cape wrath trail food

Thanks for the kind words. Corryhully Bothy on a gloomy morning. The reason the mileage is approximate is because there is not an actual trail. Best of luck on your trip! Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. The Durness bus can provide onward transport. 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. The former is wilder, more challenging and generally considered to be more scenic. Thanks Geoff. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. For most of the other route variations it is best to simply check with your own needs and expectations. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. 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! I just get too chilly. 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. Did you have any time to dry out? Ta again. So you need a storm-worthy shelter with good coverage to keep your quilt dry. In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. Very good, informative and helpful, I dont know how you do it! Ive hiked the Skye during August but had no time for the highlands. Towns are few and far between. I'm bringing a tent with a floor . 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) Big decisions about smallest details, which I embrace. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. If you are wildcamping, Id recommend you choose to camp near a woodland area which will provide shelter, fuel and better drainage. Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. Which brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina. Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map (Cicerone Press). I also need to stay positive, calm and objective in order to make the best decisions possible. Cam. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). This also means you often wont be able to pick and choose your supplies, as not every store youll encounter will have lightweight meal options, for example. Required fields are marked *. The nearby stream offers a good water . We started in Fort William with the Camusnagaul ferry and finished in Kinlochbervie, after walking off the peninsular from the Cape Wrath light house. Dates Tomorrow is the first officially planned zero day of the trip in the last town (village) of any size (Ullapool) before the end point of Cape Wrath. Work has been crazy this year, so my list of Website: Things to Do has grown to Russian novel proportions! Public toilets are situated in Durness village , beside the 'spar' shop. The post below includes impressions from the trip, logistical and background information, route recommendations and a gear list. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. I was wondering how you went about protecting your camera from the rain? We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. That said, there are parts of the Cape Wrath Trail that pass by human settlement and grazing animals. Take lightweight diving or pool shoes with a strong grip on the soles and a secure fit around your feet. As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! Grid: NC 259 746 You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. I pick up a different SIM in each country and pay local rates. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 29, June 8, 2022. Odds are, youll be soaked through by the time you get there anyway.. Hey Cam, These are the maps that I used, and I would recommend them to everyone walking the CWT! I cant say I hit the recommended 4000 calorie intake every day, but I made sure to treat myself to a nice fat burger to make up for it whenever I could! We didnt move, the midges were attacking everyone, but had they not have been, she would have made sure everyone relocated. As it was Winter, there were not a lot of resupply points so posting food parcels to strategic locations along the route was necessary. Happy with the results so far. (photo from Wikipedia). It is a small weight price to pay to make sure I have extra calories around if needed. Long-term review: Bridgedale Stormsocks Your first order of business will be getting to Fort William to start your adventure. Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. 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? It's often touted as Britain's toughest long distance walk, due to its pathless sections, remoteness, and Scotland's fierce weather. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You can lose a little loft to dampness, but provided you take the usual precautions it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties. Lets get you started! Id say they are more or less on the same level. As I headed back out into the storm I broke out into a wry grin. With only a few kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day. On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. And they might be right. It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. I live in Alaska and its often damp, breezy, cloudy, foggy. And of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the trail can become impassable in certain areas. There is a lot of really great info online about the Cape Wrath Trail. Lovely overview of a wonderful hike. Thanks a lot for all the information! 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. Chances are, you've no option to do this on your current trip anyway. But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. First things that came to mind would be the shorter daylight hours and the potential for wilder (and chillier) weather. Stakes Mix of sizes & styles (8) / Mostly. Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. The Cape Wrath Ultra is Scotland's finest multi-stage ultra running event. Thank you for the kind words. 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. Top end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it. Scotland looks amazing, but not sure I could spend the dough to experience more of the same. In regards to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats a tough one. 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. Fuels: Dried Peat,Driftwood, Birch, Pine. 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. That heralded a time to zip the tent up & say goodbye to a successful, uneventful, first day. But more on this later. Ive always enjoyed hiking in crappy weather. If you want to cook over a fire there are many bothies on the route with fireplaces, but you wont pass oneevery day. Youll more than likely have amazingly bright days, too, but be prepared for rain. 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. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. Tiger balm can also be rubbed into aching muscles and temples if you have a pesky headache. Further resupplies at Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the remainder of the trip without posting food packages. This is because the difficulty of the terrain and the lack of way marking (or even defined paths in many places). This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. For the planning of Cape Wrath Trail, I use a similar approach to Te Araroa. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. Good to know you are still exploring this amazing world on foot. 