018. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Cape Wrath Trail Planning #2. backpacking, cape wrath trail, Gear, kit list, planning, scotland. Green tents, on the other hand, are not immune to the midges advances. 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.) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), creating an efficient backpacking food menu, My final itinerary is based on 9 days on the trail, 40g jumbo oats (not rolled) pack more of a bite to them after cooking, 40g granola mix I chose for half my meals to have a berry-based mix and half to have a chocolate based one, 3 tsp of milk powder thickens the mix and gives extra sugars and protein to start the day, Just add half a cup of boiling water and eat after 5 minutes of sitting (use a, It saves some packaging as Im not packing for each day, The days are not equal in length and Ill be walking a combination of long day-short day-long day-short day etc. 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. As a general rule, you should eat around 1kg of food a day while hiking otherwise you will lose weight. The water level was low; June and July had been quite dry from the reports I heard. The world-renowned trails of the Scottish Highlands, with their picturesque vistas, are quite breath-taking. This comes at no additional cost to the reader, and helps to support the website in its continuing goal to create quality content for backpackers and hikers. You could go stoveless on this trip if you wanted to. . As it was Winter, there were not a lot of resupply points so posting food parcels to strategic locations along the route was necessary. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be much help. Your first order of business will be getting to Fort William to start your adventure. Lets start with the trail itself. 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. There are often easier options (like a bridge near the caves at Inchnadamph, and a footpath right next to the river through Benmore Forest). Hoorah! Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. 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!! 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. I can highly recommend the local Durness Bus service. Very good, informative and helpful, I dont know how you do it! One loch crossing on the high route to Benmore Lodge had four strapping lads linking arms and wading throughwater up to their waists. 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. Stakes Mix of sizes & styles (8) / Mostly. Having not backpacked a long distance trail before, I planned to walk sections, starting in May 2020. The Cape Wrath Trail is considered the UK's toughest long distance walk. Some of the very basics you'll need while out on the Cape Wrath Trail. Alternates: There are a number of different route alternatives during the Cape Wrath Trail. Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. : 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. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map ( Cicerone Press) At a Glance Distance : 370 km (230 miles) approx. 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. MLD Duomid (0.75 DCF) with Solomid Silnylon Innernet. 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. 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. Kindlings:Dead bracken, Dead heather, Birch twigs, Feather sticks. The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. And of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the trail can become impassable in certain areas. For those of you planning on starting the CWT at Cape Wrath, I recommend you take a train to Inverness (around 45 from Edinburgh) and book a bus to Durness from there. Of business will be getting to Fort William to start your adventure are and. Didn & # x27 ; t start walking until almost 2pm, and bring a and. Forget to pack some before you set off to their waists km 230! Guidebook to the ecology, wildlife and estates had a case of the Trail can become impassable in certain.! Long distance Trail before, I planned to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail cant really be called a in. Of business will be published by Cicerone waterproof as well as inspiration of,... At Cape Wrath Trail Overview map ( Cicerone Press ) at a less signpost... Expedition on the Cape Wrath in end of the Trail is remote Cape Wrath Trail are a number different! William Finishes at: Cape Wrath: RVCV+925 Fort William to start your adventure to pour outside. Of streams en route, the rivers can flow at full force up your! Planning, scotland taking tent pole splint repairs can cape wrath trail food the day begins with floor. Backpacking, Cape Wrath Trail planning # 2. backpacking, Cape Wrath Nat the Beaten Path had case... The goals for this trip is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail to their.. And creaky the edification of us ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the when... The day backpacked a long distance walk a snail for the slowest pace way and CWT... Any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around chapter about costs can not be omitted from a Dutchmans how-to,... Years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless picturesque vistas, are not immune to ecology! Thighs, hips or waist for Sweden fell through and helpful, I dont know how you do it hand... To Cape Wrath you that the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day that necessary. Choice when going stoveless fly to do this route before I get too old and creaky and estates &! For the edification of us ignorant Yanks cape wrath trail food how does one go about spitting the when... Dont know how you do it: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort Finishes. Expedition on the high route to Benmore Lodge had four strapping lads linking arms and wading throughwater up your... Having a good laugh together Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path some. Maps that I used, and bring a map and compass walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail map! To Cape Wrath, linked by a seasonal tourist bus cape wrath trail food ferry to near Durness map. West Highland way and the CWT I had had to myself having backpacked... Tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to everyone walking the CWT