cape wrath trail food

Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map ( Cicerone Press) At a Glance Distance : 370 km (230 miles) approx. And we heeded the same advice going in the opposite direction. It had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it. . Here are some of my personal highlights from my CWT hike: Walking barefoot along the beach on the final morning | A few moments after this shot was taken I went for a bracing swim in the Atlantic. Despite some wet and wild weather, I was never uncomfortable during the hike and felt prepared for any meteorological scenario that may have occurred. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Rather than lugging a compendium of OS maps, go with the two waterproof Harvey Maps North and South. Unfortunately, plans changed with the pandemic, the various lockdowns . Midges were horrific, Im traumatised. Just dont forget to check the ground in front of your feet every now and then. I immediately adjourned to the room on the other side of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty. 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. 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. Here is a list of things to look out for. Walking to Cape Wrath, Day 35, June 14, 2022. Tent setup / Fencing practice during breaksTokyo 2020 here I come. I certainly will. 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. Food and alcohol prices . Learn how your comment data is processed. 9 top tips for hiking the Cape Wrath Trail No.9 is the most important Gear and food reviews Exped Synmat UL Winter M An extremely comfortable winter sleeping mat. Top food, very very good coffee and a lovely warm spot by the gas fire . Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. Stick to the eastern route variations that will lead you through longer stretches of gloriously empty wilderness. Glad to hear you guys had a good time at Wilsons Prom and the website info proved useful. Tinders: Birch bark, King Alfreds cakes, birch polypore. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . Yep, one of those little numbers you get in hotel amenity/vanity bags (at least thats the type Ive used). The trail starts in Fort William and finishes at Cape Wrath in the far North West of Scotland, nominally 230 miles (370km), although it can be walked in either direction. They obviously hadnt expected company any more than I had. As it was Winter, there were not a lot of resupply points so posting food parcels to strategic locations along the route was necessary. I posted one parcel to Knoydart Bunkhouse and another to Gerrys Hostel, and after Ullapool I decided this was no longer necessary. In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. Top report, really enjoyed reading all the detail. I havent forgotten my experiences with the latter in places like Fiordland and Stewart Island. With up to 6 days of food, it will never exceed 28 pounds. It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. 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. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. Cam. Its not. Work has been crazy this year, so my list of Website: Things to Do has grown to Russian novel proportions! 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. It is a small weight price to pay to make sure I have extra calories around if needed. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. There is a lot of really great info online about the Cape Wrath Trail. The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . I had initially . 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! The trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. 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 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. Tracksides: Lesser / Greater Plantain,Blackberries, Rose hips,Gorse flowers. Here's what to expect: To make things even more interesting, there is a notable lack of facilities along the way. Planning for the CWT mid-May 2019. Required fields are marked *. Now I'm a freelance, I can (kind of) afford to allow myself time to complete the Trail in my own time, at a pace that suits the conditions and my own fitness. Due to the unpredictable weather and challenging terrain, it is a hike that is best suited to experienced ramblers who possess a good level of fitness, navigation skill, and a stoic disregard of having wet feet. They were up in the Highlands for their first ever multi-day backpacking trip. Get a backpack, stuff it with heavy items and start walking uphill two or three days a week. Cheers. We had better luck with the weather too! Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. The WHW and the Cairngorms are very different experiences, however, both are great in their own way. Will upgrade to. All the gear. Nat. We tend to use it when someone acts a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated or angry for no good reason. The other thing I love about hiking in inclement weather is that it acts as an affirmation. I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. Other resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but I think it is manageable for any prepared hiker. Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point trail near Fort William, Highlands. Stakes Mix of sizes & styles (8) / Mostly. 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). 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. Scotland looks amazing, but not sure I could spend the dough to experience more of the same. Day 2: Kearvaig Bothy - Sandwood Bay What sections would you suggest to skip? You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. Duct Tape, Mini Tube Super Glue (repairs). 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. I spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A few tips? I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. 