Graphic designer extraordinaire Mark Vice has worked his magic and transformed this original drawing into a t-shirt or mug that is fit for any occasion.

The distance was a tricky one because of the many route variations, but after much deliberation we went down the middle with 220 Miles.

Check out the shop now: https://shop.capewrathtrailguide.org/

You can see the first Episode here:

and I've also recorded an interview with ultra runner Damian Hall about his experiences setting a Fastest Known Time.

So despite misgivings that developing the site would cannibalise sales of the guide, I took the decision to develop a comprehensive resource for people walking this truly spectacular trail. My feeling was that most people would use the guide alongside the website.

Over the last five years, it's been fantastic to hear from so many of you. The Roll of Honour has proved popular, and the forum and comments sections have enabled me to reflect the inevitable changes on the ground.

But five years is positively ancient for a website and it was time for a much needed update. So what's changed? Well predominantly a few things that had broken have now been fixed. The Roll of Honour now works properly.

The site will also work across mobile devices recognising that many people now browse from their phones or tablets.

I've resolved to blog much more frequently than I have been able to over the last few years.

But inevitably all this costs money, and unfortunately my dreams of being able to retire on the proceeds of the guide have not yet been realised.

So if you have used the site over the years and feel like making a contribution, anything would be gratefully received and will help keep the site going for years to come.

You can donate via the button below, thanks in advance for your support.

See you out there. Iain

On more recent trips I printed the relevant sections of the route on to waterproof Toughprint paper using the likes of MemoryMap, Quo and Anquet or web-based route planners like Grough, Trailzilla and Walk Highlands.

Although this approach saved weight, I sometimes found myself lacking the wider map area and context needed in an emergency or for a detour.

All the time I looked enviously at the impressive range of maps for the National Trails produced by Harveys. As the Cape Wrath Trail is a less formal route, I doubted whether we'd ever see an equivalent. That was until May when the company released two new maps for the Cape Wrath Trail and in doing so answered the prayers of many a walker.

Many swear by Harvey maps, and their BMC series covering Britain's main mountainous areas has become popular with guides. The 1:40,000 scale (sometimes referred to as the "magic scale") provides a balance between scale and detail and the shading used on the topography is also much loved.

I've found that they take a bit of getting used to if you're familiar with OS maps, but once you do they are a pleasure to read and it is for good reasons they are favoured by the main mountain marathons.

A further boon is the fact that they're waterproof and printed on a lightweight plasticised material. I can vouch for this as I dropped one in a stream on the West Highland Way with no ill effects.

Although fitting such a long route onto two maps has necessitated a narrow strip view of the sections, if you are carrying a GPS device, you could get away with just these maps as an accompaniment, however, in places they lack the broader context that would be needed to make an escape from some of the remoter sections.

In terms of the route, it mostly follows that which I set out in my guide pretty closely and lists a range of sensible detours or alternatives that have also become established.

There are only a couple of inclusions I would take slight issue with.

The maps follow suggestions from previous guides and include the section that descends to Attadale and then continues to Strathcarron on the road. In my view this is definitely not recommended. I've walked the road and it is fast with several dangerous blind bends and should be avoided unless in an emergency. There are other far better options to get to Strathcarron and this alternative has no obvious benefits.

On the final stage from Sandwood Bay to the Cape the maps suggests a route that clings to the coastline. Having walked this route many times, I'd still suggest the route that is outlined in the guide that tracks the contours further in land. Some rivers (particularly the Keisgaig) will be harder to cross by the coast when is spate, and the view is just as good from further inland.

These small points notwithstanding, these excellent new maps provide a great resource for cape wrath trailers in years to come.

They can be purchased direct from Harveys. (yes, you can get them cheaper elsewhere, but Harveys are a small company worth supporting and provide an excellent mail order service).

