Cape Wrath Ultra

The Cape Wrath Ultra is based on the Cape Wrath Trail, which is considered to be the toughest long distance backpacking trail in the UK. It crosses rugged landscapes and winds through genuine wilderness spending significant time away from civilisation.

The 400k route is completed over 8 days and it offers a compelling ultra running challenge. Participants will have none of the complex logistical worries that hikers traditionally encounter when embarking on the Cape Wrath Trail or other long distance footpaths, such as the Pennine Way.

Participants are welcome to walk large sections of the route, however, the Cape Wrath Ultra is ultimately an ultra running race; on the longest days participants will not be able to exclusively walk, in order to complete the route within the cut-offs.

Day 1 starts with a short ferry trip across Loch Linnhe sea loch onto the shore opposite Fort William. The running opens with a straight-forward warm up on a lovely road, headed South! But this is the key to accessing the remote western seaboard of Scotland, and on this day-end, the famous sights of Glenfinnan.

From the very start of Day 2 the route ascends into remote territory, and clips the end of Scotland’s two longest dead-end roads, both at remote sea loch heads. Even when you reach the overnight, you will be far, far away from civilisation.

This day is likely to be the hardest - though it is not the longest. It departs from the edge of Knoydart, passes through the large mountain and glen groups of Kintail, and reaches the wide straths (flat glens with big rivers) characteristic of Wester Ross. The Falls of Glomach are the most voluminous waterfalls in the Highlands.

On this day you will experience the mountains at their loftiest – all around you, with high rocky passes, and rough underfoot in the latter third. It is one of the only days where you will not be close to the sea.

Despite the previous days of remote territory, climbing up out of Kinlochewe on Day 5 will not prepare you for the qualities of what lies ahead. Fisherfield’s mountains will steadily reveal themselves to you! And then you will work through great isolated mountain glens, eventually overnighting just short of the port of Ullapool.

This day escalates into some very remote and rough high ground, but is preceded by significant distances on double-tracks in the glens, and through prime Salmon-fishing country. Day 6 is the longest day, but for all those that have made it this far, this day will unlikely defeat you. (Inchnadamph is the highest overnight camp, at 80m, and one of the few that are noticeably not near sea level).

One of the longer days, Day 7 gives a great contrast of moor, mountain, and deep inaccessible sea lochs. Eas a' Chual Aluinn is the highest waterfall in the UK. At the end of this day is a rare section of road for this journey – but you will remember it as a road that is taking you somewhere amazing, due to the achingly beautiful seaward views.

This is the day that takes you along the glorious beach of Sandwood Bay, to The Atlantic Sea proper and on to Cape Wrath and the Lighthouse, the most north-westerly point in the UK: A day to savour. It’s a deliberately shorter day. After finishing here, there will be a gradual minibus and ferry evacuation back to civilisation in the village of Durness, 15 miles away, and a fitting sea loch coastal symmetry with the start, 8 days earlier. In the evening, it’s time to celebrate, and in the morning, time to climb onto coaches and wave goodbye to the far north of Scotland.