Cape Wrath Trail / Gallery

The Cape Wrath Trail. Section 03. Assynt and NW Sutherland

: 45. One of the huge bunches of primroses in Inverlael Forest

: 46. Looking south up the desolate Glen Douchary towards the remote mountains of Seaba Bhraigh and Beinn Dreag

: 47. Crossing the Abhainn Poiblian river just befote it joins the Rappach Water river on the stretch between Knockdamph and The Old Schoolhouse bothies west of Oykel Bridge

: 48. Russell and Geoff having a break at a fishing pool on the Oykel River between Oykel Bridge and Ben More Lodge

: 49.The camp at the junction of the trails round the east and west side of Brn More Assynt with Geoffs, Russells and my tents

: 50. After a miserable 5 hours on the soggy parh round the east side of Ben More Assynt the rain stopped and the mist lifted to reveal some high ridges

: 51. The atmospheric Loch Gorm Mor where I spent a hour watching a pair of Red Throated Divers before the descent to Loch Glencoul

: 52. Heading down the steepening valley to Loch Glencoul and the bothy. Out of site on the left is the Eas a’Chual Aluinn waterfall

: 53. The Eas a’Chual Aluinn waterfall. Reputely the highest in Britian. Even after a mornings heavy rain it was quite small.

: 54. The evening sun on the pastures around Glencoul bothy at the end of the loch

: 55. Looking across Loch Glencoul to the queen of Assynt, the magestic Quinag.

: 56. Looking to the head of Loch Glencoul where the bothy lies in the pastures. On the left is the steep Stack of Glencoul and in the distance is the Eas a’Chual Aluinn waterfall

: 57. The lane with parapet heading west down the north side of Lochdhu between the Lochdu Bothy and the micro hydro powerstation.

: 58. Looking west from the top of Ben Dreavie out over Badcall Bay to the Stoer Peninsula with the Minch beyond. In the very faint distance is the northern end of the ikamd of Lewis

: 59. The “Cnoc and Lochan” landscape of NW Sutherland. The loch below is Loch na Seilige just before the path descends to Loch Stack where I camped.

: 60. A Highland Cow in the fields at Olshoremore. In the distance you can see the cliffs on the sea bird colony of Handa Island.

: 61. Approaching the beach at Sandwood Bay. Beyond here the craggy steep coastline continues some 10 km to Cape Wrath itself

: 62. Looking sound on Sandwood Bay over some rare bounders and the peach sands to the Torridonian sandstone sea stack of Am Buchaille (The Shepherd)

: 63. The simple Strathcailleach bothy lies beside a peat bank which the stream has undercut meaning there is dry peat available to burn.

: 64. The well stacked peat fire at Strathcailleach bothy with Russell and Geoff enjoying the warmth.

: 65. The pair of Red Throated Divers on Loch a’Gheodha Ruaidh. They were on the other side but responded to a recorded sound of a their calls and came close to investigate

: 66. The last few km went up across the Parph, a flat moorland plateau on the edge of the Atlantic to the lighthouse at Cape Wrath.

: 67. The lighthouse at Cape Wrath, built of course by the Stevenson family. It marks the end of a few walking trails. It is connected to a ferry by a minibus service

: 68. The last bastion of land before the Atlantic Ocean. This erosion resistant rock must weather huge storms.

: 69. The 15 km minibus ride between the lighthouse and the ferry ends at the pier. From here the small passenger boat takes you over the Kyle of Durness to civilization and the flestpots of Durness

The Cape Wrath Trail. Section 02. Torridon and Fisherfield

: 26. The green fields of Morvich with the mountain above Sheil Bridge in the background

: 27. Looking down the spout of the Falls of Glomach. These falls tumble a good 100 metres and are Britian’s highest falls.

: 28. Looking up Glen Elchaig towards the farm at Carnach and Iron Lodge beyond that

: 29. Maol Bhuidhe Bothy with a stomy evening about to arrive

: 30. The mists slowly lifting on the silence of Loch Calavie on the north side of Ben Dronaig mountain

: 31. Coming down through the natural regenerating forest to Achintee and Strathcarron with the head of Loch Carron

: 32. Coire Fionnaraich Bothy on the sunny morning of the night i stayed. It is perhaps one of the nicest bothies

: 33. Mist and cloud consuming on of Scotlands most iconic mountains, namely Liathach. This photo, taken from the Ling Hut, does Liathach no justice

: 34. Looking west across the lochs and lochans to the north of Liathach and Ben Aligin mountains which rise to the left of the photo

: 35. The triple buttress in Coire Mhic Fearchair on Ben Eighe. I camped near here.

