"cape wrath trail"

I don't think the Cape Wrath Trail had an official route. It appears
to me that each walker or group makes up his own plan as to what he
wants to see, where he wants to walk, and if they are dependant on
bothies when available.

Makes the challenge more exciting if you are also planning your own
route.

Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com

Lindsay said:

I don't think the Cape Wrath Trail had an official route. It appears
to me that each walker or group makes up his own plan as to what he
wants to see, where he wants to walk, and if they are dependant on
bothies when available.

Makes the challenge more exciting if you are also planning your own
route.

Using your own route is pretty traditional up here - cf TGO challenge.
Flexibility is a good idea given the weather.

Mind as soon as a book comes out the ovine tendency tends to kick in.

Richard Webb

[email hidden] (Richard Webb) wrote in news:43bd0484.10794375
@news.plus.net:

Quoted message said:

Lindsay said:

I don't think the Cape Wrath Trail had an official route. It appears
to me that each walker or group makes up his own plan as to what he
wants to see, where he wants to walk, and if they are dependant on
bothies when available.

Makes the challenge more exciting if you are also planning your own
route.

Using your own route is pretty traditional up here - cf TGO challenge.
Flexibility is a good idea given the weather.

Mind as soon as a book comes out the ovine tendency tends to kick in.

Richard Webb

Apologies for replying here, I've lost the original post.

I'd agree with the previous sentiments, choose your own route.

However there are sources that may help you plan a route -
Books:
Exploring the far North West of Scotland - coffee table format,
North to the Cape - cicerone (?)

Website:
www.capewrathtrail.co.uk

Be aware of the dates though, some of the stuff in the "Exploring" book
was out of date, and I'd already "done" a few different routes before
seeing the book.

HTH

--
"Whit's fur yi, will no' go by yi"

There is a book, I have seen it, but not for years!

--
Len Trim

[email hidden]

Leonard Trim said:

There is a book, I have seen it, but not for years!

"The Cape Wrath Trail" by David Paterson - now a mere £151 second-hand
at Amazon!!!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0952190818/qid=1136505499/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_2_6/202-0462435-1708641

North to the Cape seems stil be to be available at £11.95, but the route
described is somewhat lower-level.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852842857/ref=pd_sim_b_dp_4/202-0462435-1708641

Ivo said:

Hi,
I know,
multi/cross-postings...
even I don't like them
But, not so much response on ramblers.org
maybe you have some ideas for my next trip
when I go walking from bothy fionnaraich (near strathcarron) to cape
wrath
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5193
Thanks,
Ivo

I did a Fort William - Cape Wrath walk last May - so I'll give you a
"quick" rundown of our route. From the Bothy you mention - we took the
(excellent) path to the Bealach Ban and then picked up the path to the
Ling Hut (where we ended up camping as our plan to camp in Beinn
Eighe's Coire Mhic Fearchair and a subsequent traverse of said mountain
was ended by some very nasty weather).

Quoted message said:

From there, we headed to Kinlochewe and then from there a beautiful

walk along Loch Maree to Letterewe from where we headed over the
Bealach Mheinnidh and into the fantastic Letterewe/Fisherfield
Wilderness. Not the most direct route, but in planning the route,
camping at the causeway between the Fionn and Dubh lochs was a given as
it is possibly my favourite location in Scotland. Another great path
takes you over to Shenavall Bothy via Gleann na Muice Beag (prepare for
getting wet at the infamous river crossing at the Bothy). From
Shenaval, follow the (at first boggy) path which connects to the
Landrover track to Corrie Hallie.

Quoted message said:

From Corrie Hallie, we had planned to walk to Altnaharrie, where we had

arranged for a boat to take us into Ullapool (owned by the couple who
run the "craft shop" at Corrie Hallie ) - but we were let down upon
arrival (grr) - so we ended up taking the hill track to Croftown.

The next section was easy going as we headed to Okyel Bridge (bothy at
Knockdamph if you want it although we camped at the ruined building
"Craggan" near Duag Bridge). From Okyel Bridge (reccomended bar lunch
at the hotel there!) we headed north on good landrover track to Benmore
Lodge and camped on the banks of the Allt Sail an Ruathair.

Quoted message said:

From there it was a pathless walk under Ben More Assynt/Conival until

we picked up the path to Inchnadamph in Gleann Dubh. From there it was
a road walk to Kylesku where we stayed in the excellent hotel.

