Dates
We do offer private and bespoke group trips on all our treks and walking holidays. These can start on any date of your choosing, with a minimum of 4 people.
Please contact us with your preferred dates and accommodation, along with your group size.
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View Package PricesMonday17 May 2027Saturday22 May 2027
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View Package PricesMonday30 August 2027Saturday4 September 2027
Overview
The Cape Wrath Trail Knoydart Expedition gives you the chance to walk the first 4 days of the Cape Wrath Trail, from Fort William to Kinloch Hourn. It is perhaps the most remote and wild section of the entire Cape Wrath Trail.
Due to its extremely remote nature, two nights of this trek will be spent wild camping. Wild camping is camping away from roads and habitation without the services of a campsite. Our Cape Wrath Trail Knoydart Expedition allows you to sample thru-hiking on the incredible Cape Wrath Trail.
Highlights of the Cape Wrath Trail - Knoydart Expedition
- Crossing Loch Linnhe on the small passenger ferry to begin a big adventure.
- Walking along the peaceful Cona Glen.
- Seeing The 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous by the Harry Potter Films).
- Walking through the stunning mountains of the Knoydart peninsula.
- 2 nights wild camping in an extremely remote part of the UK.
- The challenge!
Itinerary
Each day you will be guided along the Cape Wrath Trail by your qualified and friendly walking guide, and all the logistics of your trek will be managed by your trek manager, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.
As detailed in the itinerary below. Once you have completed the first day of walking you will be taken back to your accommodation in Fort William.
The next two nights you will be wild camping. Your main bag will be safely stored for you and so you will only need to take the items that are essential for your expedition.
Today is the day we will all make our way to Fort William to begin our Cape Wrath Trail adventure. In the evening, you will get a chance to meet the rest of your group, as well as your guides, for a welcome evening and briefing. This will be in a local pub/restaurant where you will have the option of an evening meal.
Accommodation in Fort William
While today is a long day, it is actually fairly gentle underfoot. There is just under 600m of height gain throughout the full day.
We will begin by catching the small passenger ferry from Fort William to Camusnagaul. This 10 minute crossing over Loch Linnhe gives you fantastic views of what is to come. Once off the ferry we will first have some road walking to cover before the road turns into a good track for the next 15 km. This section follows the River Cona through a quiet glen where we rarely meet other walkers.
The track then turns into a more trodden path, as you ascend to the bealach (mountain pass) between Meall nan Damh and Sgorr Craobh a’Chaorainn. The high point is quickly reached and from here we will begin our descent towards Glenfinnan to descend, on what can be a boggy section.
Good track is then followed to Glenfinnan. This is the location of the famous Glenfinnan Monument – a tribute to those who fought and died in the Jacobite Risings. It was built in 1815 in the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his father’s Standard at the start of the final Jacobite Rising in 1745.
Distance: 21.5 miles (34.5km)
Total ascent: 580m
Time: 9-10 hours
Accommodation in Fort William
Today is the first day of the mini expedition. You will carry with you everything you need for three days of walking and the wild camps. We will give you a full kit list to make it as enjoyable as possible and to keep your rucksack as light as possible. Your guide will choose the best place for your group to wild camp (depending on group speed, the weather, and levels of tiredness). Therefore, Loch Nevis is our aim, but you may camp before this.
Once you have left the road at Glenfinnan you will not see another road until you reach your destination of Kinloch Hourn two days later. You will begin the day by walking under the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The Viaduct consists of 21 arches and was built back in the 1890s by Sir Robert McAlpine. It has been made famous more recently by featuring in the Harry Potter films and carries the West Highland Railway line to Mallaig.
Your first few miles are on good tracks but the path becomes increasingly rougher as you approach Bealach a’Chaorainn. There is a small river here that you will cross multiple times. At the 471m bealach you will descend steeply, this soon eases and becomes a better footpath, followed by an easy track once more through Glen Dessarry to A’Chuil.
The path then becomes rough again as you walk by two small lochs, making the final high pass of the day, before crossing The River Finiskaig. The view here begins to open up to the beautiful Loch Nevis and the trail will become steep and rocky underfoot. The flat ground for camping near Sourlies is a stunning spot for our first wild camp of the trek. Getting through the miles today will mean the next two days are less demanding.
Distance: 18.5 miles (29.5km)
Total ascent: 1000m
Time: 10-12 hours
Accommodation – Wild Camping
In the morning you will wake, eat some breakfast, pack down your tent and begin the third day of walking. From here the trail will become rough and extremely boggy underfoot (everything the CWT is renowned for). However, the scenery is stunning and you will join a much better path as you ascend the bealach (mountain pass). Heading down to Barisdale will show off dramatic views of Loch Hourn. Our aim today is to reach Barisdale where we can camp on the designated camp ground near the farm.
Distance: 9.5 miles (15.5km)
Total ascent: 600m
Time: 6.5-7.5 hours
Accommodation – Wild Camping
On our final day we will follow a coastal footpath all the way to Kinloch Hourn. This is a shorter day along the fjord-like section of the tidal Loch Hourn. However, it includes a fair amount of undulation, and the trail is rough and steep in places, so should not be underestimated. The remote feeling doesn’t recede even when you reach the car park. Once at the head of the loch you will be in Kinloch Hourn and will be taken back to Fort William for a well-deserved rest! This mini expedition is certainly challenging. However, it is well worth all the effort and will be an unforgettable experience.
Distance: 7 miles (11km)
Total ascent: 410m
Time: 4-5 hours
Accommodation in Fort William
Today is departure day and time to say our goodbyes.