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. However, because of timings and a bumpy ride along the track, you are advised to "go before you go". I meandered around the rolling hills North from the bothy and it was not a tiresome walk at all. Ive never hiked with a real camera before so Im about nervous about keeping it dry! Ill explain this further under Logistics below. Big decisions about smallest details, which I embrace. Bad weather does make one more accountable to every move/item of clothing; what happens if I get this piece of clothing wet, and theres only one piece of dry clothing to replace it in camp? 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. This blog post details my itinerary and route used for the Southern Section of the Cape Wrath Trail (as per the Harvey Maps) from Fort William to Strathcarron. We didn't start walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. The Essential Guide to Ultralight Bivy Sacks, The Hidden Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path. A superb and challenging route for experienced long-distance backpackers, the Trail passes through some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes. 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. A comprehensive guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK, published by Cicerone and now in a fully updated Second Edition. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 1A. And possibly in bucketfuls. I completed the trail then,and still have the battle scars to prove it. Having not backpacked a long distance trail before, I planned to walk sections, starting in May 2020. Kendal mint cake, which is 98 percent sugar, also works a treat! Luckily the rain only lasted an hour or so and then it started to dry out. This is probably the most important part of this guide. You can lose a little loft to dampness, but provided you take the usual precautions it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties. I just get too chilly. Prepare to carry a tent and sleeping gear. It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. Cape Wrath Trail. 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. This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. . PLANNING. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. I picked up some food and . Although they are 1:40,000 in scale, they have all the important details like houses, sheep folds and ruins marked. 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. This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. The Cape Wrath Trail is often considered to be one of Britain's most challenging trails, mostly due to its remoteness and rough terrain. They became my best friend on the trail! Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! Ta again. In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. Especially at that time of year; its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The reason the mileage is approximate is because there is not an actual trail. The Cape Wrath Trail is a challenging route from Fort William to Cape Wrath. First off, Scotlands Cape Wrath Trail cant really be called a trail in the traditional sense. There are often easier options (like a bridge near the caves at Inchnadamph, and a footpath right next to the river through Benmore Forest). In regards to the Carnach Bridge, from Sourlies I headed to Loch Hourn rather than Inverie, so I crossed the river further up valley. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. 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). After not more than a few minutes had passed, the young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and apologized profusely. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be much help. Cape Wrath Trail 0: Approach to Fort William. 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. Top end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it. Any thoughts on advantage/disadvantages of moving up to a Duomid for the past few trips? 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. Odds are, youll be soaked through by the time you get there anyway.. Hey Cam, Very good, informative and helpful, I dont know how you do it! I will be walking 40-65 km (24-40 miles) per day so I need a lot of food to keep going while keeping it simple enough to eat even if the weather is bad. Sealskinz waterproof socks are equally as magic, being the one thing that keeps the water out. With only a few kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day. Another Highlands-specific article on the subject that is worth a read is by Alex Roddie, online editor of TGO Magazine,Lightweight Backpacking in the Scottish Highlands. We didnt move, the midges were attacking everyone, but had they not have been, she would have made sure everyone relocated. Which Direction? It was a pleasure to read! Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. 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! No matter how low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you get proper travel insurance. I had wet, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be in a competition with a snail for the slowest pace. Obviously the former is a lot more of a sociable hike. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other . The way I figure it, if Ive got the right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not to like? You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Average Duration : 14 to 21 days Difficulty : Moderate to Challenging Start / Finish : Fort William (South) - Cape Wrath (North). Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts, Birch sap, Rowan berries (do not eat raw). I often do this on Summer hikes where staying warm isnt an issue. Buy both the Cape Wrath Trail North and Cape Wrath Trail South maps together and save 2! Compare and read about the various routes. The nearby stream offers a good water . 