Cape Wrath Trail

Cape Wrath Trail is a hiking route that runs through the Scottish Highlands and along the west coast of Scotland.

Cape Wrath Trail
Cape Wrath lighthouse, the final destination on the Cape Wrath Trail
Length205 mi (330 km)
LocationScotland, United Kingdom
TrailheadsBanavie (Fort William)
56.8444°N 5.0966°W / 56.8444; -5.0966 (Cape Wrath Trail (Fort William trailhead))
Cape Wrath
58.6252°N 4.9990°W / 58.6252; -4.9990 (Cape Wrath Trail (Cape Wrath trailhead))
UseHillwalking, Hiking, Munro Bagging
Hiking details
Trail difficultyModerate to Strenuous
SeasonAll year
SightsScottish Highlands
HazardsSevere Weather, Lack of facilities

It is approximately 200 miles in length and is considered to be one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK. Despite not being an officially recognised National Trail it has grown to be one of the most highly regarded backpacking routes, attracting hikers from around the world.

The trek was pioneered in the early 1990s by David Paterson who, in 1996, published a book entitled The Cape Wrath Trail: A New 200-mile Walking Route Through the North-west Scottish Highlands. 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, 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.

A new, updated guidebook to the Cape Wrath Trail was published by Cicerone in May 2013.

These guidebooks estimate an experienced walker should be able to traverse the entire route in less than 20 days. However the authors detail slightly different routes and stages for walkers to follow. There are other alternatives on various segments of the route, thus there is yet to be an "official" established route. Many walkers see this variety as a quintessential part of the trail's appeal. The alternatives allow differing access to bothies, provisions, stream crossings and scenery.

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.

The Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Cape Wrath Trail (following Iain Harper's Cicerone guidebook[1] route) is four days, nine hours and 43 minutes, set by ultra runners Beth Pascall[2] and Damian Hall [3](self-supported) in December 2018.[4][5][6]

Locations on route

Geographic features on route

See also

References
  1. Work, Good. "Cape Wrath Trail Guide - A new guide to Britain's toughest backpacking route". capewrathtrailguide.org. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. "Beth Pascall". Beth Pascall. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. "www.damianhall.info". www.damianhall.info. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. "Beth Pascall & Damian Hall demolish Cape Wrath Trail FKT". James Mackeddie. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. Fiona (20 December 2018). "Damian Hall and Beth Pascall set record-breaking run on Cape Wrath Trail". FionaOutdoors. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. "Watch Damian Hall and Beth Pascall attempt FKT on Cape Wrath Trail - Runner's World". www.runnersworld.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  1. ^ Description on a website dedicated to the trail
  2. ^ Entry for new guidebook on Cicerone's website

Further reading
  • Harper, Iain: Cicerone, 2013 The Cape Wrath Trail Guide
  • Paterson, David: Peak Publishing, 1996 The Cape Wrath Trail: A New 200-mile Walking Route Through the North-west Scottish Highlands

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