by jynto » Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:01 pm
Date walked: 17/12/2019
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After getting stuck in bogs, lost, underestimating the time it would take and not carrying enough food, losing my map in a tough river crossing, and many days of heavy rain two years ago, I became dispirited and gave up the Cape Wrath trail in Morvich. It rained heavily there for two days and I couldn't face the difficult walk down the falls of Glomach. Instead, I walked through Glen Affrick then back to Fort William down the Great Glen way. The scenery was stunning and I appreciated being able to walk on solid paths again.
But every time I heard the shipping news, I really wanted to get to Cape Wrath. So I improved my compass skills and decided to set off from Cape Wrath instead and see how far I'd manage walking the CWT North to South. As a 60 year old solo backpacker, I wasn't sure how difficult this would be, but I had plenty of time and thought I could always turn around if it became too tough or the rivers were too dangerous to cross.
I didn't always take the most difficult route if the weather was bad, but didn't always take the easy route either and I got to Morvich feeling fit and proud and meeting a lot of adventourous people on the way. I enjoyed almost every moment, the solitude, the scenery, the wildness, the kindness of strangers, and the company in the bothies, even started to enjoy crossing the pathless boggy terrain!
Can't wait until next summer when I hope to walk the whole trail again!
