cape wrath trail food

In order to stay safe and semi-comfortable in such weather, I need to be completely focused in regards to navigation, pace (i.e. With just a couple of exceptions, all of the bothies I visited on the CWT I had had to myself. Big decisions about smallest details, which I embrace. For those of you planning on starting the CWT at Cape Wrath, I recommend you take a train to Inverness (around 45 from Edinburgh) and book a bus to Durness from there. Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point trail near Fort William, Highlands. Looking back at Sandwood bay on route to Cape Wrath | Final morning. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Noticed you in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the little feckers? We didn't start walking until almost 2pm, and it had started raining. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. 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. Cam. Buy on Amazon More on the book The route While not the most storm-worthy shelter in the Tarptent stable, I think the Aeon Li should suffice for the Cape Wrath Trail. A few tips? Thank you for the kind words. Good on you! 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Along with the demands of the trail itself, your food supplies will be your main concern along the CWT. Obviously, the more foodyou take with you the more calories you will burn to carry it, so planning food is about striking a balance betweencalories burnt versusconsumed, while also meeting your nutritional needs. Theres nothing better than fresh mountain water and theres certainly no shortage of it. Glad to hear you guys had a good time at Wilsons Prom and the website info proved useful. So you need a storm-worthy shelter with good coverage to keep your quilt dry. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It connects with the West Highland Way, North Highland Way and part of an alternative route suggested by Cameron McNeish which follows the Great Glen Way out of Fort William before joining the main route in Glen Shiel. 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. When I stopped walking and the midges were swarming, Id quickly put on my rain pants, which together with the long sleeve shirt, cap and head net, kept me pretty well covered. Ultimately, it might depend somewhat on transport/accessibility options from the various trailheads. I can only show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make. After not more than a few minutes had passed, the young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and apologized profusely. The way I figure it, if Ive got the right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not to like? The cicerone end to end route from Fort William appears to cross a number of deer fences and I was hoping the CWT route avoided them. I pick up a different SIM in each country and pay local rates. 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!! A superb and challenging route for experienced long-distance backpackers, the Trail passes through some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes. But a gorgeous landscape! A few hours later a shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn. Tiger balm can also be rubbed into aching muscles and temples if you have a pesky headache. donkeys years). But please take care to dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace. Corryhully Bothy on a gloomy morning. In regards to the Midge VS Sandfly question thats a tough one. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . Green tents, on the other hand, are not immune to the midges advances. Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. Whenever possible Id pack out boiled eggs and fruit/veggies from resupply points. Smother them in white tiger balm and hey presto, youll have some relief from scratching like a flea-ridden dog. It is around 320km (200 miles) long and passes through some of Scotland's wildest and most spectacular scenery. Still my favourite Merino liners after more than a decade / Cheaper and more durable than the big sock companies. 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. Phone in advance if possible. It supports a new guidebook to the route which will be published by Cicerone. The ferry runs four times a day and from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. Bog, bog and more bog. It was a pleasure to read! As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! 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. The plan was to camp a little shy of Okyel Bridge and then head to its namesake hotel the following morning for a big breakfast. Great, lets keep going. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. Like a straight up shower cap? Sign up for occasional email updates with news and updates from the trail. This looks amazing! Going from north to south and sticking to the west path, youll have no refills from Fort William to Shiel Bridge except for a little cafe at Glenfinnan open 9.30am to 5pm July and Aug and 10am to 5pm other months, where you can buy scones, cake, Snickers and overpriced sandwiches. I sent supply parcels to Fort William, Shiel Bridge and Ullapool with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date. Further resupplies at Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the remainder of the trip without posting food packages. Food storage bag of choice for hundreds of nights / Seals usually start to go after about six weeks of regular use. (photo from Wikipedia). Another option is to walk the epic Cape Wrath Trail. This post is going to look at kit, not so much the kit I plan to use, but at the Kit List spreadsheet I have developed that allows me to . Sealskinz waterproof socks are equally as magic, being the one thing that keeps the water out. Grid ref. The Cape Wrath Trail. The downside, of course, is that mist means drizzle or rain up here. Which brings us to another important part of your preparation: stamina. The passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul (10 minutes) the official start of the CWT. Ive always enjoyed hiking in crappy weather. Go digital! 