Cape Wrath Trail

Information

Distance

370.0 km

Duration

14–21 days

Max elevation

720 m

Country

United Kingdom (GB)

Difficulty

Very strenuous — unwaymarked route, boggy and rocky terrain, mandatory river crossings; for experienced trekkers with map and compass navigation only

Best Season

April–June, September–October

Permits & Fees

No permit required; wild camping is legal in Scotland under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; avoid August–September during deer stalking season

Description

The Cape Wrath Trail is a ~370 km long-distance backpacking route from Fort William in the south to the remote Cape Wrath lighthouse at the far north-west tip of mainland Britain. Unlike Scotland's other official long-distance routes, it has no waymarking, no fixed single route, and almost no facilities along the way — making it one of the most demanding backpacking challenges in Europe. The journey passes through some of Scotland's most isolated terrain: the Rough Bounds of Knoydart (reachable only on foot or by boat), the ancient Torridon Mountains, the surreal Assynt landscape, and the pristine Sandwood Bay before reaching the Cape Wrath lighthouse. Most hikers complete the route in 14–21 days, requiring strong navigation skills, confidence with unmapped river crossings, and full self-sufficiency in wild camping.

Trail Highlights

Knoydart — a remote peninsula reachable only on foot or by boat; Torridon and Assynt with red granite rock as old as 3 billion years; the Falls of Glomach; the remote Sandwood Bay beach; and the Cape Wrath lighthouse at the northwesternmost point of mainland Britain