Cape Wrath Trail (Fort William → Invergarry → Morvich)

Le lieu

unmarked

L’intérêt

Knoydart Peninsula (only accessible on foot or by ferry — no road). Sandwood Bay (one of Scotland's most beautiful and remote beaches). Quinag and Suilven (spectacular Torridonian sandstone peaks). Cape Wrath lighthouse at Britain's NW tip. Red deer, golden eagles, otters.

Itinéraire détaillé

Deux départs coexistent depuis Fort William. L'option Glenfinnan emprunte le bac à passagers pour traverser le Loch Linnhe, part d'abord vers le sud, remonte Cona Glen, franchit un col vers le monument de Glenfinnan, puis traverse les marges des Rough Bounds of Knoydart — le terrain le plus rude de tout le sentier — via Barrisdale Bay et Kinloch Hourn, avant une dernière montée sous le Saddle jusqu'à Morvich. L'option Great Glen, plus douce, suit le Great Glen Way puis remonte Glen Garry, enchaîne deux cols par Glen Loyne jusqu'à la Cluanie Inn et descend Gleann Lichd. Les deux variantes se rejoignent à Morvich, dans le Kintail.

Un peu d'histoire

Popularised by David Paterson's 1996 guidebook, the Cape Wrath Trail has no official status and no single definitive route — it is a concept, a general line from south to north, with numerous variants. Its allure lies precisely in this freedom and the sheer remoteness of the country it crosses.

Y arriver

Fort William: train from Glasgow (2h15) or Inverness (1h30). Cape Wrath: minibus ferry across the Kyle of Durness then minibus to the lighthouse. No public transport to Cape Wrath — must arrange return.

Matériel recommandé

Tent (mandatory). Waterproof sleeping bag. Navigation by OS 1:25 000 maps and compass (no phone signal in many areas). Emergency PLB or satellite communicator. Trekking poles. River sandals for crossings. Full waterproofs.

La saison

May to September. June–August: best weather, long days, severe midges. May and September: fewer midges, potentially colder. Avoid October–April.