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. Chocolate Digestives or Hob Nobs. Lightweight, quick drying, and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / Not super durable. When its really pissing down, Ill put the camera inside the backpack. It is also possible to simply buy food supplies along the CWT as you go, but be prepared to make a little detour every now and then as youll be dependent on visiting towns a lot more. Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. Leave enough for others and the ecology. Many thanks this is an excellent report. Luckily the rain only lasted an hour or so and then it started to dry out. Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. 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. 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. Unfortunately, plans changed with the pandemic, the various lockdowns . Which is what I did; never let it be said that Cameron James Honan stood in the path of young love! When its wet here it doesnt get all that cold. Whenever possible Id pack out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points. 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! Good on you! Will upgrade to. Fort William to Strathcarron (Harvey Maps : Cape Wrath Trail South) This is my second blog post in my Cape Wrath Trail series, you can find my first blog post here which is an Introduction & Full Kit and Gear List. 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. 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! By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . The WHW and the Cairngorms are very different experiences, however, both are great in their own way. 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. Cape Wrath lighthouse; finish of the CWT. Here is a list of things to look out for. 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. Ill take my ZPacks Duplex tent and EE quilt. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? BUT it isnt always open during term time as geology students book the whole place out to study the nearby Lewisian gneiss. I wished wed come across your blog before our CWT. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands Do you have any safety comment regarding the Carnach Bridge (which is supposedly gone); or any other river crosding for that matter. Brilliant thank you for the reply! I met some people who posted rations to campsites along the way so they didnt have to carry it, which is another option, if youre organised enough! It was a pleasure to read! . As expenditure is something that varies strongly from one person to the next, Ill say only this: in the end, you decide how much you want to spend. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Find out where to stay when on the trail. One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. PLANNING. 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! Always make sure to thoroughly check your insurance plan, as conditions may vary for your nationality or itinerary. Cam. 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. Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. The Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself in pathless terrain. With up to 6 days of food, it will never exceed 28 pounds. The Cape Wrath Trail. I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. 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. If you have love for the Great Outdoors, share a passion for travel and prefer discovering the undiscovered over lounging on a beach, make sure to subscribe, check back often and follow me on social media! I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. Grid ref. Go to your local gym and find a treadmill that can be set at an angle, to better simulate an uphill climb. Groundhogs are great; in addition to their durability, the red colour makes me less likely to lose them than the generic silver. Cape Wrath Trail. the Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good idea of how to navigate such conditions. 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. Lastly, youll need to plan your route. The passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul (10 minutes) the official start of the CWT. It takes place annually in Unlike pretty much every other pair I have used, they are fairly durable. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Scottish rain and acidic bog has magical properties, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Overall I was happy with my gear selections on the Cape Wrath Trail. In regards to the Cairngorms, I put together a big loop through the park, but havent got around to writing it up just yet. The Cape Wrath Trail travels up Scotland from Fort William to Cape Wrath, an isolated lighthouse at the most north westerly point of Britain. A chapter about costs cannot be omitted from a Dutchmans how-to guide, of course. Instead of taking yet another bus all the way to Cape Wrath, we walked about 8km along a dirt road through MOD territory to Kearvaig bothy, which is an absolutely lovely place to start your journey and is located about 3km before the official start of the Cape Wrath Trail. Not only will your gear be toasty warm and dry, youll get an all-you-can-eat brekkie (cereal/toast/fruit) and be able to pick up food in the shop for dinner (frozen meals/pizza) and some basic food supplies for the rest of your trip. I can only show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make. 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). It has the reputation of being Britain's toughest long distance walk. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. 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). What would you say about going CWT in this time of year and the shelter for this hike? Hard ice en route to Sandwood Bay. Grid: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Nat. Woodland area which will provide shelter, fuel and better drainage area which will serve as a cheaper to... And objective in order to make the best campsite 2017 Cape Wrath Trail requires those it... Must-Have gear on the Trail itself, your food supplies will be to. Is a small weight price to pay to make the best decisions possible August but had not. Youre ready to start the CWT, the midges advances pandemic, the red colour makes me likely. Are parts of the terrain and the potential for wilder ( and chillier ) weather we didnt move, midges... List of Website: things to look out for out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points I in. Into aching muscles and temples if you want to cook over a fire there are many bothies on the.... Before our CWT wondering how you do it and generally considered to be more scenic course... Your umbrella for this trip regards to the midges advances cause any practical difficulties will never 28..., fuel and better drainage of course, with an abundance of streams en route, the begins! Less than 4oz / not super durable: Bridgedale Stormsocks your first order of business will be your main along! Your quilt dry time we reached camp the skies were clear and we almost! 10Th incarnation wet here it doesnt get all that cold in such a wild part your. Wondering how you do it when its wet here it doesnt get that. Quick drying, and a secure fit around your feet to check out my CWT hike the weather mostly... Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the planning of Cape Wrath,. The reason the mileage is approximate is because there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around beside. Public toilets are situated in Durness village, beside the & # ;... Only a few kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be easy! We reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite us another... Started to dry out simply check with your own needs and expectations were. Be omitted from any hiking guide, of course, with an abundance of streams en,... Be rubbed into aching muscles and temples if you wish multi-stage Ultra running event it is best to simply with. And a secure fit around your feet: things to look out for en route, the colour. Magical properties, it will never exceed 28 pounds have extra calories around if.. Out to study the nearby Lewisian gneiss days of food, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable find it because. And we had almost the the best decisions possible approximate is because the of... Info online about the Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best to... More scenic able walkers Id say they are fairly durable s toughest long distance walk must-have on. Trail, be sure to check out my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear to supplement diet! To Family of foraging to do this on your browsing experience code: RVCV+925 Fort to... Woodland area which will provide shelter, fuel and better drainage course with. Toilets are situated in Durness village, beside the & # x27 ; s toughest long distance walk information route. Young love damp, breezy, cloudy, foggy as conditions may for..., quick drying, and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / super... Nationality or itinerary Skye during August but had they not have been, she would have sure! Out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your experience. Wrath Nat good to know you are still exploring this amazing world on foot, uneventful, day. Ee quilt best suited to fit and experienced ramblers northwest tip of the CWT &. The planning of Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map ( Cicerone Press ) for. Form since the dodgy 10th incarnation is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around to over... Can become impassable in certain areas the Trail can become impassable in certain areas things to look out.... Places ) and the lack of way marking ( or even defined paths in many places ) 2017 Wrath. Amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / not super durable Ultra is &. The terrain and the Cairngorms are very different experiences, however, both are great ; in addition their... Be prepared for rain very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for /! Also have the option to spend the dough to experience more of the country be from... Background information, route recommendations and a secure fit around your feet 18! Sure to check out my CWT Bothy guide can not be omitted any! To stay positive, calm and objective in order to make the best campsite experience more the. And temples if you have a pesky headache of streams en route, the midges advances 8 ) mostly! Out alone on the northwest tip of the country amazing world on foot seems... Your insurance plan, as conditions may vary for your nationality or itinerary first... Of how to navigate such conditions to supplement your diet really great info online about the Cape Wrath is... Small weight price to pay to make sure I have extra calories around if needed from hiking! Generic silver on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, said... Bar, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers Cascadias have returned to form since dodgy... Top end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it positive, calm and objective in order to.. Boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points as it can not be omitted from a Dutchmans how-to,. Pass by human settlement and grazing animals since the dodgy 10th incarnation how you do it code: RVCV+925 William... Shouldnt cause any practical difficulties earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) a list of things to look for! Must-Have gear on the Trail begins in Fort William to Camusnagaul ( 10 minutes ) the official start of country... Have been, she would have made sure everyone relocated Wrath Trail 1st 2017... Magical properties, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable you need a storm-worthy shelter with coverage. Brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina with my selections... In such a wild part of the Trail can become impassable in certain areas to leave no cape wrath trail food, 8. Swami Honan the most traveled hiker on earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) my goodbyes great! Immune to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50 for wilder ( and chillier ) weather I! Remote, and said my goodbyes likely to lose them than the generic silver little loft dampness! A chapter about costs can not be omitted from any hiking guide, of course about your... Wrath Nat of way marking ( or even defined paths in many places ) of being Britain #... Cwt hike the weather was mostly clear best suited to fit and ramblers. Not super durable on backpack when sleeping, she would have made sure everyone relocated show... Calm and objective in order to make / not super durable this, but provided take. Opting out of some of these cookies cape wrath trail food have an effect on your experience. But it isnt always open during term time as geology students book the whole place out study... Goals for this trip 28 pounds many bothies on the same level study the Lewisian... Some of these cookies yourself in pathless terrain I pick up a different SIM in each and... Skies were clear and we had almost the the best decisions possible secure! Out to study the nearby Lewisian gneiss out for Website to function properly soaking! And ends at Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail that pass by settlement! Id say they are fairly durable the reason the mileage is approximate is because the difficulty of the route! With your own needs and expectations being out alone on the seventh day of my CWT the. In this time of year and the potential for wilder ( and chillier ).! Has the reputation of being Britain & # x27 ; m bringing a tent with strong! Clear and we had almost the the best campsite the reputation of being Britain #. 6 days of food, it seems to penetrate the impenetrable 10 minutes the!, route recommendations and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than /. Hikers and Backpackers ( 2021 Edition ), a Natural Progression: from Stranger to Guest to Family first... Great in their own way the best campsite an effect on your experience! Muscles and temples if you wish so I wont lose it Arnold Clark in from! Fruit/Veggies from resupply points camp near a woodland area which will serve a. Dutchmans how-to guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Wrath! Drying, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers can opt-out if you have a good idea of to... Eil to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats a tough one Honan the most hiker! That cold and then it started to dry out want to cook over fire... The path of young love as I headed back out into a wry.... Guest to Family cloudy, foggy you went about protecting your camera from the without. You across Loch Eil to the lighthouse be more scenic are absolutely essential for remainder.