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. Going South to North, itll be from Shiel Bridgeto Fort William. 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. and thick fog) is that it makes me a better hiker. Getting ready to descend into Coire Caol, after a wet and windy crossing of the Forcan Ridge. A heavy late afternoon storm came rumbling through, and after being buffeted by driving rain for almost an hour with no end in sight, it was an easy decision to call it a day at the remote Knockdamph Bothy, situated at the eastern end of Loch an Daimh. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some of the very basics you'll need while out on the Cape Wrath Trail. I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. Wet cold is always more challenging, and windy to boot. My concern is getting a 40kg German Shepherd over them. If you dont have the appropriate kit they can be maddening. Some things, however, definitely took us by surprise. View topic - Cape Wrath Trail Food Walkhighlands Stick to the eastern route variations that will lead you through longer stretches of gloriously empty wilderness. We sensibly did the route to Inchnadamph instead. 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. Do you need to make more supply runs? They became my best friend on the trail! Had it repaired and sewed up. I quickly shut the door, muttering three or four rapid-fire sorries as I did so. Interesting too that you went stoveless in that damp weather. Ta again. That was all I had (no GPS) and I was fine. Which Direction? Now lets talk food. Just dont forget to check the ground in front of your feet every now and then. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this trip? The world-renowned trails of the Scottish Highlands, with their picturesque vistas, are quite breath-taking. I seemed to be very much in the minority! You could print out your own maps, or have them custom made at Britains Ordnance Survey. Do you have any safety comment regarding the Carnach Bridge (which is supposedly gone); or any other river crosding for that matter. Pack for worst-case scenario conditions. (Or maybe my feet had just had enough.). Do you only make money when someone clicks on an equipment link in your posts? Lets get you started! I took mainly dried, long-life food with me on the Cape Wrath Trail. Well done on completing the CWT. The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. Youve been warned. 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. For the sake of simplicity and the limited . 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. Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy. As always, Im always available for any questions you might still have! 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.) Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). Peat and forest fires can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates. Good photos & Video / Have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas. Note in particular his comments regarding guyline length, and the modifications made to the corner struts. Grid: NC 259 746 I had initially . With the constant humidity, you didnt find it affecting your quilt? Kindlings:Dead bracken, Dead heather, Birch twigs, Feather sticks. They were up in the Highlands for their first ever multi-day backpacking trip. 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. It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. It is a small weight price to pay to make sure I have extra calories around if needed. Purchased hot meals at Kinloch Hourn, Shiel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Okyel Bridge, Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie; 3. Pitched the tent & had a comfortable hour having food & few brews before the expected rain came in. The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . I met my calorie requirements by posting food parcels and supplemented this with food fromcafes, shops andforaging. Use hostels, hotels or campsites instead, and be sure to stay a night or two and give them your business! As it was Winter, there were not a lot of resupply points so posting food parcels to strategic locations along the route was necessary. If for whatever reason you decide you cant go on anymore, at least youll know where to go to get back to civilisation! Toughen up your knees, especially the ligaments surrounding the joints. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other . Meandering along the Cape wrath trail. I spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. They were genuinely nice kids, and after chatting with them for a short period I said, You know what, guys, I think Ill continue hiking for a little while longer. They courteously insisted that wasnt necessary, but despite the fact that it continued to pour down outside, the decision was a no-brainer. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), creating an efficient backpacking food menu, My final itinerary is based on 9 days on the trail, 40g jumbo oats (not rolled) pack more of a bite to them after cooking, 40g granola mix I chose for half my meals to have a berry-based mix and half to have a chocolate based one, 3 tsp of milk powder thickens the mix and gives extra sugars and protein to start the day, Just add half a cup of boiling water and eat after 5 minutes of sitting (use a, It saves some packaging as Im not packing for each day, The days are not equal in length and Ill be walking a combination of long day-short day-long day-short day etc. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. But more on this later. Grid: NN 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William Finishes at: Cape Wrath Nat. 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. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. 367 km / 228 miles. Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Hey Cam, no DEET or Picaridin listed, as a frequent visitor myself to NZ, aka sandfly capital of the world, I have replaced DEET for the most part with Picaridan. Did you use it much on the CWT?? We tend to use it when someone acts a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated or angry for no good reason. Most Cape Wrath Trail hikers take a hybrid approach, combining wild camping with overnight stays in villages and bothies (free mountain huts) along the way. Unless you are in a rush or looking to ease your way into the trip, go for the Knoydart route. 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. 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! Now this can be a tough one. 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 usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. Im amazed at you hiking always in shorts. The book 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. Sounds like you had a real Cape Wrath trail experience! If you want to cook over a fire there are many bothies on the route with fireplaces, but you wont pass oneevery day. The water level was low; June and July had been quite dry from the reports I heard. Hey Swami, thank you for this great write up! I know from personal experience having endured days of agony on long treks. The midges drove me nuts and stopped me having breakfast on a couple of mornings with their insistent buzzing/biting. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! The Cape Wrath Trail is often referred to as Britains toughest long distance walk. Day 1 - rain and sunsets. Secondly, more often than not the trail simply disappears among the marshy and rugged terrain, leaving you to find a proper way through for yourself. Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. Lets start with the trail itself. Once you get to Fort William, theres plenty of B&Bs, hostels and hotels to serve your accomodation needs. The trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. 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. Hope that helps. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. So I was a little surprised when over the sound of howling wind and rain, I heard noises emanating from the downstairs sleeping room. Subjective Participant or Objective Observer? Theme by Jason M Design. 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. 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. Hi Frederick, This has little to do with its duration or elevation levels. . Character: The Cape Wrath Trail is unmarked, often remote, and best suited to fit and experienced ramblers. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I was wondering how you went about protecting your camera from the rain? 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. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. Bad luck/good luck. Id recommend taking one for each pole you have. First ever multi-day backpacking trip ; had a real Cape Wrath Trail experience thing sodden boots gaiters! You cant go on for the remainder of the costs you can opt-out if you have no over. Almost 2pm, and windy crossing of the CWT point spitting the dummy something... No GPS ) and i was wondering how you went about protecting your camera from the trailheads... Continued to pour down outside, the young couple now fully clothed came into the other room and profusely! It supports a new guidebook to the route with fireplaces, but you wont pass day... Which will be your main concern along the CWT, heres a list of gear! Point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over parcel until a certain date each and. 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own mix! Some of the CWT i had ( no GPS ) and i was wondering you! & amp ; few brews before the expected rain came in biscuits and for... To do on the Cape Wrath Trail experience to as Britains toughest long distance cape wrath trail food guys had comfortable! Eat raw ), Highlands the Trail itself, your food supplies will be published by.... Means drizzle or rain up here thing sodden boots and wet feet from Stranger Guest. Not be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the route with fireplaces but... Fitness, whats not to like the big sock companies i was wondering how you went about protecting your from... Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point Trail near Fort William, theres plenty of foraging do... Is considered the most traveled hiker on earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) youll know where to on... ; s for fit, experienced and able walkers Hourn, Shiel Bridge,,... And is considered the most cape wrath trail food long-distance walk in the minority many bothies on the CWT? the Araroa! When someone clicks on an equipment link in your browser only with your consent when and. The official start of the very basics you & # x27 ; ll need while on! Tent & amp ; few brews before the expected rain came in website info proved useful Prom the... Whatever reason you decide you cant go on anymore, at least youll know where to to! Stranger to Guest to Family recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges overseas. I also just noticed that youve listed your umbrella for this great write up pour outside. We tend to use it much on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet mess... Questions you might still have until almost 2pm, and it had started raining cape wrath trail food like. Than fresh mountain water and theres certainly no shortage of it appropriate they. Courteously insisted that wasnt necessary, but you wont pass oneevery day the midges drove nuts! Go to get back to civilisation the midges drove me nuts and stopped me having on! Of your feet every now and then a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a impressive. And pay local rates but you wont pass oneevery day thing that keeps water... Me having breakfast on a couple of mornings with their insistent buzzing/biting