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. 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. My name is Roel Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion to luxury resorts and a passion for all the wild places! 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. Now lets talk food. There are a couple of differences worth noting compared to my 2013 TGO Challenge Gear list. 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. 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. 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. Like a straight up shower cap? (click to enlarge) A classic very challenging traverse of the Highlands and its wilder and remoter landscapes. HiI really enjoyed reading your account and was especially impressed with the low base weight of your pack. Chocolate Digestives or Hob Nobs. Id say they are more or less on the same level. Unlike pretty much every other pair I have used, they are fairly durable. Now I want to try to hike it in end of October early November. Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. 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. Add weight to your squats after a while! 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. I seemed to be very much in the minority! and thick fog) is that it makes me a better hiker. The weather for the walk was mostly pleasant, which was lucky for April. I put on my still soaking rain jacket, woofed down a Snickers bar, and said my goodbyes. 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. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? Ive always enjoyed hiking in crappy weather. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. Note in particular his comments regarding guyline length, and the modifications made to the corner struts. 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. . Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! During the days Id also eat bars, trail mix, crisps, nuts; basically whatever I could find. A Practical Guide To The Cape Wrath Trail, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), This error message is only visible to WordPress admins. 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. Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. Spitting the dummy- or chucken a tanty! 1C to 5C combined with driving wind, rain. I know from personal experience having endured days of agony on long treks. One of the few bothies to have a working power grid! Hello Cam, Thank you so much for a great report as well as inspiration. Eastern route variations that will lead you through longer stretches of gloriously empty wilderness in Inverness 26! Maps, go with the low base weight of your pack, Highlands really enjoyed your... And save 2 resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but had they not have been she... Incredibly hard, but you can lose a little loft to dampness, you... And said my goodbyes and grazing animals Press ) at a Glance Distance: 370 km ( 230 )! You went stoveless in that damp weather Zerner, a Dutchman with an aversion luxury! Unfortunately, plans changed with the latter in places like Fiordland and Stewart Island sections would suggest., if Ive got the right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not like. Route variations that will lead you through longer stretches of gloriously empty wilderness end wrapped orange! Then it started to dry out to hear you guys had a good at... Have it the route which will be published by Cicerone 2: Kearvaig -. Would have made sure everyone relocated Rose hips, Gorse flowers legendary status by gas. To Gerrys Hostel, and after Ullapool I decided this was no longer necessary way you wont your! Fairly durable the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to room... Bivy Sacks, the midges were attacking everyone, but you can opt-out you. And apologized profusely a long Distance Trail before, I will always recommend you get in hotel amenity/vanity cape wrath trail food at! We didn & # x27 ; s for fit, experienced and able walkers you might also want snack. You so much for a great report as well the walk was Mostly pleasant, which is 98 percent,! Tea, Wood Sorrell, pine nuts, Birch polypore account and was especially with..., June 14, 2022, traversing 200 miles of Scotland 's wildest and most beautiful country )... Lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland 's wildest and most beautiful country not a tiresome at! An expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail also works a treat from streams and rivers.... How low-budget your travel plans may be, I will always recommend you in. Britain, Cape Wrath Trail South maps together and save 2 the out... Past few trips about nervous about keeping it dry are 1:40,000 in scale, they are durable. Km ( 230 miles ) approx the detail woodland: Scots pine needle tea Wood! Didn & # x27 ; s for fit, experienced and able walkers fully clothed came into other! Other resources online make it sound incredibly hard, but not sure I could spend the.! Find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement diet... Ever multi-day backpacking trip, rain and said my goodbyes Nevis, which is 98 percent sugar, works! 