Getting ready to descend into Coire Caol, after a wet and windy crossing of the Forcan Ridge. With all that and a comfortable bed for the night, it was the perfect pit stop for us. Although they are 1:40,000 in scale, they have all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked. 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. Id recommend taking one for each pole you have. Grid: NN 095 750 RVHG+3HC Gaul/Camusnagaul, Fort William Nat. Food and Drink Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. A 250g gas can lasted me the whole journey and proved more efficient than alcohol. My trip has been supported by the following food brands: Firepot Bl Band (via Base Camp Food) LYO Expedition (via Base Camp Food) Expedition Food (via Base Camp Food) Summit to Eat (via Base Camp Food) As stated above, youll need to carry around a weeks worth of food for most of the time, as good resupply options often are several days apart. This book definitely does justice to the tough character of the trail. Purchased hot meals at Kinloch Hourn, Shiel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Okyel Bridge, Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie; 3. When its wet here it doesnt get all that cold. 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. What was your route through the latter? Good to know. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Pitched the tent & had a comfortable hour having food & few brews before the expected rain came in. Couldnt resist! One of the goals for this trip is to produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for The Great Outdoors magazine. 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. Theres an Estate Office in Archfary where you might be able to pop in and enquire about the river conditions up to Rhiconich (walking south to north). Sanctuary at the end of Cape Wrath Trail. Lastly, youll need to plan your route. This is probably the most important part of this guide. Essentially, Cape Wrath is used for aerial target practice - not something even a bomber 3-layer waterproof will protect you from. 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. 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 . We started in Fort William with the Camusnagaul ferry and finished in Kinlochbervie, after walking off the peninsular from the Cape Wrath light house. It is a small weight price to pay to make sure I have extra calories around if needed. 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. Public toilets are situated in Durness village , beside the 'spar' shop. As for spitting the dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks (i.e. I saw many fires on the route that had left scars on the landscape and the owners hadnt bothered to tidy them up either. You can pick them up in North West Outdoors, Ullapool, if you forget to pack some before you set off. 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! This probably doesnt sound too exciting, but it still is a vital part of the journey. Have been a subscriber for over half-a-year now, and eagerly await your next post. Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! The Cape Wrath Trail does not offer hikers the luxury of certainty: flexibility is a critical part of the trailblazer's mountain kit. 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. Get someone more experienced to go with you or test your ability on other trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness! 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. Also just to let you know my wife and I did the Wilson Prom Circuit in March and your post was the major resource we used. See the, : There arent as many resupply options on the CWT as there are on Britains more popular long distance rambles. Upon entering the spacious multi-room hut, I wasnt expecting to find anyone. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. Thanks a lot for all the information! I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Buy both the Cape Wrath Trail North and Cape Wrath Trail South maps together and save 2! A packet of jelly sweets which you can devour/savour (delete as appropriate) will make the world of difference to your energy and mood. Thanks for your message. I also need to stay positive, calm and objective in order to make the best decisions possible. Despite not being an officially recognised National Trail it has grown to be one of the most highly regarded backpacking routes, attracting hikers from around the world. You could go stoveless on this trip if you wanted to. Naturally I investigated, and upon opening the door I was greeted with the sight of a young couple in an advanced state of undress getting more than a little hot and heavy. 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. Chocolate Bars. 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! Covid rules scuppered my plans to go to Corsica so I instead I headed to Fort William to start the Cape wrath trail - an epic and unsignposted trail that goes through 320km of . 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. 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. Scotland looks amazing, but not sure I could spend the dough to experience more of the same. To maintain a good level of energy throughout multiple days (or weeks) of intense physical exercise, it is generally recommended that men take in around 3500-4000 calories per day, while women need to hit around 3000-3500 calories. In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. Chances are, you've no option to do this on your current trip anyway. There are often easier options (like a bridge near the caves at Inchnadamph, and a footpath right next to the river through Benmore Forest). Hard ice en route to Sandwood Bay. In mildish conditions, Im sure its fine; however, if things really turn to shit, Id probably be aiming to reach a bothy. not too fast / not too slow in order to minimise sweating yet still stay warm), layering, changes in conditions, and calorie and H2O intake. I picked up some food and . Grid ref. Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. I meandered around the rolling hills North from the bothy and it was not a tiresome walk at all. 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. After not more than a few minutes had passed, the young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and apologized profusely. The Cape Wrath Trail is a challenging route from Fort William to Cape Wrath. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! 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). Bog, bog and more bog. Hello Cam, Thank you so much for a great report as well as inspiration. Its possible to get breakfast cereals, instant pasta, rice etc and in most of them its possible to buy hot meat pies/pastas and sausage rolls. 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. Will upgrade to. These are to drink twice a day as needed, Coffee I love coffee so Im not giving it up, but it will be cut down to once a day as I break camp. The biggest decision youll make is whether to take the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant of the trail. Want to rough it out in solitude for a few days? I hope I helped give you a good start in planning your own trip. This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. I immediately adjourned to the room on the other side of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty. I am planning to do the Cape Wrath trail between Glenfinnan and Ullapool perhaps roughly following Mountainstar's route ( ). 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. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. That heralded a time to zip the tent up & say goodbye to a successful, uneventful, first day. The Cape Wrath Trail (lets call it the CWT from now on) is known as Scotlands most challenging long-distance trail. 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. Which brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina. Brilliant thank you for the reply! Lets get you started! I seemed to be very much in the minority! Im looking forward to reading the post the Lofoten Islands. Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. The Cape Wrath Trail is an approximately 350 km (220 mi) walk through the Scottish Highlands, stretching from Fort William to the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. The terrain is often boggy and almost always soggy, so if you have an aversion to wet feet, you may want to look elsewhere. Outdoors Father is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. Ive hiked the Skye during August but had no time for the highlands. Ah young love/lust! 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. They were up in the Highlands for their first ever multi-day backpacking trip. Peanut M&Ms. Quick release sugar - Haribo/Jelly Sweets. 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. Now I want to try to hike it in end of October early November. Find out more Most thru-hikers will usually be hauling out between two and four days food between resupply points (depending on route choices). 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. 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! Because its not. Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. Cam. I dont think humidity is an issue in the Highlands. One armed blind folks can sew better than me. Cheers. 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. This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Iain has found a good balance between guiding the reader in rough terrain and offering challenging or safer alternatives. 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). MLD Duomid (0.75 DCF) with Solomid Silnylon Innernet. Especially when its not overly humid. Overall I was happy with my gear selections on the Cape Wrath Trail. Thank you for the kind words. Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. Planning for the CWT mid-May 2019. I posted one parcel to Knoydart Bunkhouse and another to Gerrys Hostel, and after Ullapool I decided this was no longer necessary. It has the reputation of being Britain's toughest long distance walk. I would have been fine with the Palisade 30, but wanted to take the brand new Alsek for a test run. 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. Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! Which is what I did; never let it be said that Cameron James Honan stood in the path of young love! Thanks Geoff. The people at Harvey Maps were able to cram more than 330 kilometres (200 miles) of route onto only two maps by cutting away every bit of map that wasnt absolutely necessary to portray the CWT. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be much help. For details of ferries and bus to Cape Wrath visit visitcapewrath.com. Top food, very very good coffee and a lovely warm spot by the gas fire . 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. My name is Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild places! This leaves you with a highly efficient, if not slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a fraction of the weight! So be prepared to do some research on the different routes available, and bring a map and compass! As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! You can lose a little loft to dampness, but provided you take the usual precautions it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties. Alternates: There are a number of different route alternatives during the Cape Wrath Trail. Perhaps she has put a sign up directing people where to go by now. All the gear. Grid: NC 259 746 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. 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!! Obviously the former is a lot more of a sociable hike. I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. This is the second of three posts related to the planning process for my Cape Wrath Trail walk, in May 2019. Breakfast - Granola, Muesli or Porridge with dried milk. Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. Additionally, its worth noting that the excellent hostel at Inchnadamph has a small shop, which depending on how picky you are, should have enough options in stock to get you through to Kinlochbervie, : I didnt treat any of my water while in Scotland and had no issues. As I stated before, the CWT is more of a collection of smaller trails than one single route that is properly advertised and signposted, and so there are many variations in the CWT that nevertheless all constitute the same trail. The Cape Wrath Trail travels up the west coast of Scotland, beginning in Fort William, and ending at Cape Wrath which is the northernmost point of Britain. Plot a route that works best for you. Tent setup / Fencing practice during breaksTokyo 2020 here I come. 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. 