The new route (at last)
It’s taken a while, but here’s the route we’ll be taking this Christmas. On the face of it, it looks too easy, but given the shortage of daylight, the true wilderness conditions and the likelihood of terrible weather, this is much more achievable than last year’s route.
Bothies have been chosen where possible to safeguard against the elements. If we get good conditions, we’ll camp instead and the route may alter.
So here it is, it’s not perfect, you may completely disagree with some of the choices, but that’s the beauty of the trail. It’s your choice…there are no markers telling you where to go next.
The 2009/10 route (day, start, destination, overnight, dist. miles, dist. km, ascent)
Day 1: Achnashellach – Easan Dorcha (bothy) 3½M 6k 400m
Day 2: Easan Dorcha – Heights of Kinlochewe (bothy or camp) 12M 19k
Day 3: Heights of Kinlochewe – Shenavall (bothy) 13M 21k 400m
Day 4: Shenavall – Ullapool (B&B) 10M 16k 700m track + 8M 13k road
Day 5: Rest day, Ullapool
Day 6: Ullapool – Knockdamph (bothy) 11½M 19k 300m
Day 7: Knockdamph – Beyond Oykel Bridge (camp) 12½M 20k
Day 8: Beyond Oykel Bridge – Well beyond Loch Ailsh (camp) 9M 15k 400m
Day 9: Well beyond Loch Ailsh – Glencoul (bothy) 11M 18k 500m
Day 10: Glencoul – Achfary (camp) 13M 21k 600m
Day 11 : Achfary – Kinlochbervie (hotel) 13M 21k 200m
Day 12: Rest day, Kinlochbervie
Day 13: Kinlochbervie – Strathchailleach (bothy) 8½M 14k 200m
Day 14: Strathchailleach – Cape Wrath (camp) 6½M 11k 200m
Day 15: C Wrath – Strathchailleach (bothy) 6½M 11k 200m
Day 16: Strathchailleach – Kinlochbervie (hotel) 8½M 14k 200m
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