Cape Wrath Trail
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Cape Wrath Trail is a hiking route that runs through the Scottish Highlands and along the west coast of Scotland.
It is approximately 200 miles in length and is considered to be one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK. [1]
The trek gained prominence via a 1996 book by Dave Paterson entitled The Cape Wrath Trail. This was followed in 1999 by a separate publication (North to the Cape: A trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath) by Denis Brook and Phil Hinchliffe.
In both versions the trail begins in Fort William and ends at Cape Wrath lighthouse on the northwest tip of the Scottish mainland. It connects with the West Highland Way and parts of it also follow the Great Glen Way to Inverness.
These guidebooks estimate an experienced hiker should be able to traverse the entire route in less than 20 days. However the two sets of authors detail slightly different routes and stages for hikers to follow.
Officially the trail is not endorsed by Scottish Natural Heritage and it is not waymarked or signposted. Facilities along the trail are also minimal and it covers some of the remotest parts of mainland Britain.
Locations on route
- Cape Wrath
- Dundonnell
- Durness
- Fort William
- Inchnadamph
- Inverie
- Kinlochewe
- Morar
- Rhiconich
- Shiel Bridge
- Strathcarron
- Ullapool
Geographic features on route
- Beinne Eighe (Mountain and National Nature Reserve)
- Eas a' Chual Aluinn (Waterfall)
- Knoydart (Peninsula)
- Loch Duich
- Falls of Glomach (Waterfall)
- Sandwood Bay
- Torridon (Mountain range)
- An Teallach (Mountain)
See also
References
Further reading
- North to the Cape: A trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath, Brook, Denis and Hinchliffe, Phil. Cicerone 1999 ISBN 978 1 85284 285 7
- Paterson, David: Peak Publishing, 1996 The Cape Wrath Trail