*No paths mapped or on the ground.
Positions of the start and end of each un-pathed section are given using British National Grid and Lat/Long coordinates.
[A quick way to identify positions referred to in these notes is to open Bing Maps www.bing.com/maps? FORM=Z9LH2&cp=55.857859%7E-4.242582&lvl=12.5 then copy the lat/long given in the notes and paste it into `Search`. At the top RH of Bing Maps window you can change the map to OS 1:25000.] At the LH side of the `Search`` box a number appears listing all the searches you have made.
These sections are experimental and are devised in order to keep the route as close to the straight line from Cape Wrath to St Anne’s Head as possible. They exploit Scottish rights to roam. For the most parts they represent the most extreme fell walking but are plotted to avoid obvious hazards such as cliffs, overly steep pitches (however that can be defined) open water and bogs. The general principle in plotting routes is to follow along the edges of the watershed, to move from exposed rocky area to exposed rocky area as evidenced on Google Earth. This is not the surface of Mars and I assume humans will be able to progress across this extremely wild terrain as they have in the past.
Existing major trails used in part: Cape Wrath Trail, Fish Road Heritage path, Corrieyairack Pass, East Highland Way, The Saints Way. The route crosses the Atlantic Coast Route, Trossachs Path, Rob Roy Way and Southern Upland Way.
Positions of the start and end of each un-pathed section are given using British National Grid and Lat/Long coordinates.
From the North...
Section 1
[ A] Follows Cape Wrath Trail (CWT) south from the Cape or, [ B ] Starting in Durness either 15 miles on A838 to Rhiconich to pick up the CWT...
Or, a speculated route from Durness (NC 40669 68129) N58° 34.071' W4° 44.371' joining the Cape Wrath Path at Loch Stack (NC 30787 42626) N58° 20.122' W4° 53.420' . This route has sections of open country with no paths. It follows a track bearing SE of Durness and then climbs onto Mealh Meadonach (423m), bearing SW following the ridgeline up to Beinn Spionnaidh (723m), Cranstackie (801m) descending from Conhamheallh (482m) to meet the track to Loch Dionnard turning NW for 1/3rd of a mile**. It leaves this path bearing S to pick up the track near An Dubh Loch and proceeds in a SW direction beside Allt Horn to Loch Stack where it joins the CWT. This looks like a tough 24 ½ miles.
** Noted alternative option to turn in the opposite direction at this point and follow existing track E over Creag Stonsaid (454m) meeting the track W leading to Loch Stack which is approx. 3mls longer (but may be easier). GPX 1b
Section 2 (For those who walked down the A838 to join the CWT at Rhiconich)
2 miles. Diverts from the Cape Wrath Trail at the head of Loch An Nighe Leathaid south east to the trail at Allt Horn. (NC 28869 45610) N58° 21.683' W4° 55.515' and re-enters it at (NC 31420 43116) N58° 20.400' W4° 52.794' GPX 1a
Section 3
This diversion from the Cape Wrath trail for the less adventurous can be left out and the Cape Wrath Trail can be left finally at the start of section 4
South of Glendhu Bothy NC 28295 34183 (N58° 15.520' W4° 55.595') follow Cape Wrath Trail East for approx 1 mile and at (NC 28687 33902) N58° 15.377' W4° 55.181' take the track left down Glen Dubh and follow it until Cnoch a Mhadaidh where you turn south. After about half a mile leave the track heading broadly in the direction of the southern end of Loch an Eirciil. GPX tracks for this now No:s 3a, 3b meeting track 4 about half a mile south of Loch an Eirciil (NC 31369 27588) N58° 12.041' W4° 52.168' .
Revised GPX track names and numbers:
GPX 3a Glen Dubh to Cnoch a Mhadaidh (path)
GPX 3b Cnoch a Mhadaidh Loch Eirciil Sth (no path, 3 1/2 miles )
