Cape Wrath Trail

The Cape Wrath Trail is not a National Trail. It has no waymarking, no official status and no fixed route. What it has is a reputation as the wildest and most committing long-distance walk or run in Britain, and it earns that reputation across every one of its 370 km.

From Fort William the route heads north through Knoydart — Britain's last great wilderness peninsula, accessible only by ferry or a multi-day walk — then continues through Glen Affric, Torridon, Assynt and the far north-west Highlands to the lighthouse at Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on the British mainland.

There are several accepted line variants. Most guidebook routes share sections and differ in how they cross Knoydart, which glens they follow and how they approach the final miles. The key decision points are where to cross the rivers (which may be impassable in spate) and how to deal with the stretches with no path at all.

For trail runners the Cape Wrath Trail is an extreme multi-day undertaking — most cover it in seven to twelve days, moving fast and light with resupply packages sent ahead. The fastest known completions are around four days. The route demands river craft, excellent navigation, emergency bivouac skills and the ability to cover big miles in serious conditions.

There is no single definitive route. The following is the most commonly used southern line.

Fort William to Glenfinnan (~50 km): Through Glen Loy and Loch Arkaig towards Glenfinnan. Good paths initially, increasingly rough. The Jacobite Steam Train crosses the viaduct at Glenfinnan — a useful landmark.

Glenfinnan to Barrisdale/Knoydart (~70 km): The remotest section. Either via Sourlies bothy and into Knoydart, or via Glen Pean and Loch Morar. River crossings can be serious. The Barrisdale stretch is pathless, boggy and magnificent.

Knoydart to Shiel Bridge/Glen Affric (~80 km): North through wild glens. Loch Quoich and Glen Affric options. The Affric hostel is a key waypoint.

Glen Affric to Torridon (~100 km): Through Strathcarron and Achnashellach into the spectacular Torridon mountains. The terrain becomes dramatically more rugged.

Torridon to Rhiconich (~60 km): Assynt — Suilven, Canisp, Quinag as backdrop. Route finding on pathless bog and rock. Some accommodation at Inchnadamph and Lochinver (diversion).

Rhiconich to Cape Wrath (~30 km): The final push across the remote Parph peninsula to the lighthouse. A track reaches within 4 km of the end.

Start: Fort William. Rail and bus connections to Glasgow and Inverness. Most people begin at the town centre.

Finish: Cape Wrath lighthouse. The only access from the north is a small passenger ferry across the Kyle of Durness (seasonal, unpredictable — check ahead) followed by a minibus to the lighthouse. From Durness: bus services south via Lairg or north coast route. Allow a full day to exit.

Resupply: Plan carefully. Knoydart has one shop (Inverie). Torridon has a village shop. Lochinver is a possible diversion for food. Send food boxes to hostels in Torridon, Inchnadamph (Aultguish Inn) and Kinlochbervie. Carry enough food for at least three days between resupply points.

Bothies: Several Scottish Mountain Bothies Association bothies lie on or near the route — Sourlies, A'Chuil, Camban. Check the MBA website for current status.

Best time: May to September. River levels are most reliable May to June. July and August have the worst midges.