The thorny question of maintaining dry feet

The meandering musings which follow are an account of one mans search for appropriate footwear for a CWW expedition (Cape Wrath in Winter). I was forced to reappraise my original choice after a battering on the Black Mountain in August, an outing which should be a picnic compared to the north of Scotland in December. I did a lot of thinking and some research on the web, and writing it all down was my way of sorting out my thoughts. I didnt expect to come to any useful conclusion but, rather to my surprise, I did come across an approach that seems to work for me. Ill find out in four weeks time if I was right.

Why bother? Whats wrong with wet feet? Ive walked plenty of miles with sodden sox and lived to tell the tale. And in days gone by nobody would even have imagined that dry feet were a possibility. Is it not the case that the traditional Scottish brogues had holes in to let the water out a pragmatic solution if ever there was one?

I suppose there are three reasons for aspiring to dry feet:

• Comfort, in a general sense, and as a morale-maintainer;
• More specifically, avoiding extreme cold, which could be dangerous as well as unpleasant (though if it is that cold, water should be frozen, so that feet are unlikely to get wet from rain or immersion);
• Most importantly, avoiding blisters and chafing which, if serious enough, could result in infection andor abandonment of a trip, the point being that wet skin is much more vulnerable.

How do wet feet occur? It sounds too elementary a question, but if were going to take this investigation seriously we need to know where the wetness is coming from. The answers are:

• Sweat. Feet sweat a surprising amount, particularly, but not exclusively, in warm weather.
• Immersion. Obviously, putting a foot into a marsh or stream, so that water comes over the top of the boot, is going to result in a wet foot.
• Ambient wetness. Sooner or later, water is going to find its way through most boots unless they are made of rubber or plastic. Such water comes either from falling rain or from the ground, in the form of wet vegetation (wet grass is amazingly good at this), marshy ground, slushy snow etc.
• Intrusion. In the absence of effective gaiters, rain will run down legs and into boots.
• For completeness, one should add that putting on wet boots andor wet sox will also have the undesired result, even in the absence of other sources.

What strategies exist? There seem to be three broad approaches:

1. Outer defences
2. Inner defences
3. Dont bother.

Outer Defences This is the approach exemplified by my original intention to wear Koflach (plastic) boots and glued-on Yeti gaiters. The idea is to keep water at bay from all sources. Indeed, nothing will get through the plastic boots and the Yetis should provide a sound defence, even resisting immersion if very brief.

So long as the strategy works, and temperatures are low, feet should remain warm and dry. Another advantage is that the inner boots can be worn around huts and bothies; also, for major river crossings the outer boots can be worn after removing the inners and all sox, and they will not soak up anything in the process. For me, an advantage was that I already had both boots and Yetis, making it a low-cost tried-and-tested option.

The downside, of course, is that plastic boots are relatively heavy, cumbersome, and less comfortable than more conventional boots. However, the main objection is that the strategy itself is a high risk one: while it works, it works very well, but if a foot goes in during a crossing then three layers of sox and an inner boot get soaked, resulting in lasting dampness and discomfort as well as unwelcome additional weight.

It seems too high a risk to take. Its still the strategy of choice for snowy or icy conditions, which is what I used to use it for, but my guess is that CWW is more likely to be wet than snowy or icy, which is why I investigated

Inner Defences This strategy accepts that most boots arent waterproof (whatever they claim) and therefore interposes a waterproof but breathable sock or liner between the boot and foot. There are two main approaches.

Sealskinz are a fairly thick sock, with a rubbery membrane between two layers of fabric the inner being Merino wool in some models. They are designed to be worn next to the skin. There is a bewildering number of different models, some interestingly, from our viewpoint of mid-calf or even knee length, but quite pricey as a result.

Goretex socks are quite different. In fact, those that Ive handled or seen described are not really socks at all but boot liners, being designed to wear outside socks. They also tend to be short: the ones Ive seen reach little higher up the ankle than typical boots.

There seem to be two or three models available in the UK, notably the Trekmates Amphibian (of which I have purchased a sample, out of interest) and ex-Army (which dont currently seem to be available but look very similar to the Amphibian). Despite extravagant claims of stretch fabrics, flexibility is close to zero: the material looks, feels and behaves as though it has been cut from a pair of overtrousers.

