Have a read of this article from Jorgen Johansson which talks specifically about how the tent performs in inclement weather in an environment not dissimilar to what you will encounter in Scotland. 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). 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? And if the roles had been reversed and some weather-beaten old bastard had accidentally walked in on me and my partner, I would have also been polite (or at least tried to be), but secretly would have been hoping that hed decide to continue on his way. Id recommend taking one for each pole you have. And we heeded the same advice going in the opposite direction. Sanctuary at the end of Cape Wrath Trail. That said, there are parts of the Cape Wrath Trail that pass by human settlement and grazing animals. Now this can be a tough one. In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. 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. 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 Many thanks this is an excellent report. 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! Just came back (August 2020). Chocolate Digestives or Hob Nobs. Towel, neck/face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups when low on cash. 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 light. Hi Frederick, Again, the amount youd wish to spend on food and supplies will strongly vary from one person to the next. The Cape Wrath Trail is a remote and challenging 200-mile hike through the Scottish Highlands. The ferry runs four times a day and from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. Lightweight, quick drying, and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / Not super durable. I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. After slogging through a late afternoon downpour on the first day of the Glenfinnan Variant, Ma Nature treated me to a beautiful rainbow. And possibly in bucketfuls. While not the most storm-worthy shelter in the Tarptent stable, I think the Aeon Li should suffice for the Cape Wrath Trail. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. Prepare to carry a tent and sleeping gear. What was your route through the latter? Or plot your own route! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. It was a pleasure to read! The route is unmarked and there is no official line. Lets start with the trail itself. For many years my rehydrating vessel of choice when going stoveless. Best of luck on your trip! We sensibly did the route to Inchnadamph instead. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. It's hard to believe that this website is now nearly five years old. The benefit, though, is they are added protein when they kamikaze into your food, which they will do, at every opportunity. . It turned out they were students in their late teens/early twenties from Bristol. 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. 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. 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. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. 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 . I live in Alaska and its often damp, breezy, cloudy, foggy. . 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. 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. 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. 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!). Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. The passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul (10 minutes) the official start of the CWT. I dont want this hike to sound like a washout, but it is in the wettest area of the UK. Because its not. The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. Go digital! 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! It can get pretty damn windy in the Highlands and taking tent pole splint repairs can save the day. There are a couple of alternative stages that . 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. the Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good idea of how to navigate such conditions. Looking back at Sandwood bay on route to Cape Wrath | Final morning. One armed blind folks can sew better than me. Lightweight, adjustable declination; compass of choice for years | (Note: No longer made. Top food, very very good coffee and a lovely warm spot by the gas fire . One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. This looks amazing! I meandered around the rolling hills North from the bothy and it was not a tiresome walk at all. It's often touted as Britain's toughest long distance walk, due to its pathless sections, remoteness, and Scotland's fierce weather. So I was a little surprised when over the sound of howling wind and rain, I heard noises emanating from the downstairs sleeping room. Duplex I cant personally comment about the storm worthiness of this shelter. Its the midges most ferocious month and the locals are baffled as to why anyone would choose feeding frenzy August for their hike. I quickly shut the door, muttering three or four rapid-fire sorries as I did so. Kendal mint cake, which is 98 percent sugar, also works a treat! Buy both the Cape Wrath Trail North and Cape Wrath Trail South maps together and save 2! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I picked up some food and . The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant of the trail. This headlamp has grown on me | Lightweight, double-click, four settings, good battery life, 160 Lumens max | No longer miss my old Black Diamond Spot. Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point trail near Fort William, Highlands. 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. For details of ferries and bus to Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com. But a gorgeous landscape! Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. River crossings, along with midges, will become the bane of your trip. The trail has evolved from use and is not an officially recognised National Trail. Ultimately, it might depend somewhat on transport/accessibility options from the various trailheads. A few tips? I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. I can only show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Nat. 1C to 5C combined with driving wind, rain. It contains detailed information for more than 200 of the worlds great hikes and was put together with the mission of inspiring and enabling folks to go backpacking. Despite some wet and wild weather, I was never uncomfortable during the hike and felt prepared for any meteorological scenario that may have occurred. 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! I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. Breakfast while breaking camp with a cup of coffee After 2 hours of walking, 2 crackers with 2 slices of cured meat (usually salami) After another 2 hours of walking, 2 crackers with 2 slices of cured meat (usually salami), a coffee and a chocolate biscuit 2 more hours of walking, 2 crackers with 2 slices of cured meat (usually salami) 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. Actually, I joined the West Highland Way and the CWT, making one continuous 543 km route from Milngavie to Cape Wrath. The Altiplano Traverse is an approximately 600 km (372 mi) backcountry route across Bolivia's Altiplano region. Id love to do this route before I get too old and creaky. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Choice of maps is a particularly important decision when planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail. Required fields are marked *. How to get to Cape Wrath Located at the very top of Scotland, Cape Wrath is one of Britain's most iconic places.
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