Cape Wrath Coastal Walk
Highlands
Cape Wrath occupies the north-westernmost corner of mainland Britain, and reaching it involves both a ferry crossing and a journey of either 19 km on foot or a ride in the cape's famous minibus. The lighthouse at the cape stands on cliff tops 122 metres above the sea, and the Clo Mor cliffs stretching east are the highest on mainland Britain at 281 metres. The moorland and coastal landscape of the Cape Wrath peninsula is managed by the Ministry of Defence as a training area, which paradoxically protects it from development and keeps it entirely wild. Access is generally unrestricted except during live firing exercises.
For those seeking the most remote and untamed dog walk in Scotland, Cape Wrath is the answer. Once past the ferry and away from the minibus track, the landscape is as close to true wilderness as the British Isles can offer. Off-lead potential is total across the open moorland and cliff-top approaches. Livestock are absent from most of the peninsula. The cliffs demand careful management near the edge but the approach moorland is boundless in every direction. The Cape Wrath Café at the lighthouse is seasonal but dog-friendly and operates from a corrugated iron building that has become something of a legend among walkers. Check the MoD firing schedule before travelling: details are posted at the ferry and available online.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 22.0 km (13.7 miles)
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 7 hr
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Moorland, Peak
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- Low
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