Cape Wrath Trail

Anybody cycled the Cape Wrath trail or know of any information on cycling it, can find plenty on the West Highland Way, but nothing on the Cape Wrath. Plenty of stuff about a Claud Butler bike, which is bugger all use!

I'm doing it, or my version of it, in May.

Leaving Glenfinnan on the 17th, i expect to get to Cape Wrath on the 30th, give or take. I'll then cycle across to the East coast somewhere to catch the train home.

I've planned on 50km a day, if only to give me some flexibility and the time to climb some hills on the way. I thoroughly expect some hike-a-bike along the way as well…

not sure what the "cape wrath trail" is but i've carried my bike from cape wrath to sandwood bay before … don't do it! it wasn't my idea!

well dad worked there,so I know you can get a mini bus down it.
it's also a military zone and the road gets closed (exercises on) – so I'd do some checking on that – also ferry times. *Check ferry price dad thinks it was £15 – can go round base of inlet (very old sheep track they used to use) but ROUGH …. there is APPARENTLY a tea room at lighthouse – but needs checking … one iffy bit on road – locals call it wall of death – dad says on very windy days it was dangerous

*track From Sandwood bay (camping no facilities – river water)to Kinlochbervie hotel is nearly all rideable on a 'cart track' bit steep up from beach,however from lighthouse to there is probably prety shit, that it's tussocks, marsh and quite hard esp if wet season – but has been done.

From sandwood bay to Lighthouse would be real bad for cycling. Heather,Bog and hard underfoot terrain!

Nice scenic walk though!

Defo a "Cape Fear" feeling around the place though!

We camped and my wife was shittin£ herself due to bumping into a strange man at the lighthouse around 10:30pm!! Be Warned

*track From Sandwood bay (camping no facilities – river water)to Kinlochbervie hotel is nearly all rideable

The ride in from the Kinlochbervie road is no problem, other than the soft sand in the dunes at the very end. From there to the lighthouse looked like it'd be a carry most, if not all, the way.

Yep, thats the bit I've yet to 'plan', the firing range. Need to find out sooner rather than later…

My itinerary is as follows:

Monday 17th May: Glenfinnan Station to Kinlochhourne
Tuesday 18th: Kinlochhourne – Glen Shiel – Alltbeithe Hostel
Wednesday 19th: Alltbeithe – Falls of Glomach – Bearneas bothy
Thursday 20th: Bearneas – Torridon Hostel
Friday 21st: Nothing/Climb Liathach the short way
Saturday 22nd: Torridon – Poolewe via the Tollaidh Path
Sunday 23rd: Poolewe – Shenavall bothy
Monday 24th: Climb Sail Liath (part of An Tealach ridge)
Tuesday 25th: Shenavall – Stac Pollaidh
Wednesday 26th: Climb Stac Pollaidh – Wee mad road to Suilven
via Lochinver (Pies!) Suileag Bothy
Thursday 27th: Climb Suilven
Friday 28th: Suilven – Glendhu Bothy via Eas coul Aluin (Britain's
highest waterfall)
Saturday 29th: Glendhu – Sandwood Bay
Sunday 30th: Sandwood Bay – Cape Wrath (7k walking)
Monday 31st: Cape Wrath – Durness
Tuesday 1st: Durness – Ben Hope
Wednesday 2nd: Ben Hope – Ben Loyal/Tongue
Thursday 3rd: Ben Loyal – Loch Choire
Friday 4th: loch Choire – Brora – Train – Home!

There's a good website detailing a route, with a lot of input from Cameron McNeish, i just adapted it to avoid the unrideable bits and take in some of the more impressive sights.

most of the route from cape wrath to sandwood bay is like this 🙂

sandwood bay is really nice though … so is cape wrath! but the bit in between is miserable

We've been looking at maps and are looking at doing the route coming south, so we can get to Fort Bill and get some rest and then maybe finish with the WHW, looks suitably stupid. Planning on carrying our mountain marathon / adventure racing gear and camping on the way with the target being 9 days max.

Sorry to drag this up from the depths… 13thfloor, did you do this trip? I’m planning something similar over Easter. The current wisdom seems to be Do Not Try To Ride from Sandwood Bay to Cape Wrath, which is rather messing with my plans 🙁
Cheers

EDIT: found your more recent post, cheers!

click

don’t forget to register for the Fellowship 😉 better than the masons