Scottish National Trail – Stage 2

Today is the day we will all make our way to Kingussie to begin the second stage of our Scottish National 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 or near Kingussie

Day 1: Kingussie to Garva Bridge – 33km (20.5 miles); 515m ascent.
We will begin the second stage of this long trek on the wildcat trail between Kingussie and Newtonmore, before picking up the East Highland Way through Glen Banchor. From Balgowan we then make for the Spey Dam and eventually Garva Bridge.

Day 2: Garva Bridge to Fort Augustus – 28.5km (17.75 miles); 690m ascent.
We will take on the Corrieyairack Pass today; a big up-and-over into Fort Augustus. You will be following General Wade’s Military Road through the pass on good tracks, which pass the watershed before descending for 15km into Fort Augustus with good views of the southern end of Loch Ness.

Day 3: Fort Augustus to Mandally – 20.5km (12.75 miles); 200m ascent.
After two big days a shorter, more gentle day is in order. From Fort Augustus we will walk a section of the Great Glen Way to Loch Oich. The next section is the best of the day, with scenic views across the Loch to Invergarry Castle and along the path itself. We pass through the native woodland of the Letterfeirn Nature Reserve before finishing our day on forestry tracks and minor road to the River Garry.

Day 4: Mandally to Poulary – 18km (11 miles);  366m ascent.
Another shorter day today and we head westwards for Glen Garry. We will walk through a mix of woodlands, some populated with Highland Cows. After Garrygualach things become trickier underfoot, with an indistinct route and boggy ground conditions beside the River Garry. A tributary of this is crossed near the end of our day before our finish in Poulary.

Day 5: Poulary to Cluanie – 17.5km (11 miles); 700m ascent.
On our 5th day of walking we combine two hill passes with a potentially tricky river crossing (dry feet will be unlikely today). The initial climb over Mam na Seilg gives excellent views of the surrounding hills and mountains. From here we descend on an indistinct path to the River Loyne and the aforementioned crossing. Some boggy ground leads to a better path for the second climb of the day. The reward for your efforts is the view back down Loch Loyne. We will finish the day walking the old “Road to the Isles” into Cluanie Inn.

Day 6: Cluanie to Morvich – 26.5km (16.5 miles); 500m ascent.
Our final day’s walking before a rest day takes us into the mountains of Kintail. First we make a boggy start through An Caorann Mòr to the remote Alltbeithe hostel. This sits in the upper reaches of the beautiful Glen Affric (we stay here on our Affric Kintail Way). Today though, we will continue our route west through the wild upper glen, passing Camban bothy, and finally making a scenic descent down Gleann Lichd into Morvich.

Today is a scheduled rest day. We will be in/near Morvich in the stunning surrounds of Loch Duich.

Day 1: Morvich to Maol Bhuidhe – 23km (14.5 miles), 1100m ascent.
We will start out for the Falls of Glomach as per the Cape Wrath Trail South trek, but instead of heading for a pick-up at Killilan we will turn north-east and head deep into the mountains, with the trail becoming increasingly less trodden. There will be plenty of burns and rivers to ford and we will finish the day at Maol Buidhe, a bothy. We will camp here.

Day 2: Maol Bhuidhe to Craig – 24km (15 miles), 650m ascent.
Having spent the night at Maol Bhuidhe we will have river crossing to start the day and then some very rough ground to cover before a joining a decent trail to Bendronaig Lodge. Going will get tough again as we head for the Bealach Bhearnais, a high pass through the mountains, descending to the glen beyond. Another river crossing will await before we finish on good tracks to Craig. 

Day 3: Craig to Kinlochewe – 16.5km (10.5 miles), 500m ascent.
From Craig we will gain the Coulin pass before making easy progress down to Loch Coulin. One more climb on forestry tracks follows before a challenging boggy finish into Kinlochewe.

Day 4: Kinlochewe to Corrie Hallie – 30.75km (19 miles), 890m ascent.
This is the longest day but a fantastic walk through the mountains of Fisherfield with excellent tracks to begin with. We will leave the road at the start of the day and not see it again until the very end. As such it is a committing day, but with day packs we will have a lighter load with just our day packs.