: 36. The waterfall draining the lake in Coire Mhic Fearchair with the triple buttress looming above it. This was taken from my campsite

: 37. The crystal clear waters of the Allt Toll a’ Ghuibhais flows over the sands of eroded Torridonian sandstone. In the distance is the low quartzite ridge before the descent to Kinlochewe

: 38. Leaving Kinlochewe with the eastern end of Beinn Eighe in the background

: 39. Heading north through Fisherfield en route to Shenavall bothy. In the near distance is Loch Nid and the mountain of An Teallach is in the distance

: 40. Brian and the firefighters from Stirling outside Shenavall bothy. In the distance is Carn Dearg Mor mountain

: 41. The mountain of An Teallach from the ridge between Little Loch Broom and Loch Broom

: 42. The green fields of Inverbroom at the head of Loch Broom were very fertile

: 43. Sheep in the lush fields of Inverbroom with the Fannich range of mountains in the distance

: 44. Crossing the bridge over the River Broom at Auchindean with the Fannichs in the background

The Cape Wrath Trail. Section 01. Ardgour, Knoydart and Kintail

: 01. The Highland Ferry Leaving Camusnagaul having dropped me off on Ardgour. Across Loch Linnhe is the town of Fort William with Ben Nevis rising above it.

: 02. Cona Glen House is a lairds house and the main house of the Cona Glen Estate.

: 03. My first campsite on the Cape Wrath Trail was a few km up Cona Glen beside a waterfall

: 04. Looking up Cona Glen across some of rhe pastures in the lower reaches. Deer and Highland Cows were grazing on these pastures

: 05. Highland Cows are placid beasts but are very defensive of their calves. Their horns take no prisoners if they are angry

: 06. The middle reaches of Cona Glen boasted large indigenous Scots Pine forests. The Ardgour Scots Pines are a sub spieces to Normal Scots Pine

: 07. The upper reaches of Cona Glen are rugged. They are the realm of deer.

: 08. The renowned Glen Finnan aqueduct is over 100 years old. It recently shot to fame in the Harry Potter movies

: 09. Corryhully bothy is a shelter provided by the Glen Finnan estate. It is free for a nominal donation and even has electricity

: 10. Looking SW back down the rugged glen to the NE of Corryhully bothy from the pass over to Glen Pean

: 11. Looking back up the pass over to Corryhully and Glen Finnan from near where the side valley joins Glen Pean. The magnificent snow covered peak is Streap and we are looking at its north side

: 12. A’Chuil bothy lies near boggy ground on the edge of a planted forest in Glen Dessarry. It was an old shepherds house.

: 13. Towards the top of Glen Dessarry near the pass over to Loch Nevis and Sourlies bothy. There was a herd of deer grazing here

: 14. Looking from the pass Between Glen Dessarry and Loch Nevis. At the head of Loch Nevis is Sourlies bothy

: 15. Sourlies bothy is a restored barn with a wonderful lochside location. It has sleeping platforms for 7 only in its only room

: 16. Looking down Loch Nevis from the estuary of the Carnach River

: 17. Wading the Carnach River is now necessary as the rickety bridge was removed. It is a somewhat hazardous feat when the river is in spate

: 18. The fortress of Ben Audin at the head of the Carnach Valley. Its craggy ramparts make it difficult to climb from any side

: 19. From the top of the pass between Sourlies and Barrisdale bothies there is a great view over to Ladher Bheinn (Larven), the king of Knoydart.

: 20. Looking down to Barrisdale bay with Loch Hourn beyond.

: 21. Looking up Glen Barrisdale to Sgurr Airigh na Beinne, at just 776 metres it is an impressive mountain

: 22. Barrisdale bothy has a wonderful location but the bothy itself lacks charm.

: 23. Barrisdale bay lies on the south side of Loch Hourn. There are huge sand flats exposed at low tide making it a great place for waders and shore birds

: 24. Looking down Loch Hourn from the up on the hill at the head of it. The misty drizzle made for an atmospheric rather than spectacular view.

: 25. Craig and Bernard plowing through the drizzle and wind as the foot of the Forcan Ridge ( behind) on the high point of the route between Kinloch Hourn and Shiel Bridge.