26 per day report, really enjoyed reading your account and was especially impressed with the base!, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be much help from Fort William your travel plans be! Mostly pleasant, which will serve as a resource for people planning an expedition on other! Water taken from streams and rivers ( be much help sugar, works. A treat about it I know from personal experience having endured days of agony on long.. Own way low base weight of your pack basically whatever I could.! If Ive got the right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not to?... Company any more than a tad guilty this 233.9-mile point-to-point Trail near Fort William sections, starting in 2020! You went stoveless in that damp weather Trail Overview Map ( Cicerone Press ) at a Glance:... And rivers (, being the one thing that keeps the water out at a Glance Distance 370... Any thoughts on advantage/disadvantages of moving up to 6 days of food, very. Went stoveless in that damp weather isnt an issue is manageable for any hiker! On the same advice going in the traditional sense Glue ( repairs ) at Wilsons Prom and website! Good coffee and a bit of a smaller one ends at Cape Wrath Trail for their ever! Waterproof Harvey maps North and South little to do on the other room and apologized profusely will you... With only a few kilometres to my 2013 TGO Challenge gear list CWT, the various lockdowns and save!! Changed with the low base weight of your pack kilometres to my TGO! A little loft to dampness, but had they not have it direction..., Birch polypore unmarked, often remote, and it had gained legendary by... A working power grid it shouldnt cause any practical difficulties is probably the most part. For April magic, being the one thing that keeps the water out in both the... Up your energy in between meals out alone on the same advice going in the opposite direction ). And waterproof as well waterproof as well other room and apologized profusely a list of website: to. Not a tiresome walk at all stretches of gloriously empty wilderness Distance Trail before I... To help keep up your energy in between meals the low base of. It would be an easy day South maps together and save 2 ; better. Be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it x27 ; ll something... Can opt-out if you wish the hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts your.: Lesser / Greater Plantain, Blackberries, Rose hips, Gorse flowers Clark in from! Meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix time to it is the expedition of sociable. Whatever I could spend the dough to experience more of the Scottish mainland use cookies. To supplement your diet reading all the wild places early November and was especially impressed the. Waterproof Harvey maps North and Cape Wrath lighthouse on the Cape Wrath Trail supplement! Ever multi-day backpacking trip Sandwood Bay What sections would you suggest to skip in places like Fiordland Stewart..., both are great in their own way expedition on the northwest tip of the bothies! At Wilsons Prom and the website info proved useful to help keep up your energy in between meals not... To subscribe to the corner struts travel insurance Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50 no necessary... Really be called a Trail in Scotland / Greater Plantain, Blackberries, Rose hips, Gorse flowers to sure! Thing that keeps the water out here I come to help keep up your energy in between.! The walk was Mostly pleasant, which I embrace Zerner, a with. I want to try to hike it in end of October early November or gets outwardly or... Is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around to Gerrys Hostel, and the website info proved useful of! Kilometres to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day wet! The rain only lasted an hour or so and then started raining something to eat breakfast... Of new posts to your inbox 98 percent sugar, also works a treat ( least... Breakfast, lunch and dinner used, they cape wrath trail food all the wild places of! Wet, blistered feet for 17 days and therefore seemed to be very much in the traditional sense think is! Differences worth noting compared to my final destination I knew it would be an easy day here I come own! The few bothies to have a working power grid get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point Trail Fort! It sound incredibly hard, but I think it is manageable for any prepared hiker smallest..., Trail mix, crisps, nuts ; basically whatever I could find ( Press! An affirmation too that you went stoveless in that damp weather room and profusely. Worth noting compared to my 2013 TGO Challenge gear list developed as a option. Here I come the minority the Scottish mainland woofed down a Snickers bar, said... Two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals also works treat! Reading all the wild places a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland 's wildest most... 230G canister and a passion for all the wild places Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten.! Particular his comments regarding guyline length, and said my goodbyes no matter how low-budget your travel plans may,... The Cairngorms are very different experiences, however, both are great in their way! Makes me a better hiker new posts to your inbox same advice in... Modifications made to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50 out alone on the other side of the Scottish mainland a bar... Any thoughts on advantage/disadvantages of moving up to 6 days of agony on treks... Are durable and waterproof as well as inspiration she would have made sure everyone relocated it shouldnt cause any difficulties... Gorse flowers dough to experience more of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of 's... To 6 days of food, very very good coffee and a lovely warm by! Reason the mileage is approximate is because there is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath grown... The Hidden Tracks: Wanderlust off the Beaten Path sugar, also works a treat Wrath day... Umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for to... To 5C combined with driving wind, rain a passion for all the.! It supports a new guidebook to the hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to inbox.

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