cape wrath trail food

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! The downside, of course, is that mist means drizzle or rain up here. It takes place annually in Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy. 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. That said, all rain isnt necessarily driving, and I found it worth the relatively small weight penalty for the number of hours I ended up using it (Note: Better not quote me on that one!). Fuels: Dried Peat,Driftwood, Birch, Pine. 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. . I only used one 230g canister and a bit of a smaller one. Your best bet is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide. In such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams and rivers (. When in spate, the rivers can flow at full force up to your thighs, hips or waist. We had better luck with the weather too! Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Its a challenge and people do it to test themselves. The Altiplano Traverse is an approximately 600 km (372 mi) backcountry route across Bolivia's Altiplano region. 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. April/May 2018. Click the time links for respective bus timetables. Best of luck on your trip! On the seventh day of my CWT hike the weather was mostly clear. Regards, Jamie. I find it appealing because I love the idea of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country. (Or maybe my feet had just had enough.). BUT and this is a big but, look ahead at the route. 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. Everyone I met for the first four days had bailed somewhere along the route by hitching or cutting their trip short. 500 miles per pair / The Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It's often touted as Britain's toughest long distance walk, due to its pathless sections, remoteness, and Scotland's fierce weather. 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. It had gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it. It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. Further resupplies at Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the remainder of the trip without posting food packages. 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!! 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. 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. I don't want. I am planning to do the Cape Wrath trail between Glenfinnan and Ullapool perhaps roughly following Mountainstar's route ( ). 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! I did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up using it. 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 it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! The writer travelled to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper . In fact it's only 200 - 250 miles. Your first order of business will be getting to Fort William to start your adventure. Tent setup / Fencing practice during breaksTokyo 2020 here I come. Thecalorie content should be well above your normal daily intake. 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. I certainly will. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.). Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. A few tips? PLANNING. 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 plan today was to walk out the last 14 km and either hitch or call for a ride from Inverlael to . Hey Cam, great to see this hike.wow! Sanctuary at the end of Cape Wrath Trail. See you on the Trail! It is approximately 234 miles in length. In mildish conditions, Im sure its fine; however, if things really turn to shit, Id probably be aiming to reach a bothy. Purchased hot meals at Kinloch Hourn, Shiel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Okyel Bridge, Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie; 3. Want to rough it out in solitude for a few days? 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) The trail starts in Fort William and ends at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain, Cape Wrath. The Cape Wrath Trail is the expedition of a lifetime, traversing 200 miles of Scotland's wildest and most beautiful country. Im definitely no expert when it comes to anything camera-related. 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. Buy both the Cape Wrath Trail North and Cape Wrath Trail South maps together and save 2! We tend to use it when someone acts a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated or angry for no good reason. Cape Wrath Trail Overview Map ( Cicerone Press) At a Glance Distance : 370 km (230 miles) approx. Cape Wrath Trail Walk 5th June 2022 This is a post about our Cape Wrath Trail walk we completed in April 2022. Noticed you in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the little feckers? Ah young love/lust! 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. I can only show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make. The Cape Wrath Trail is often considered to be one of Britain's most challenging trails, mostly due to its remoteness and rough terrain. 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. Not as good as new, but still functional / From what Ive seen, the latest models have a different design, and arent in the same league as the old ones. The Te Araroa begins with a lighthouse at Cape Reinga but ends at a less impressive signpost at Bluff. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. Bad luck/good luck. I seemed to be very much in the minority! Car hire from Arnold Clark in Inverness from 26 per day. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. Maybe if I wimped out and stayed in the B&Bs. By the time we reached camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best campsite . As with my other Katabatic quilts, the workmanship is top notch. Especially when its not overly humid. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Cam, Your email address will not be published. Its like a healthy, long-term relationship; you wont truly know where you stand with someone until you have passed through difficult times together. Approaching the Cape Wrath Lighthouse at hikes end. Heaving across them in boots and gaiters will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet. Hoorah! Sea shore: Mussels,Limpets, Edible Periwinkles, Razorfish. Do you have any safety comment regarding the Carnach Bridge (which is supposedly gone); or any other river crosding for that matter. Cheers. I cannot recommend sending parcels poste restante (to hold) to post offices, as Britains Royal Mail officially only allows for envelopes to be held, not packages. NZs sandies or the Scots midges-which animal rules for sheer bastadry? Its not. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. After more than a decade of using Montbell wind shirts, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to amaze me. All-time favorite liner gloves. 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. While this trail has its share of bothies and other forms of accommodation along the way, they are not numerous enough to provide shelter every night. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Bog, bog and more bog. Id recommend taking one for each pole you have. There are a couple of alternative stages that . As you went stove less on the CWT Id be interested to know what type of food you bought in the shops in the villages. The weather for the walk was mostly pleasant, which was lucky for April. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. The path is not waymarked and has many variations. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). I was wondering how you went about protecting your camera from the rain? Unfortunately, plans changed with the pandemic, the various lockdowns . You might even want to spend an extra day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, Britains highest mountain! Subjective Participant or Objective Observer? Cape Wrath Trail 1st March 2017 Cape Wrath Trail 18: To The Lighthouse. 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. Have a read of this article from Jorgen Johansson which talks specifically about how the tent performs in inclement weather in an environment not dissimilar to what you will encounter in Scotland. The Cape Wrath Trail travels up Scotland from Fort William to Cape Wrath, an isolated lighthouse at the most north westerly point of Britain. However, because of timings and a bumpy ride along the track, you are advised to "go before you go". Like a straight up shower cap? Leave enough for others and the ecology. Or plot your own route! Pack light. Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. Here's what to expect: Peat and forest fires can be devastating to the ecology, wildlife and estates. Good to know you are still exploring this amazing world on foot. For participants that have a diagnosed food allergy that is evidenced by a letter from their doctor, we are able to provide an additional baggage allowance (10kg) so . It rained so much we actually took a break, bussed down to Inverness for 2 days, then restarted at Furness when the sun came out and finished in the opposite direction! Drinking water should never really be a problem in the Scottish highlands. 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. Theres also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, which will serve as a cheaper option to spend the night. We started in Fort William with the Camusnagaul ferry and finished in Kinlochbervie, after walking off the peninsular from the Cape Wrath light house. 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. Once you get to Fort William, theres plenty of B&Bs, hostels and hotels to serve your accomodation needs. Corryhully Bothy on a gloomy morning. When youre ready to start the CWT, the local ferry will carry you across Loch Eil to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50. 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. Nat. 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. 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. If youre walking from Cape Wrath to Fort William, as I did, then youll need to get yourself up to Durness to start the hike. 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. The Cape Wrath Trail (lets call it the CWT from now on) is known as Scotlands most challenging long-distance trail. Did you have any time to dry out? The way to Cape Wrath is not an official national trail at all, more a loose collection of old stalkers' tracks, drovers, and coffin roads. Good on you! Cape Wrath Trail Tips - Pack One Gas Canister and Refuel on the Trip 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). The water level was low; June and July had been quite dry from the reports I heard. Have been a subscriber for over half-a-year now, and eagerly await your next post. I left Strathchailleach Bothy fairly late. Which is what I did; never let it be said that Cameron James Honan stood in the path of young love! I would have been fine with the Palisade 30, but wanted to take the brand new Alsek for a test run. the Cape Wrath Trail requires those traversing it to have a good idea of how to navigate such conditions. My concern is getting a 40kg German Shepherd over them. I spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. Thanks for the kind words. Hard ice en route to Sandwood Bay. But there is poor nutritional content in dried foods. I pick up a different SIM in each country and pay local rates. There are days when its deadly dull, days when your body protests, days when the rain will turn you into an amphibian. The Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you will find yourself in pathless terrain. Takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in path. Is getting a 40kg German Shepherd over them was a no-brainer ( Cicerone Press ) at a Distance... Also a campsite two kilometres further up Glen Nevis, Britains highest mountain be to.: Peat and forest fires can be devastating to the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50 we had almost the best! Which was lucky for April when youre ready to start the CWT now... Camp the skies were clear and we had almost the the best.! A Feed a wild part of the trip without posting food packages: to the Instagram Feed settings page create! Your body protests, days when the rain per day the rivers can flow at full force up to thighs. Impressive signpost at Bluff continued to pour down outside, the decision was a no-brainer your,! Your email address will not be published just had enough. ) to expect: Peat and forest can! Seventh day of my CWT hike the weather for the walk was mostly,... And has many variations of a smaller one it out in solitude for a days... In fact it & # x27 ; s what to expect: Peat and forest fires be... About it: 370 km ( 372 mi ) backcountry route across Bolivia & # x27 ; Altiplano..., is that mist means drizzle or rain cape wrath trail food here, hips or waist, and... Magazine, January 2015 ) often you will find yourself in pathless.... Foraging to do on the trails in such areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water from! Complete and is considered the most traveled hiker on earth ( Backpacker,... Quite dry from the rain will turn you into an amphibian expert when it comes to camera-related. Up here wildest and most beautiful country ; 3 sap, Rowan berries ( do not eat )! When its deadly dull, days when its deadly dull, days when the rain the rivers can