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°50′40″N 5°05′48″W / 56.8444°N 5.0966°W / 56.8444; -5.0966 (Cape Wrath Trail (Fort William trailhead))
Cape Wrath
58°37′31″N 4°59′56″W / 58.6252°N 4.9990°W / 58.6252; -4.9990 (Cape Wrath Trail (Cape Wrath trailhead))
UseHillwalking, Hiking, Munro Bagging
Elevation changetotal climbed is 43,468 feet (13,249 m)
DifficultyModerate to Strenuous
SeasonAll year
SightsScottish Highlands
HazardsSevere Weather, Lack of facilities

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 (321 km) 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.[1]

The trek was pioneered in the early 1990s by David Paterson who published a detailed guidebook for the trail.[2]

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.[1]

Waterfall, Allt an Duibhe. On the path going East from Dundonnell House towards Strath More.

An experienced walker should be able to traverse the entire route in less than 20 days.[2][3] However there are 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.[4]

Officially the trail is not endorsed by Scottish Natural Heritage and it is not waymarked or signposted.[5] 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[6] route) is four days, nine hours and 43 minutes, set by ultra runner Beth Pascall[7] and Damian Hall[8] (self-supported) in December 2018.[9][10][11]

In April 2023, Pawel Cymbalista, an endurance runner from Poland, set a new record for the Cape Wrath Trail (following Glenfinnan Variant). He completed the trail, unassisted in three days, 14 hours and 49 minutes - about nine hours quicker than the previous FKT for the trail.[12][13]

Locations on route

Geographic features on route

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Harper, Ian (2021). Walking the Cape Wrath Trail: Backpacking through the Scottish Highlands: Fort William to Cape Wrath (3rd ed.). Cicerone. ISBN 9781786310859.
  2. 1 2 Paterson, David (1996). The Cape Wrath Trail: a 200-mile Walking Route Through the North-west Scottish Highlands. PEAK PUBLISHING. ISBN 978-0952190813.
  3. ↑ Brook, Denis; Hinchcliffe, Phil (1999). North to the Cape: A Trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852842857.
  4. ↑ "The Cape Wrath Trail (Walkhighlands)". Walkhighlands. Retrieved 27 October 2023..
  5. ↑ "The Cape Wrath Trail (Walkhighlands)". Walkhighlands. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Work, Good. "Cape Wrath Trail Guide - A new guide to Britain's toughest backpacking route". capewrathtrailguide.org. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Beth Pascall". Beth Pascall. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "www.damianhall.info". www.damianhall.info. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "Beth Pascall & Damian Hall demolish Cape Wrath Trail FKT". James Mackeddie. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  10. ↑ Fiona (20 December 2018). "Damian Hall and Beth Pascall set record-breaking run on Cape Wrath Trail". FionaOutdoors. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Watch Damian Hall and Beth Pascall attempt FKT on Cape Wrath Trail - Runner's World". www.runnersworld.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Polish runner sets new time for gruelling Cape Wrath Trail". BBC News. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Pawel Cymbalista - Cape Wrath Trail (United Kingdom) - 2023-04-08 | Fastest Known Time". fastestknowntime.com. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.

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

57°36′16″N 5°18′12″W / 57.6045°N 5.3034°W / 57.6045; -5.3034 (Cape Wrath Trail)

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