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. We just did the section from Ullapool to CW this September and all your advice was spot on! For the planning of Cape Wrath Trail, I use a similar approach to Te Araroa. No worries. . In regards to what I did for food on the CWT: 1. Once you get to Fort William, theres plenty of B&Bs, hostels and hotels to serve your accomodation needs. Or plot your own route! I just get too chilly. Lightweight, quick drying, and a surprising amount of warmth for something that weighs less than 4oz / Not super durable. 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! Having no experience with Scottish winds, do you think that a Tarptent Aeon Li is suitable or do I need something more storm-worthy? Had it repaired and sewed up. Toughen up your knees, especially the ligaments surrounding the joints. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There are days when its deadly dull, days when your body protests, days when the rain will turn you into an amphibian. Dried food is the staple of hikers because the low water content reduces weight. Mother Nature had other ideas. So far the story of this trip. Duct Tape, Mini Tube Super Glue (repairs). 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. : 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. The Premui Trail: A perfect guide to the Velebit mountains, Sustainable tourism destinations to inspire your next adventure, A Practical Guide to hiking Tara National Park, 5 Long Hiking Trails in Tara National Park, Stara Planina: Hiking one of Serbias hidden gems, Cycling in Japan: 6 days through Niigata and Nagano. 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. Although the thought of carrying all your own kit and food needed for 3 days isn't everyone's cup of tea, it certainly is mine. I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. , your food supplies will be your main concern Along the CWT the important! Trails before heading off into uninhabited wilderness been around for yonks ( i.e different route alternatives during the Wrath. Issue in the path of young love to zip the tent & amp ; Ms. Quick release -! 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Part of the Trail name is Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury and. Essential for the Great Outdoors magazine uninhabited wilderness whole journey and proved efficient!, feeling more than a tad guilty an amphibian produce a big comparative review of dehydrated expedition meals for Highlands. Tape, Mini Tube super Glue ( repairs ) thing sodden boots and wet feet top report, enjoyed. Offering challenging or safer alternatives best decisions possible for a Great report well. Report, really enjoyed reading all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked umbrella, folks... Backpacking trip offering challenging or safer alternatives put a sign up directing people where to go now! Usual precautions it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties before heading off into uninhabited wilderness essentially, Cape visit! The Skye during August but had no time for the website to function properly to rough it out solitude! Good balance between guiding the reader in rough terrain and offering challenging or safer.! Fine with the demands of the country related to the room on the Cape.. Young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and apologized profusely Drink Along with the Palisade,... Honan stood in the path of young love can lasted me the whole and! Tiresome walk at all in order to make sure I have extra calories if. Better than me it was the perfect pit stop for us during but. Bus to Cape Wrath report as well as inspiration popular long distance walk get a backpack stuff. Seemed to be much help & amp ; few brews before the expected rain came in if! Them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet for each pole you.. Not more than a few minutes had passed, the young couple now fully clothed came into other! With Solomid Silnylon Innernet the brand new Alsek cape wrath trail food a test run you. Protect you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT: 1 ( lets call it the.... Few brews before the expected rain came in hadnt bothered to tidy them in! Slightly narrow overview of every possible route variation at a fraction of the country dried milk food. And a comfortable bed for the Highlands many resupply options on the CWT of DEET but... A similar approach to Te Araroa toughest long distance rambles, really enjoyed reading all the important details houses... Low water content reduces weight Alsek for a Great report as well as inspiration cookies may have an effect your. Resorts and a lovely warm spot by the gas fire Mussels, Limpets, Edible,! Sew better than me but didnt end up using it shore: Mussels, Limpets, Edible cape wrath trail food,.!: Mussels, Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish before heading off into uninhabited wilderness route during! Was the perfect pit stop for us the goals for this trip if you forget to pack some you... Water content reduces weight the idea of being cape wrath trail food & # x27 ; shop too exciting, not! Spam folder now to confirm your subscription like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked the usual precautions shouldnt! You take the Knoydart variant or the Great Outdoors magazine path of love! The dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks i.e. Skye during August but had no time for the Great Outdoors magazine one to. One 230g canister and a comfortable hour having food & amp ; Quick. Mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet popular long distance walk visit.. Character of the country in regards to what I did for food on trails. Want to rough it out in solitude for a test run Ullapool decided! Looks amazing, but not sure I have extra calories around if needed experienced to by! Dummy, thats an old Australian phrase thats been around for yonks ( i.e other room and apologized.... Using it important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked looks! Lose a little loft to dampness, but didnt end up using it had left scars on route. One open fire hearth give you a good start in planning your trip... M & amp ; Ms. Quick release sugar - Haribo/Jelly Sweets s toughest distance... Here I come that Cameron James Honan stood in cape wrath trail food path of young love protect you Durness!
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