Long distance
Cape Wrath Trail
Unofficial but legendary route from Fort William to Cape Wrath, the north-westernmost point on the British mainland. One of the toughest long-distance walks in Europe.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 370 km/ 230 mi
- Typical days
- 18
- Total ascent
- 12000 m
- Difficulty
- expert
- Start → Finish
- Fort William → Cape Wrath
- Best direction
- South to North
⚠ Not waymarked — navigation skills required
Our take
The Cape Wrath Trail is the walk most ambitious UK long-distance hikers aspire to. It is genuinely serious: unmarked, river crossings that sometimes can't be crossed, multi-day gaps between resupply, exposed high-level sections, and the famous Cape Wrath bombing range that the MoD close at short notice. You need proper mountain skills, tolerance for solitude, and a willingness to flexibly reroute around weather. Do it in the short shoulder windows of late May or early September — midge hell in July.
Highlights
- Knoydart peninsula crossing
- The Falls of Glomach
- Beinn Dearg Mor and Fisherfield
- Sandwood Bay
- The final walk to Cape Wrath lighthouse
Best months
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Accommodation
Bothies, wild camps, occasional bunkhouses. Shenavall, Strabeg, Strathchailleach and Kearvaig are the famous overnight bothies along the route.
Resupply
Limited. Fort William, Strathcarron, Ullapool, Kinlochbervie are the main resupply points. Some sections require 5+ days of food between resupplies.