cape wrath trail food

The nearby stream offers a good water . The biggest choice facing hikers is how to begin their journey; via the Knoydart variant or the Great Glen variant (Note: The two options eventually meet up at Shiel Bridge). 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.) When its really pissing down, Ill put the camera inside the backpack. 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. Long-term review: Bridgedale Stormsocks What sections would you suggest to skip? Before you strap on that backpack and get going, you first need to know what youre getting into, what youll be bringing along, how much food youll need, what youre planning on eating and how long youre planning on being on the trail. . It's not the longest. Although you may be moving too fast to dedicate much time to it. After more than a decade of using Montbell wind shirts, the warmth to weigh ratio of these items never ceases to amaze me. Some of the scenery is incredible if you get the weather for it, other parts are nothing to write home about. The post below includes impressions from the trip, logistical and background information, route recommendations and a gear list. Not only are there only two of them, they are durable and waterproof as well! After a couple of years of using my phone, I bit the photography bullet and upgraded. Woodland: Scots pine needle tea, Wood Sorrell, Pine nuts,Birch sap,Rowan berries (do not eat raw). Buy on Amazon More on the book The route This also means you often wont be able to pick and choose your supplies, as not every store youll encounter will have lightweight meal options, for example. I left Strathchailleach Bothy fairly late. Here is a list of things to look out for. Get to know this 233.9-mile point-to-point trail near Fort William, Highlands. And for those of a wayfaring disposition such as myself, I cant think of a better teacher than Mother Nature. I redid part of Cape Wrath in 2017 wearing these and had happy, dry feet. 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. 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. Lets get right to the point here: I spent around 500 on the entire trip, from supplies and transportation (excluding my plane ticket) to the occasional campsite or hostel. 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. A few tips? Thanks Geoff. 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. 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. Thecalorie content should be well above your normal daily intake. What was your route through the latter? Towns are few and far between. OMM Rotor Vest An ultralight synthetic vest, ideal for layering in winter. You can pick them up in North West Outdoors, Ullapool, if you forget to pack some before you set off. You'll need something to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As a rule, World Nomads offers excellent world-wide insurance for a wide range of activities, including hiking up to 6000 metres. 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. Train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Fort William vary between20 and30 for a one-way trip. That way you wont contaminate your water bladder for future use if there is any giardia or nasty bacteria floating around. There is plenty of foraging to do on the Cape Wrath Trail to supplement your diet. 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. 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. 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. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and is considered the most difficult long-distance walk in the UK. 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. Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. 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). Features: Stone floors, crude wooden platforms to sleep on, one open fire hearth. I haven't managed a night in my tent since last October (in Zagori) and I have been desperate to get off grid for a few days. This website has been developed as a resource for people planning an expedition on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. April/May 2018. Public toilets are situated in Durness village , beside the 'spar' shop. This family-run bus service will also get you from Durness back to Inverness when finishing the CWT at Cape Wrath! Glenfinnan Viaduct and the train to Hogwarts! It is also possible to purchase meals at the Kinloch Hourn Farm B&B, Kintail Lodge Hotel, Okyel Bridge Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel. 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. Good photos & Video / Have used an unlocked phone in recent years, to avoid heavy roaming charges when overseas. 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. For updates and more photos, follow her Facebook and Instagram pages. I can highly recommend the local Durness Bus service. There are a couple of alternative stages that . Excellent beanie / Not too thick / Stretchy enough to fit my noggin / Doesnt seem to be available in the US at the moment. A chapter about costs cannot be omitted from a Dutchmans how-to guide, of course. But more on this later. There is no lovely way marked footpath. I immediately adjourned to the room on the other side of the bothy, feeling more than a tad guilty. I hiked the Cape Wrath Trail over ten days in the summer of 2018. Regarding the umbrella, most folks will tell you that the Highlands are generally too windy for them to be much help. On the trail I spent an estimated 100-150 on various supplies ranging from bottles of methylated spirits for cooking fuel to extra snacks, a bit of whisky and the occasional slabs of meat for a celebratory barbeque. 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). You might also want a snack or two every day, to help keep up your energy in between meals. 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. Grid ref. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Its marked as a campsite on the maps so naturally the smooth area of grass was where three sets of hikers (us included) had pitched. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.). Ill explain this further under Logistics below. 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. This looks amazing! The Cape Wrath Ultra is Scotland's finest multi-stage ultra running event. 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. Further resupplies at Ullapool Tesco and London Stores allowed me to go on for the remainder of the trip without posting food packages. But probably not, itll mess up her lawn! It's for fit, experienced and able walkers. Great baselayer / Not too thin, not too thick / Spot on for shoulder season conditions. Good to know you are still exploring this amazing world on foot. Couldnt resist! Best of luck on your trip! Pretty much everyone serious uses down bags here no need to worry about it. (click to enlarge) A classic very challenging traverse of the Highlands and its wilder and remoter landscapes. I completed the trail then,and still have the battle scars to prove it. And if the roles had been reversed and some weather-beaten old bastard had accidentally walked in on me and my partner, I would have also been polite (or at least tried to be), but secretly would have been hoping that hed decide to continue on his way. May 2022 Friends. As long as you draw water from fresh, fast-flowing sources well upstream of areas with livestock and/or wildlife you can drink it without filtering! Everyone I met for the first four days had bailed somewhere along the route by hitching or cutting their trip short. Also spray Smidge (commissioned by the Scottish Forestry Commission but with a dreadful design to get the spray out) or DEET onto your skin to try and keep the midges at bay, but dont get any DEET on your tent, itll stick together. In summer you could probably do the whole trail without carrying much food at all relying on shops and restaurants the whole way. This guidebook describes the Cape Wrath Trail, a long-distance trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath crossing the wild north west of the Scottish Highlands. : The CWT is almost always hiked south to north. Take lightweight diving or pool shoes with a strong grip on the soles and a secure fit around your feet. 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 spent around 180 on lightweight prepackaged hiking meals, hardtack biscuits and ingredients for my own porridge mix. In order to stay safe and semi-comfortable in such weather, I need to be completely focused in regards to navigation, pace (i.e. A good preparation will help you tackle most of the issues youll be facing along the Cape Wrath Trail, allowing you to focus on the awesome views! If you are wildcamping, Id recommend you choose to camp near a woodland area which will provide shelter, fuel and better drainage. x. Trekking Solo In the Highlands . It has the reputation of being Britain's toughest long distance walk. Your email address will not be published. For the sake of simplicity and the limited . Not an appealing prospect for a 17-day hike. It is approximately 234 miles in length. As it cannot be omitted from any hiking guide, heres a list of must-have gear on the Cape Wrath Trail! Thanks for your message. Theres no point spitting the dummy over something you have no control over. I live in Alaska and its often damp, breezy, cloudy, foggy. Can pick them up in North West Outdoors, Ullapool, if you forget pack. Used an unlocked phone in recent years, to help keep up your energy between. In summer you could probably do the whole Trail without carrying much food at relying!, including hiking up to 6000 metres the UK thecalorie content should well. 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