Smother them in white tiger balm and hey presto, youll have some relief from scratching like a flea-ridden dog. 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. Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. The annual exercises are usually completed by Easter but this year the Ministry Of Defence (MOD) added extra dates at short notice. In regards to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats a tough one. This leaves you with a highly efficient, if not slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a fraction of the weight! Plot a route that works best for you. That said, there are parts of the Cape Wrath Trail that pass by human settlement and grazing animals. As it was Winter, there were not a lot of resupply points so posting food parcels to strategic locations along the route was necessary. No, the CWT is challenging because it will take you across some of the most wet, marshy, pathless, wild and generally difficult terrain the northwestern highlands have to offer. 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!! Back from the dead. Cheers, I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. Just dont forget to check the ground in front of your feet every now and then. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. Im looking forward to reading the post the Lofoten Islands. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. donkeys years). 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. Good photos & Video / Have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas. 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. Any thoughts on advantage/disadvantages of moving up to a Duomid for the past few trips? Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Click the time links for respective bus timetables. From south to north there are stores at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and Kinlochbervie. 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. Since the CWT is somewhat of a lengthy trail, bringing all the maps that cover the CWTs route can result in quite a pile of paper. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. I had wet, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be in a competition with a snail for the slowest pace. See you on the Trail! The world-renowned trails of the Scottish Highlands, with their picturesque vistas, are quite breath-taking. Iain has found a good balance between guiding the reader in rough terrain and offering challenging or safer alternatives. Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. Day 1 - rain and sunsets. Food and alcohol prices . After more than a decade of using Montbell wind shirts, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to amaze me. Id recommend taking one for each pole you have. I picked up some food and . Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 112 h 20 min to complete. 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 wished wed come across your blog before our CWT. 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. And of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the trail can become impassable in certain areas. MLD Duomid (0.75 DCF) with Solomid Silnylon Innernet. 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. Just let me know in the comments below or send an email to roel@beatthetrail.com. This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. Some of the very basics you'll need while out on the Cape Wrath Trail. 1B. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. 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. 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. To make things even more interesting, there is a notable lack of facilities along the way. And for those of a wayfaring disposition such as myself, I cant think of a better teacher than Mother Nature. 16.95 16.10 Buy This Book Supporting local bookshops PUBLIC TRANSPORT The start of the trail is in Fort William, which is easily reached either by train or city link bus. While not the most storm-worthy shelter in the Tarptent stable, I think the Aeon Li should suffice for the Cape Wrath Trail. I just booked a fly to do this in September after plans for Sweden fell through. Upon entering the spacious multi-room hut, I wasnt expecting to find anyone. Pitched the tent & had a comfortable hour having food & few brews before the expected rain came in. Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. A singular landscape of salt flats, volcanoes, fantastical rock formations and coloured lakes, I completed the journey over 16 days in August, 2017. Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. Hey Roy, Your email address will not be published. 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. No matter how low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you get proper travel insurance. Also, I might shorten the hike as I only have 8 days. 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. Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. I cant recommend the CWT highly enough; you should definitely do it sooner rather than later! Find out more Thank you for the kind words. Great value food and walkers' accommodation on the Cape Wrath Trail It is a day's walk from Fort William (23 miles on flat loch-side terrain) is Laggan Locks. In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. Youll want to bring lightweight meals, enough to sustain you on a daily basis but also something that will provide you with enough nutrients and energy to make it through those three weeks. In regards to what I did for food on the CWT: 1. This book definitely does justice to the tough character of the trail. There are days when its deadly dull, days when your body protests, days when the rain will turn you into an amphibian. The Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself in pathless terrain. 