Quoted message said:

From Kylesku, we followed a superb track from Kylestrome to Lochmore

Lodge at Achfary. We then headed up to Bealach Horn for an unforgetable
wild camp site. Next day was a long one, but possibly the best of the
trip - we walked over Fionaven, which involved some fairly benign
scrambling (fun with big packs though) and a steep descent of the NW
slope of Ceann Garbh - then the short track to Achriesgill and a road
walk to Blairmore where the track to Sandwood Bay starts. Arriving at
Sandwood at Sunset made the sore feet worthwhile!

All that's left is the exceptionally dull trudge across rough ground to
Cape Wrath and the walk's end. It's worth booking the Minibus and Ferry
in advance unless you're going to walk back to Kinlochbervie.

Hope that helps for some ideas. The criteria in my route planning was
to avoid roadwalking as much as was practicable and to take in some of
my favourite places, so there will be more direct routes that may suit
you more.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

All that's left is the exceptionally dull trudge across rough ground to
Cape Wrath

Anyone know a better coast walk, other than on Hoy?

Richard Webb

I didn't really see it as a coast walk as it didn't seem particularly
practicable to hug the coastline for any length of time - whether this
was as a result of it being at the end of a 2 week, 230-odd mile walk
is another matter. Sandwood Bay is stunning (it would be a fitting
finale to the walk in many ways), as is the cliff scenery at Cape Wrath
itself - but the bit in the middle left our group distinctly "whelmed".
I'm genuinely surprised to see that you rate it as a classic - it makes
me think that I must have taken the wrong route 🙂

In answer to your question - I've done coastal walks of similar length
on Harris, Mull and Barra/Vatersay, all of which I found more
satisfying both in terms of scenery and terrain.

Elgol - Loch Coruisk?

Kinlochourn - Barrisdale?

druidh

I have done the walk from Sandwood Bay to Cape Wrath twice - once in
2002 and again in 2003 (see:
http://www.britishwalks.org/walks/2002/202.php and
http://www.britishwalks.org/walks/2003/523.php )

It wa fairly easy to keep to the coast to the Keisgaig River, but north
of there I found it hard to find the path, and just headed north across
some fairly spectacular moorland. I was fortunate enough on both
occasions to have reasonable weather, and I can imagine in bad weather
it gets extremely bleak up there.

Although Sandwood Bay is stunning, I would also recommend a walk around
Faraid Head to the north of Durness - stunning beaches and views, and a
long wlk from Kervaig Bothy!

..David.
www.britishwalks.org

Swello said:

I didn't really see it as a coast walk as it didn't seem particularly
practicable to hug the coastline for any length of time - whether this
was as a result of it being at the end of a 2 week, 230-odd mile walk
is another matter. Sandwood Bay is stunning (it would be a fitting
finale to the walk in many ways), as is the cliff scenery at Cape Wrath
itself - but the bit in the middle left our group distinctly "whelmed".
I'm genuinely surprised to see that you rate it as a classic - it makes
me think that I must have taken the wrong route 🙂

In answer to your question - I've done coastal walks of similar length
on Harris, Mull and Barra/Vatersay, all of which I found more
satisfying both in terms of scenery and terrain.

Quoted message said:

It wa fairly easy to keep to the coast to the Keisgaig River, but north
of there I found it hard to find the path,

There was no path - just a crag on the left.

A couple of burn crossings can be problems though. Going was fine,
though inland Parph has a reputation - remember Nicolas Crane's
programme.

Richard Webb

Quoted message said:

Kinlochourn - Barrisdale?

A different sort of coast, but I preferred the wildness off crags,
surf and ocean without the path.

Might go with Elgol though,and Skye can throw up some very good coast
walks elsewhere too.
Ditto Rum

Richard Webb

->Kervaig bothy
It shall remind me to Margaret
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,862057,00.html

Ivo

Swello,
(babelfish translator was helping me)
thank you for this personal experience.
She is very useful.
If I was possible, I would kiss you. ;-)
Well to know that you can cross the river at shenavall.
I had this area already in my ideas after reading, and looking at the
photograph.from this site
http://www.barbersasa.co.uk/scotland/lbrooms/fishfld.htm
Because I want making this summer also a trip i must be economical with
my holiday.
For this reason I think that I will have spread it over 2 years.
Certainly because I ,just like you try finding the most beautiful
places.
sometimes it's only a photo which I find on Internet
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/gshaw/a_43.htm
For this reason I take the direct route over Seana Bhraigh

Thanks,
Ivo