4 Loch an Eirciil S to R Oykel, Ascends Ben More Assynt following ridgeline (11 1/4 miles of which 8 1/2 miles no path).
Section 4
9.5 miles. Leaves Cape Wrath Trail at (NH 36608 98987) N57° 56.764' W4° 45.633' following paths until Abhain an t Srath Chuileannaich at (NH 39193 96509) N57° 55.486' W4° 42.915' bearing west southwest over Bodach Mor until Abhainne al Glinne Bigh (NH 35321 84661) N57° 49.024' W4° 46.341' GPX 4
Section 5
2 miles. Easterly bearing from marked trail at Loch Aradaich to Loch Orrin (NH 37803 52241) N57° 31.625' W4° 42.530' – (NH 40475 50869) N57° 30.944' W4° 39.802' GPX4
Section 6
3 miles. Easterly bearing from path end to Carn Na Gearrsaich (NH 40077 46139) N57° 28.389' W4° 40.015' to pick up trail in woodland near Creag Ard Mohr (NH 39731 43147) N57° 26.770' W4° 40.242' GPX 8
Section 7
4 miles. River Glass (NH 34572 31842) N57° 20.573' W4° 44.937' Southerly bearing to pick up trail at Loch Comhnard (NH 36316 28589) N57° 18.860' W4° 43.071' GPX 9
Section 8
2 miles Meall na Faiche (NH 35327 18785) N57° 13.560' W4° 43.665' bearing south to R Moriston (NH 35649 16131) N57° 12.139' W4° 43.239' GPX 9
Section 9
6 miles. R Moriston (NH 35607 16020) N57° 12.078' W4° 43.277' bearing south to Fort Augustus (NH 38035 10506) N57° 09.161' W4° 40.653' GPX 10
Section 10
200yds Junction East Highland Way and A86 at (NN 55385 90256) 56°58'41.44" N 4°22'39.56" W End of forestry track and road do not link but shallow gulley looks easily accessible. There is a stock fence. GPX 11
Section 11
½ mile. Uisige Labhair (NN 46402 72901) N56° 49.083' W4° 30.990' links footpaths. GPX 13
Section 12
1mile. links footpaths on foot of Garbh Mheall (NN 48944 51714) N56° 37.723' W4° 27.746' bearing southeast to Meall Buidhe. GPX 14
Section 13
1mile, Links footpath to summit path on Meallh Nan Tanachan (NN 57970 40708) N56° 31.965' W4° 18.564' GPX 14
Section 14
½ mile. Links paths at Meall Liath (NN 58241 36185) N56° 29.534' W4° 18.152' GPX14
Section 15
½ mile. Links paths at Gleann Cesaig (NN 53573 11182) N56° 15.982' W4° 21.860' GPX15
Glasgow route optional. Plot crosses Clyde on Polmadie footbridge 4/10ths of a mile from the line.
Section 16
4 miles. Biblon Hill (NS 65880 33524) N55° 34.363' W4° 07.634' to Greenock Water (NS 66344 29236) N55° 32.061' W4° 07.068' GPX 21
Section 17
2miles. Guelt (NS 64363 19738) N55° 26.911' W4° 08.672' to quarry at (NS 64911 17366) N55° 25.642' W4° 08.083' GPX 21
Section 18
6miles. Black Top (NS 65091 09686) N55° 21.507' W4° 07.690' to Polskeoch (NS 67675 03872) N55° 18.417' W4° 05.082' Note: there appears to be a track on the ground viewable from Google Earth but it is not marked on maps. GPX 25
Section 19
1 ½ miles. (NX 67941 88662) N55° 10.225' W4° 04.404' to Greentop of Margree (NX 67810 87591) N55° 09.647' W4° 04.497' Note: from Google Earth there appears to be a deer fence here, hence the convoluted routing. GPX 22b
Section 20
1 mile. High Bridge of Barlay (NX 69520 79009) N55° 05.050' W4° 02.651' to woodland bearing due east at (NX 70818 78737) N55° 04.923' W4° 01.424' . Google Earth indicates it might be OK to nip over the wall at the end of the bridge parapet but I have routed all the way around the property. GPX 23
Section 21
½ mile. Glengaggen Hill (NX 70341 73282) N55° 01.976' W4° 01.724' to woodland bearing south south east at (NX 70591 72756) N55° 01.697' W4° 01.475' GPX 23
Section 22
600 yds Newlaw Moss (NX 72651 48757) N54° 48.796' W3° 58.905' bearing south east (or walk round by road) GPX 24 or GPX 25
Lastly. Abbey Head is occupied by a MOD range and thus the terminus of this route is moved half a mile east to Abbey Burn. This appears to have similar restrictions to the Cape Wrath range but is open to the public when the gate-pole is open.