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. Grid ref. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. Buy on Amazon More on the book The route Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. And they might be right. One solution to this logistical problem is to send ahead parcels with food and supplies to locations along your route. Big decisions about smallest details, which I embrace. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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! I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. I certainly will. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. Go digital! Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. Love your musings and information on gear, and, in this particular case, attitude. Green tents, on the other hand, are not immune to the midges advances. For a detailed guide on shelters found along the Cape Wrath Trail, be sure to check out my CWT Bothy Guide! 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. It takes place annually in Ive never hiked with a real camera before so Im about nervous about keeping it dry! The Cape Wrath Trail is a remote and challenging 200-mile hike through the Scottish Highlands. It rained so much we actually took a break, bussed down to Inverness for 2 days, then restarted at Furness when the sun came out and finished in the opposite direction! 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!). Cheers, 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. 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.) Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. 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. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. It's often touted as Britain's toughest long distance walk, due to its pathless sections, remoteness, and Scotland's fierce weather. My basic Cape Wrath Trail menu consists of two cooked meals a day (breakfast+coffee and dinner+desert drink) and lots of easy-to-consume-foods for while I am on the move. This is certainly the way I would go next time. Get someone more experienced to go with you or test your ability on other trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness! She charges people to wild camp beyond her garden where there are absolutely no facilities and no flat land, so clearly, the flat area looks like the campsite. Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! Use hostels, hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to stay a night or two and give them your business! Thanks for the kind words. Glad to hear you guys had a good time at Wilsons Prom and the website info proved useful. Pretty much everyone serious uses down bags here no need to worry about it. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. Phone in advance if possible. Thanks Geoff. I havent forgotten my experiences with the latter in places like Fiordland and Stewart Island. I seemed to be very much in the minority! Most thru-hikers will usually be hauling out between two and four days food between resupply points (depending on route choices). 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. 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. Karen Ive used down bags and quilts in the Scottish Highlands for half a century. This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. The scenery can be spectacular even when its veiled in mist. Rather than lugging a compendium of OS maps, go with the two waterproof Harvey Maps North and South. 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. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. Ive always enjoyed hiking in crappy weather. As it turned out Lara didn't have the most waterproof pack and my rain jacket. A few tips? The Cape Wrath Trail does not offer hikers the luxury of certainty: flexibility is a critical part of the trailblazer's mountain kit. One of my favourite things about rambling in shitty (but not really) conditions (e.g. Do you only make money when someone clicks on an equipment link in your posts? 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. But more on this later. For a general overview of the gear I recommend for cold and wet environments such as the Scottish Highlands (along with other advice), see Tips for Hiking in Cold and Wet Weather. A packet of jelly sweets which you can devour/savour (delete as appropriate) will make the world of difference to your energy and mood. My base weight for the Cape Wrath Trail was 9.2 lbs (4.2 kg), and the total weight came in at 12.3 lb (5.6 kg). Hey Swami, Im heading up to Scotland in May to have a go at the cape wrath, Im toying with taking a dedicated compact camera as the lens on my phone camera is wrecked. Apr 27, 2012. You just cant get that if all your hiking is done on cruisy, manicured trails in fine weather with temps in the 70s (low 20s C). 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). " lizziwake says: 21st September 2021 at 2:53 pm. You can buy additional gas canisters at London stores in Rhiconich; Ullapool (there are two hiking shops so you can get most things inc. tent repair splints); the shop at Kinlochewe (9am-5.30pm) and the garage/campsite shop at Shiel Bridge (closes at 6pm). How to get to Cape Wrath Located at the very top of Scotland, Cape Wrath is one of Britain's most iconic places. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. Cape Wrath Mini Bus Tel: 07534591124 Email:info@visitcapewrath.com 'Ozone cafe' provide toilet facilities at Cape Wrath. Train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Fort William vary between20 and30 for a one-way trip. CategoriesGear Lists, Scotland, The Hiking Life Blog, Thru-hiking, TrailsTagsAlex Roddie, Brooks, Cape Wrath, Cape Wrath Trail, Cicerone Press, Gaia GPS, Harvey Maps, Hiking, Katabatic Gear, Montbell, Mountain Laurel Designs, Patagonia, Sandwood Bay, Scottish Highlands, TGO Magazine, The Hiking Life, Thru-hiking, thru-hiking Gear Guide, thru-hiking-topics, ultralight backpacking. Id love to do this route before I get too old and creaky. Im definitely no expert when it comes to anything camera-related. What sections would you suggest to skip? I'm bringing a tent with a floor . Nature was wonderful with singing cuckoos everywhere! 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. 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. You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here is a typical day of food on the trail, usually totalling around 3500-4000 calories. The end of the trail is remote Cape Wrath, linked by a seasonal tourist bus and ferry to near Durness. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022. I like the flexibility this gave me as I was not committed to being anywhere at a specific time and I could walk as far as I liked each day. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I live in Alaska and its often damp, breezy, cloudy, foggy. In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. Kept with sunscreen & hand sanitizer in shoulder pocket. . 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. Leave enough for others and the ecology. It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. Having not backpacked a long distance trail before, I planned to walk sections, starting in May 2020. Cape Wrath Trail Planning #2. backpacking, cape wrath trail, Gear, kit list, planning, scotland. 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 . Hey Swami, thank you for this great write up! Whenever possible Id pack out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points. Noticed you in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the little feckers? 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. Like a straight up shower cap? I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. 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. Heather Ohly (a Registered Nutritionist) talks through the food choices she and Shane Ohly (Cape Wrath Ultra - Event Director) made whilst walking the Cape W. So be prepared to do some research on the different routes available, and bring a map and compass! On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. About the Trail Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. Hope that helps. It starts in Fort William and ends at the lighthouse . They know the area and what to expect on higher routes. As I said before, the CWT is mostly a collection of trails that lead northward to Cape Wrath and as such there is not a single definitive route you can take. 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 thought the first half from Cape Wrath to Kinlochewe was the most picturesque (I walked north to south, get the itinerary), but then again there are different routes so maybe I just picked the worst one from there south! It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. 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. Formerly known as our North West Wilderness Weekend the Knoydart Expedition allows our clients to complete the wild southern section of the Cape Wrath Trail, including two nights of wild camping. Here is a list of things to look out for. When it comes to fuel foraging, take only what you need. Still my favourite Merino liners after more than a decade / Cheaper and more durable than the big sock companies. I will list only what I consider to be the essentials here; Ill leave it up to you how much extra gear you want to bring. Corryhully Bothy on a gloomy morning. That about wraps up my practical guide to the Cape Wrath Trail. I also need to stay positive, calm and objective in order to make the best decisions possible. The Cape Wrath Trail is considered the UK's toughest long distance walk. 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. Im hoping to do other hikes too and I wondering your opinion on West Highland Way vs. Cairngorm National Park? Firstly because it is more of an unofficial collection of smaller trails rather than a marked and advertised trail like the West Highland Way, for example. The trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. Grid: NN 095 750 RVHG+3HC Gaul/Camusnagaul, Fort William Nat. What would you say about going CWT in this time of year and the shelter for this hike? I spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. Required fields are marked *. As I headed back out into the storm I broke out into a wry grin. 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. A good preparation will help you tackle most of the issues youll be facing along the Cape Wrath Trail, allowing you to focus on the awesome views! And for good reason. But a gorgeous landscape! This means that you're treated to a stunning range of exceptional views complete with dramatic coastlines and a wild and vast ocean to admire. For the edification of us ignorant Yanks, how does one go about spitting the dummy when such an act is indeed appropriate? I brought my own Breakfast Porridge Mix to start the day with, hardtack (army ration biscuits) with peanut butter for lunch and dehydrated instant meals for dinner. This probably doesnt sound too exciting, but it still is a vital part of the journey. Always make sure to thoroughly check your insurance plan, as conditions may vary for your nationality or itinerary. We started in Fort William with the Camusnagaul ferry and finished in Kinlochbervie, after walking off the peninsular from the Cape Wrath light house.
Chevy Nova Custom Center Console, What Expenses Can Be Deducted From Inheritance Tax, Massachusetts State Jobs Hiring Process,