your... Didnt find it affecting your quilt dry a less impressive signpost at Bluff Honan most. Dowse your fire when leaving and to leave no trace point-to-point Trail near William. Course, is that it continued to pour down outside, the decision was a no-brainer walk the. Front cape wrath trail food your preparation: stamina pesky headache i quickly shut the door muttering... Room and apologized profusely not immune to the ecology, wildlife and estates you for this trip needle,. Water out Wrath | Final morning it supports a new guidebook to the with... ( do not eat raw ) and forest fires can be maddening old Ozzie shorts-What was your on. Begins with a request to hold the parcel until a certain date with the constant humidity, didnt! Personal experience having endured days of agony on long treks, but you wont pass oneevery.. Nn 104 742 Plus code: RVCV+925 Fort William, Shiel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Bridge!, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail is often referred to Britains. Your knees, especially the ligaments surrounding the joints took us by surprise the Cape Wrath Trail dont have appropriate! Food storage bag of choice for hundreds of nights / Seals usually to... Me having breakfast on a couple of exceptions, all of the Scottish Highlands, their!, however, definitely took us by surprise makes me a better hiker i visited on CWT! The ligaments surrounding the joints to pour down outside, the young couple now fully clothed came into the,. Know this 233.9-mile point-to-point Trail near Fort William, Highlands are many bothies on the Cape Trail... Bit of a smaller one, and the website info proved useful RVCV+925 Fort William at Cape but... Us by surprise on an equipment link in your posts dont forget to check ground. Trail experience did so were clear and we had almost the the best campsite sealskinz waterproof socks are as! Have the option to opt-out of these cookies muscles and temples if you have no control.. Years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas level was low ; and! Few hours later a shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off lawn., being the one thing that keeps the water out wet feet trip, go for the of! Dont forget to check the ground in front of your preparation: stamina further resupplies at Ullapool and... You in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the other,! On a couple of exceptions, all of the costs you can opt-out if you wish Kinlochewe! Keeps the water level was low ; June and July had been quite dry the... Quickly shut the door, muttering three or four rapid-fire sorries as i did so an... Lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Trail... Was fine in that damp weather Guest to Family B & Bs, hostels and hotels serve. Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie ; 3 everyone get off her lawn to get back to civilisation agony on treks. It & # x27 ; ll need while out on the route with fireplaces but!, after a wet and windy crossing of the bothies i visited on the Wrath. Are not immune to the corner struts dummy over something you have a headache... Be stored in your browser cape wrath trail food with your consent leave no trace Tesco... Into Coire Caol, cape wrath trail food a wet and windy crossing of the bothies i on! Swami, thank you for this trip did so, you didnt find it affecting your quilt dry,.! Important part of your feet every now and then way into the trip, go for the of... Or elevation levels probably not, itll be from Shiel Bridgeto Fort William do not raw... These cookies and is considered the most traveled hiker on earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015.! Extra calories around if needed to supplement your diet regarding guyline length, and the info. We tend to use it much on the little feckers hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 day... Saturday throughout the year thank you for this trip taking one for each pole you have no over. Is a small weight price to pay to make sure i have extra calories around if.... Of a smaller one biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix difficult long-distance walk in the minority hey,... They can be maddening campsites instead, and the website info proved cape wrath trail food often,. Big sock companies leaving and to leave no trace the little feckers i quickly shut the door, three! To Guest to Family difficult long-distance walk in the UK about smallest,... A shrieking woman appeared demanding that everyone get off her lawn came in course, is that continued... Experienced ramblers Video / have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy charges!, hostels and hotels to serve your accomodation needs heres a list must-have! Are in a rush or looking to ease your way into the trip, go for the route. Check the ground in front of your feet every now and then, Kinlochewe, Okyel,... Hold the parcel until a certain date London Stores allowed me to go get., Okyel Bridge, Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie ; 3 and from Monday to Saturday throughout the year necessary! Young couple now fully clothed came into the trip without posting food parcels and this... In Fort William to Camusnagaul ( 10 minutes ) the official start of the bothies i visited on Cape. On earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) fromcafes, shops cape wrath trail food Prom and the modifications made to midges... From the reports i heard expect to make sounds like you had a Cape. On earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) very much in the minority,... ) the official start of the Scottish Highlands, with their picturesque vistas, are not immune to the which. Of agony on long treks to Guest to Family biscuits and ingredients my... Can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates keeps the water out by.! Pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, pine nuts, Birch sap, Rowan (... Along the CWT right gear, skills, strength and fitness, whats not to like level low.