Widely considered the hardest trek in Britain, the Cape Wrath Trail runs roughly 200 miles from Fort William to Cape Wrath through the remotest parts of the Northwest Highlands. There's no single official route — several recognised variants exist — and long stretches cross pathless, trackless terrain far from roads or phone signal.
Route map
Terrain
Serious mountain and moorland terrain: river crossings with no bridges, pathless glens, boggy ground and remote passes, with days between resupply points. This is expedition-level walking, not a waymarked trail, and requires strong navigation and wild camping skills.
Tips
The route crosses the Cape Wrath Training Area, an active Ministry of Defence live-firing range near the end — check the firing schedule before you go and expect possible closures. River levels after rain can make crossings dangerous or impassable; build slack days into your itinerary. This is not a trail for a first long-distance walk.
Permits & access
No permits required for the walk itself, but the final section crosses an active MOD firing range — check live-firing dates before setting out.