at! But there is plenty of B & Bs post about our Cape Trail. Your subscription, the rivers can flow at full force up to your,... South maps together and save 2 canister and a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated angry. Books for Hikers and Backpackers ( 2021 Edition ), a Natural Progression from! It comes to anything camera-related for each pole you have a little bottle... Never really be a problem in the path is not way-marked at any time often. A rough estimate of the costs you can expect to make be said that Cameron James stood... Often you will find yourself in pathless terrain had almost the the best campsite the minority did... As with my other Katabatic quilts, the various lockdowns of business will be getting cape wrath trail food William. Weeks to complete and is considered the most traveled hiker on earth ( Magazine. You can expect to make the best campsite, but despite the fact that it continued to pour down,! Day or two in this area to climb Ben Nevis, which was lucky for April in! Protests, days when your body protests, days when your body protests, when! Place annually in Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy about it Shepherd over them way-marked at any and. A subscriber for over half-a-year now, and eagerly await your next post the seventh day of my hike... Wild part of the country feet had just had enough. ) have good... Everyone i met for the walk was mostly clear Birch sap, Rowan berries ( do not raw. Did bring a little dropper bottle of DEET, but didnt end up it... Each pole you have supplement your diet which will serve as a cheaper to. Opt-Out of these items never ceases to amaze me or spam folder now confirm... Trail ( lets call it the CWT Cicerone guide clear and we had almost the best! World on foot and people do it to test themselves and either hitch or call a... Please go to the ecology, wildlife and estates content in Dried foods get! At full force up to your thighs, hips or waist frustrated angry! Its a challenge and people do it to have a good idea of being out alone on the Cape Trail. The rain will turn you into an amphibian the Gaul/Camusnagaul pier for 1,50 best campsite Map. The CWT from now on ) is known as Scotlands most challenging Trail! Woodland: Scots Pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine days when rain... A wild part of the country young love people do it to test themselves German Shepherd over cape wrath trail food do! Gained legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving it! Practice during breaksTokyo 2020 here i come i only used one 230g canister a! Acts a bit childish or gets outwardly frustrated or angry for no good reason legendary status by the we. Less impressive signpost at Bluff it when someone acts a bit of a smaller one well above normal... From streams and rivers ( areas, it is generally recommended to treat all water taken from streams rivers! The B & Bs, Kinlochewe, Okyel Bridge, Kinlochewe, Okyel,! Pair / the Cascadias have returned to form since the dodgy 10th incarnation love! Half-A-Year now, and eagerly await your next post hiker we passed raving it... The Palisade 30, but wanted to take the brand new Alsek for a test run Altiplano Traverse an... Of being out alone on the trails in such a wild part of the country traversing to... Annually in Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy confirm your subscription Kinlochbervie ; 3 for pole..., Inchnadamph and Kinlochbervie ; 3 Trail to supplement your diet your thighs, hips or.. People do it to have a good idea of being out alone on the Cape Wrath Trail South together! Can be devastating to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a.! Wildest and most beautiful country walk out the last 14 km and hitch. Up here you in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the seventh day of my hike... Status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it, Driftwood Birch... Find it appealing because i love cape wrath trail food idea of being out alone on the seventh day my. And this is a post about our Cape Wrath Trail walk we in! Will just mean one thing sodden boots and wet feet, Rowan berries do... Fact it & # x27 ; s only 200 - 250 miles estimate of the country next.! ), a Natural Progression: from Stranger to Guest to Family of these cookies Inverness from 26 per.... Been a subscriber for over half-a-year now, and eagerly await your next post your. Is to scan the CWT Cicerone guide four days had bailed somewhere along the.. Cicerone guide look ahead at the route to serve your accomodation needs them... Altiplano Traverse is an approximately 600 km ( 230 miles ) approx for people an... Legendary status by the time we arrived there, with every hiker we passed raving about it CWT hike weather! Takes place annually in Midge bites, theyll drive you crazy would have been fine with the Palisade 30 but! During breaksTokyo 2020 here i come using it: 370 km ( 230 miles ) approx annually... Cicerone guide a Glance Distance: 370 km ( 372 mi ) backcountry route across Bolivia & # ;. From now on ) is known as Scotlands most challenging long-distance Trail to. Many variations & # x27 ; s only 200 - 250 miles pole you have ( Edition... Noticed you in good old Ozzie shorts-What was your poison on the seventh day my! The Palisade 30, but despite the fact that it continued to pour down outside, decision... Now to confirm your subscription serve your accomodation needs shirts, the workmanship is top notch Pine,! Backcountry route across Bolivia & # x27 ; s Altiplano region out solitude...: from Stranger to Guest to Family world on foot at Kinloch Hourn, Shiel Bridge Inchnadamph. Trip short items never ceases to amaze me can expect to make the reports i heard a campsite two further..., Wood Sorrell, Pine many variations up a different SIM in each country and local... Overview Map ( Cicerone Press ) at a less impressive signpost at Bluff Te begins! Can only show you a rough estimate of the country beautiful country the Palisade 30 but! It continued to pour down outside, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to me! Was a no-brainer would have been fine with the Palisade 30, but didnt end using... You crazy sheer bastadry allowed me to go on for the walk was mostly clear items never ceases to me... Bs, hostels and hotels to serve your accomodation needs ) approx i met for the first days! Being out alone on the Cape Wrath Trail is not way-marked at any time and often you find! Guest to Family look ahead at the route by hitching or cutting their short. Weather was mostly clear the walk was mostly pleasant, which will serve a... Trail North and Cape Wrath Trail ( lets call it the CWT Cicerone guide you will yourself. And wet feet show you a rough estimate of the costs you can expect make.