Follow Robin and Iain on their Cape Wrath Trail Adventure over 15 days (and 1 rest day). These videos offer the chance to see exactly what the trail involves including hints, tips, scenery and some added humour along the way.
Episode One – Backpacks and Blisters (1/7) Join Iain and I as we embark on the beginning of our Cape Wrath Trail adventure from an alternative starting point. We set off with enough food in our backpacks to get us to Kintail, but would early blisters hamper our progress?
Episode Two – A Rough Bounds Birthday (2/7) It’s a milestone birthday for Iain as we head into the heart of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart. We camp out for night under the rocky Ben Aden. The next day we push on to Kinlochhourn via Barrisdale Bay and land on our feet with an unexpected overnight say at a holiday cottage.
Episode Three – Wilderness and Waterfalls (3/7) After a comfortable night in the cottage, we set off revitalised and raring to go. We camp under the Forcan Ridge before picking up resupplies in Kintail then head into the Falls of Glomach and back into remote country.
Episode Four – Bogs, Tears and Bothies (4/7) We set off again and head towards Bearneas bothy to pick up a more direct route to Craig. My Garmin InReach Mini fails in the middle of nowhere, meaning I lose contact with my partner. Would I get a message out to her to let her know I’m safe? After pitching the tent, I get a little overwhelmed by the mental challenges of long-distance hiking. The next again day we set reach Craig and get fresh supplies to continue our hike to Kinlochewe.
Episode Five – The Halfway Milestone and Beyond (5/7) Our trip continues on towards the Heights of Kinlochewe and into the southern fringes of the Fisherfield wilderness, which is roughly the halfway mark of the trail. From here we take a lesser-known route passed Loch a’ Bhraoin, and eventually down towards Forest Way Bunkhouse at Lael where we have a rest day. Day 10 brings wet weather for the first time as we head towards Oykel Bridge.
Episode Six – From River to Mountain (6/7) Our hike continues on to Oykel Bridge where we stop off for breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards we follow River Oykel for several kilometres and eventually pitch up near the mountains of Conival & Ben More Assynt and push into what I nicknamed the “Rough Bounds of Assynt” to witness the highest waterfall in Britain. Tempers begin to fray with the wet boggy terrain leading to Glencoul.
Episode Seven – Operation Lighthouse (7/7) The end is in sight, we leave Glencoul and at this point we feel the finish is in our grasp. After a big day, we find a pitch under Arkle, the next again day we head off to the stunning beach at Sandwood Bay, which sets us up nicely for the final push to the lighthouse. Not even a niggling sore shin was going to stop me. We also discuss our different choices in footwear.
My Cape Wrath Trail Gear and Clothing Setup: A full Cape Wrath Trail kit and clothing breakdown showing you everything I carried and used on the hike. This was also filmed during the trail when we had a zero day near Ullapool.
Useful links:
Walkhighlands Route Descriptions and GPX files: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cape-wrath-trail.shtml
Cape Wrath Trail Guidebook and more: https://capewrathtrailguide.org/
MOD Cape Wrath Firing Range: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scotland-firing-times
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