Day 5: Corrie Hallie to Loch Broom – 16.75km (10.5 miles), 545m ascent.
Our last day before another rest day will begin an ascent of a rough track onto the moorland above. Passing woodland, a series of lochs and streams, fantastic views of An Teallach will rise behind us. The remote Munros to the north of Loch Broom come into view as we reach the high point of the day.  We then descend steeply into Inverbroom before joining the road. We will walk the quiet road on the south side of Loch Broom to Dun an Ruigh Ruadh, opposite our continuation point in Leckmelm.

This is our second scheduled rest day and we will be based in the small town of Ullapool. 

Day 1: Leckmelm to Oykel Bridge – 29km (18 miles), 750m ascent.
Today you will start by leaving the road and heading into the forest above Loch Broom, climbing steadily up to 600m. We will descend into Glen Achall and cross the river using a wire suspension bridge. From the river, it is just a short walk to Loch an Daimh, a beautifully remote spot for a lunch break. You will leave Loch an Daimh by heading northeast on small footpaths, walking through Glen Elnig before following forestry tracks all the way to Oykel Bridge. Once at Oykel Bridge, we will return to Ullapool. This is a longer drive and takes around 45 minutes, but it is a chance to enjoy the scenery of Coigach and Assynt, including spectacular views of Suilven.

Day 2: Oykel Bridge to Inchnadamph – 32km (20 miles), 700m ascent.

We begin this day on a good track, eating up the miles through Glen Oykel, alongside the river and forestry. A smaller, rougher trail then takes us from Salachy to Loch Ailsh before we head up into the beautiful mountains of Assynt. We hike towards the isolated Dubh Loch Mor, the source of the River Oykel, as our trail peters out. From here we have options dependent on river levels. We may take a direct approach across the rough moorland to the river crossing and then a steep climb to the bealach (mountain pass).  Alternatively we may continue right up to Dubh Loch Mor and then traverse to the rocky bealach to the southwest of Conival and reach our highest point for the day at 560m. Then we will pick our way down steep slopes and onto well-worn tracks to Inchnadamph. 

Day 3: Inchnadamph to Glendhu – 21km (13 miles), 950m ascent.
This day takes us through the wild heart of Assynt and some of the most spectacular scenery in the highlands. You will start by heading over the hills to the second of the great waterfalls on the Cape Wrath Trail – Eas a’ Chaual Aluinn. This is the UK’s highest waterfall and a spectacular sight in spate. The day continues with stunning scenery as we follow rough tracks around the shores of the sea Lochs of Glencoul and Glendhu, where we will camp.

Day 4: Glendhu to Loch Stack Lodge – 21.5km (13.5 miles), 800m ascent.
After lots of rough ground yesterday, today begins on good tracks. Uphill at first, you will gain the high ground fantastic views back to Quinag and then northwards to Arkle. We will drop down to Strath Stack before walking round the back of Ben Stack to Loch Stack Lodge.  Our accommodation will be in Kinlochbervie.

Day 5: Loch Stack Lodge to Blairmore – 27km (17 miles), 650m ascent.
A long and mixed day. You will begin will taking on some rough terrain, including a deep but slow river crossing, to Rhiconich. From here we have road walking to Kinlochbervie, and then complete the route to Blairmore on a combination of road and by taking in some coast walking around the beaches of Oldshoremore and Polin bay.

Day 6: Blairmore to Cape Wrath Lighthouse – 18.5km (11.5 miles), 660m ascent.
You will set out on good tracks for the glorious sands of Sandwood Bay. Having enjoyed a break you will then tackle the rough terrain between here and the lighthouse.  We follow clifftops, ascend to viewpoints, and cross multiple rivers to reach the far north-west of Scotland! We will spend the night here in the simple bunkhouse.

Day 7: Cape Wrath Lighthouse to Kyle of Durness – 18km (11 miles), 270m ascent.
All that is left is to walk off the Cape! A good track will make for easy miles between the lighthouse and the ferry to Keoldale. (Note: if the ferry is not running we will need to extend our walking today by a further 6km around the Kyle of Durness.) Our final night will be spent celebrating the conclusion of our Scottish National Trail in Durness.

After an epic adventure it is time to say our goodbyes! Transport to Inverness/Kingussie will be available.