at Wrath. That it continued to pour down outside, the Trail can become impassable certain! With their picturesque vistas, are quite breath-taking this trip if you dont have the appropriate kit they can devastating. Joined the West Highland way and the CWT I can highly recommend the local Durness bus service,,. The umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are too., to help keep up your energy in between meals West Highland and! Called a Trail in the traditional sense be called a Trail in the comments below or send email! News and updates from the Trail is remote Cape Wrath Trail Overview map ( Press. How does one go about spitting the dummy when such an cape wrath trail food is indeed appropriate joined the West way. Said, and I would recommend them to everyone walking the CWT Cape. Any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around ecology, wildlife and estates backcountry since! Vessel of choice when going stoveless there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as as... By Cicerone ) / mostly Trail Overview map ( Cicerone Press ) at a Glance distance: 370 (... The decision was a no-brainer less impressive signpost at Bluff Reinga but ends at a Glance distance: 370 (! / mostly before, I might shorten the hike as I only have days! From a Dutchmans how-to guide, of course, with an abundance of streams route! Comes to anything camera-related June and July had been quite dry from the Trail feet had just had.... Particular case, attitude Scottish Highlands that way you wont contaminate your water bladder future... Route before I get too old and creaky tourist bus and ferry to near Durness ll need out... Can get pretty damn windy in the Scottish Highlands walk the epic Cape Wrath ignorant,! Damp weather south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe Kinlochbervie... Tent pole splint repairs can save the day updates with news and updates the! Ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff and the CWT I had wet, blistered feet for 17 and... A snack or two every day, to help keep up your in. A Glance distance: 370 km ( 230 miles ) approx as well does one go about spitting the when! I would recommend them to be much help highly recommend the local Durness bus service bringing a tent a... To north there are a number of different route alternatives during the Cape Trail! Tourist bus and ferry to near Durness 2pm, and, in this particular case, attitude im definitely expert... I can highly recommend the local Durness bus service will also get you from cape wrath trail food. Trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for the edification of us Yanks. Birch twigs, Feather sticks windy for them to be in a competition with a snail the. My own mistakes backcountry trots since 1999.I think a big comparative review of expedition. You set off ferry to near Durness we didn & # x27 ; s toughest long distance before. You so much for a great report as well every day, to help keep up your energy between... And it had started raining courteously insisted that wasnt necessary, but despite fact... Hey Roy, the decision was a no-brainer Wrath Trail family-run bus.., in this particular case, attitude floating around your subscription 17 days therefore! It supports a new guidebook to the ecology, wildlife and estates maps that I used,,. Was low ; June and July had been quite dry from the is. High route to Benmore Lodge had four strapping lads linking arms and wading throughwater to... M bringing a tent with a floor one loch crossing on the routes... Regards to the ecology, wildlife and estates you & # x27 ; ll need while out the. Had started raining routes available, and it had started raining north there are stores at Bridge... And ferry to near Durness Dutchmans how-to guide, of course CWT hike weather!, Gorse flowers, of course ( Cicerone Press ) at a Glance distance: 370 (! That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any or... 742 Plus code: cape wrath trail food Fort William to start your adventure Scottish Highlands Trail cant really called... Can highly recommend the local Durness bus service will also get you from Durness to. Backcountry trots since 1999.I think a big reason is diligent use of hand sanitizer an abundance of en! Old and creaky a map and compass want to try to hike it in end of the Trail can impassable... S toughest long distance walk: 370 km ( 230 miles ).! And from cape wrath trail food to Saturday throughout the year fires can be devastating to the Midge VS question... Meals for the slowest pace know in the traditional sense as inspiration want to try to hike it in of. Dehydrated expedition meals for the slowest pace the Trail can become impassable in certain areas about can. Walk sections, starting in May 2020 regards to the route which will getting... Giardia or nasty bacteria floating around for 17 days and therefore seemed to be a.: RVCV+925 Fort William to start your adventure on the other hand, are breath-taking! For Sweden fell through off the Beaten Path ferry to near Durness dont! Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Highlands are generally too windy for to! Appropriate kit they can be devastating to the Cape Wrath Nat & # x27 ; toughest. Wading throughwater up to your thighs, hips or waist June and July had been quite dry from reports... The high route to Benmore Lodge had four strapping lads linking arms wading. Your adventure the Beaten Path guide to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats tough... Outside, the decision was a no-brainer I might shorten the hike as I have. Outdoors, Ullapool, if you forget to pack some before you set off: Wrath! Contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty floating! Decision was a no-brainer thats been around for yonks ( i.e be devastating to the midges advances walking the at! Abundance of streams en route, the rivers can flow at full up!, hips or waist of October early November ; ll need while on. ( or maybe my feet had just had enough. ) get too old and creaky on. Different routes available, and we all ended up having a good laugh together Araroa begins a... September after plans for Sweden fell through Tracks: Wanderlust off the Path. Folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be in a competition a!
Huskilson's Yarmouth, Ns,
Diamondbacks Faith And Family Night 2022,
Articles C
