Cape Wrath, destination of walkers on 'the UK's toughest long-distance trail'. Photo: Colin Wheatley CC-BY-SA-2.0
A website to guide walkers along one of Britain’s most challenging long-distance trails has been set up.
Author Iain Harper’s guidebook to the Cape Wrath Trail is due out later this year, but he has also set up an online site to help walkers thinking of tackling the route.
The website also features a roll of honour, where those who have completed the trail, which runs from Fort William to Scotland’s north-west extremity, can record their experiences.
The Cape Wrath Trail does not have formal status, but is highly regarded by seasoned backpackers, and is viewed as a tough test through wilderness and rugged terrain, giving it a reputation as one of the hardest backpacking trails in the UK.
Iain Harper said: “For the new book, the route has been improved in numerous places and a lot of the starting and finishing points have been rationalised to make it more walker-friendly.
“One of the problems with writing a printed guidebook is that with publishing lead times, it can be out of date in some respects as soon as it’s printed. That’s why I’ve developed a website to support the book.
“People can use the site to post pictures and experiences from the trail as well as suggesting route alternatives. The Cape Wrath Trail is unique in that there are so many potential variations and this is an aspect that can be better explored via a website than a book.
“My hope is that the site will work hand in hand with the new guidebook and will be a valuable resource for those walking the trail – make it your own.”
The route runs for about 320km (200 miles) from Fort William to the Cape Wrath lighthouse.
The trek initially gained prominence through a 1996 book by David Paterson 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.
All versions of the trail begin in Fort William and end at the Cape Wrath lighthouse on the north-west tip of the Scottish mainland.
The trail connects with the West Highland Way and part of an alternative route suggested by author and broadcaster Cameron McNeish follows the Great Glen Way out of Fort William before joining the main route in Glen Shiel.
The route leads walkers across most of the north-west coast of Scotland via Morar, Knoydart, Torridon and Assynt, winding through its most beautiful glens and mountains. It typically takes between two and three weeks to walk.
Mr Harper’s guidebook is due to be published by Cicerone later this year.
The online guide went live this week.