You can make use of the convenient train and bus links from Fort William directly to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, or Skye.
Alternatively, this might just be the beginning of your continued journey on the Cape Wrath Trail. If so, enjoy your rest day in Fort William before we set out from Kinloch Hourn on the South section of our Cape Wrath Trail.
What's Included?
The cost includes
- Accommodation for 3 nights (breakfast included)
- 2 nights of wild camping with the assistance of your guide
- 4 days guided walking
- Qualified UK Mountain Leader as your guide
- Ferry tickets to cross Loch Linnhe
- Support vehicle
- Full Information Pack
- Training advice
- Maximum group size of 7
Not included in our packages
- Lunches, snacks and dinners
- Camp food
- Transport to/from Fort William
Accommodation Options
Bed & Breakfast
On the first and second night you will be provided B&B accommodation in Fort William. You will share a twin room with another member of the group unless you chosen to pay the single supplement for a private room. After two nights camping in Knoydart you will return to Fort William and B&B accommodation for your final night.
Wild Camping
For the nights you will be wild camping you will need to bring your tent, sleeping bag, and all your overnight kit. We will provide you with a kit list to help you pack so that you are as comfortable as possible while not overloading your rucksack.
Wild camping is a challenge, however, the effort will be rewarded by spending the night in one of the most remote and unspoiled locations in the UK.
FAQs
General
This trek is graded 5/5 on our trekking scale.
This is the grading reserved for our most challenging treks and only recommended for the experienced and fit walker. A trek that will be hilly/mountainous, consistently cover long distances over pathless rough terrain. Routes of this grade will include committing days through very remote areas.
This is as tough as it gets in UK long-distance walking. Days can be long, include significant height gain, and the Cape Wrath Trail is famed for is rough off path terrain. This section also includes wild camping which necessitates a heavier pack for 3 of the 4 walking days.
To help you decide if this trip is right for you, please also refer to the itinerary, which includes daily distances, ascent, and detailed descriptions of the terrain.
You can read more about our grading system in our Trip Difficulty Guide.
Please note: all long-distance walking is challenging, particularly if you are not used to walking/exercising on consecutive days. What makes a trek challenging is personal and depends on your fitness, strengths, and preferences.
The first four days on The Cape Wrath Trail, our Knoydart Expedition, will give you an insight into why this is consider the UK's most challenging trek.
You can expect some historic sites and outstanding mountain scenery. You can expect to camp in incredible locations and experience a level of remoteness that many don’t realise exists in the UK. Without the comforts of accommodation each night this is a more immersive trek that most of our other offerings, but we will still be there to support you every step of the way.
The Cape Wrath Trail Knoydart Expedition is perfect for those who want a taste of thru-hiking on the UK's most challenging long-distance trail. It is also an optional section of the trail for anyone who is looking to make a complete Cape Wrath Trail in combination with our Cape Wrath South and North treks.
However, this is not just about the Cape Wrath Trail. Since you will have two nights out wild camping, it also makes an excellent experience for those that want to simply spend the nights out in some of the most remote and breath-taking scenery in Scotland.
This 4-day walk covers the Cape Wrath Trail from Fort William to Kinloch Hourn. The Cape Wrath Trail is the most challenging long-distance trek we offer. This is not only due to the total distance involved but also because much of the walking is off-path over uneven and boggy terrain.
We strongly recommend that all customers booking this trip have prior experience with long-distance trails and/or mountain walks. In addition to the physical demands, you will also be camping for 2 nights.
If you are unsure whether this challenge is suitable for you, please get in touch to discuss this. We love talking about this incredible trail!
Our meeting point on arrival day is Fort William. Fort William is well served by bus and rail services, and there is long stay parking available should arrival by car be your preference.
We will arrange a place to meet that evening for our briefing and a meal, at around 7pm.
On the nights when accommodation is provided this will be in Fort William, within walking distance of the town centre. On two nights you will be wild camping in Knoydart.
Fort William is well served by supermarkets, places to eat, and outdoor shops. After leaving Glenfinnan for your second day on the trail, there are little or no services until we reach Kinloch Hourn. Assuming Barisdale is the location for our second camp, there will be a toilet available here.
You will be provided with a full kit list, but as a guide the basics you will need are:
Walking boots, waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, a spare warm layer and walking trousers (not jeans or denim), a water bottle, sun and midge protection.
Camping kit: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, camp stove and cooking kit, and water filter/purification.
With Thistle Trekking you get a personal service. We are happy to answer any questions and queries and help where we can with all aspects of your trip.
Your point of contact will be the same person from the first enquiry to the final communication before your Cape Wrath Trail trek.
Our guides are all qualified, experienced, and fun companions on the trail.
What our walkers said about their Cape Wrath Trail (Knoydart Expedition)
I had an amazing time and I am really glad I had the opportunity to undertake the trek and see, first hand, the beautiful scenery the area has to offer.
Karen C
Having now completed three treks with Thistle and signed up for a further two I have to say that I cannot speak highly enough of the company. Davey and his team really do go out of their way to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, all communications before, during and after the trip are fast, helpful and friendly. It speaks volumes that on every trip I have been with them the majority of people are returning customers.
Mark D
I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish! For me, the format of the trip was perfect in all regards whilst keeping very much within the spirit and challenge of the CWT.
Stephen P
Dates
We do offer private and bespoke group trips on all our treks and walking holidays. These can start on any date of your choosing, with a minimum of 4 people.
Please contact us with your preferred dates and accommodation, along with your group size.
-
View Package PricesMonday17 May 2027Saturday22 May 2027
-
View Package PricesMonday30 August 2027Saturday4 September 2027