It is well known that most contributions to internet forums and online reviews tend to be extreme: theres little incentive for those who are merely mildly (dis)satisfied to go to the trouble of saying so. And theres just as wide a divergence of views about waterproof sox as anything else.

There are plenty of people who are enthusiastic about their experiences, including a large number of (presumably genuine) testimonials on the Sealskinz site. However, many of these enthusiasts seem to be runners, cyclists, fishermen etc: few if any are long-distance backpackers. Perhaps more convincingly, quite a few Army types enthused about their Goretex boot liners.

Others have been less enthusiastic. My son used Sealskinz for backpacking and was ambivalent about them. A friend of mine is an extreme runner and says, I like Sealskinz socks for the winter. I use them both for walking and running. I dont find that they keep my feet particularly dry but they are comfortable and drier than normal socks. Is that a ringing endorsement or damning with faint praise?

People have many reasons for condemning waterproof sox:

• They simply dont work theyre not waterproof, andor they dont breathe;
• If they do get wet inside, theyre worse than nothing;
• Because of their relatively stiff construction they (particularly Goretex) are prone to crumple, causing pressure spots and blisters;
• Sealskinz wont dry out overnight, and you cant even put them on a radiator (or, I suppose, in front of a hot fire) to assist the process;
• Finally, they dont make a seal round the leg and so are prone to flooding from either immersion or intrusion. However, one cunning lad described his solution: he made seals by cutting off the fingers of kitchen gloves, leaving two tubes which he further sealed by the use of vaseline.

In addition, I have three objections:

• In all cases, the sizing is very crude: S, M, L etc. That means that it is a matter of luck whether a particular size of a particular model happens to actually fit you. It took me a long time to arrive at a sock combination that works reliably well, based on socks of just the right size and thickness: it therefore goes against the grain to introduce something crudely sized (and shaped).
• We all know how poorly so-called breathable so-called waterproof membranes actually perform even in relatively ideal conditions, so it requires a real leap of faith to imagine them working inside the hostile confines of a sodden pair of boots.
• And weve all had boots which claimed to be waterproof due to the inclusion of a Goretex or other membrane. Do they work? No: at least, not for very long. Why then, should a Goretex liner perform any better? Its only advantage would be that it is removable and therefore replaceable.

The Acid Test I wore the Amphibian Goretex socks for a day outing which was designed to emulate Scottish conditions (but without the rain or midge) including miles of thick wet vegetation, difficult marshy ground and a number of stream crossings.

I used my normal boots and gaiters, both old and now very leaky, and my normal socks: a short close-fitting inner and a much thicker and longer outer. I wore the Amphibians between the two, and sealed the tops with tubes cut from disposable gloves (more flexible than most kitchen gloves, thus avoiding the need for messy vaseline).

The additional layer felt a little tight at first but my feet soon settled in and remained comfortable all day. After the first couple of miles of wet vegetation and marsh my boots were soaking and I would normally have been expecting to experience wet feet by then, but they only felt wet after the first stream crossing, involving total immersion. In fact this feeling of wetness was an illusion: my feet could feel the wetness of the outer sock, but they themselves remained dry.

At other times my feet did feel rather warm, but it was a warm day and I took my gaiters off. During the remainder of the day I made a number of further careless crossings and waded through any number of marshy bits. At the end of the day my inner socks were just slightly damp, consistent with a little sweating; I was perfectly happy to put my trainers on over them for the drive home.

It was hardly a test worthy of Which? but the outcome has to be a cautious thumbs up for the Amphibian when used in conjunction with a seal. I experienced none of the potential problems. The only thing I noticed was a tendency of the socks to creep down at the back probably because they are fractionally too small for me and thereby break the seal.

I simply got into the habit of checking the seal from time to time and before any deliberate immersion. Despite my scepticism at an intellectual level, what I actually felt was confidence and invulnerability, which was quite uplifiting and in practical terms, of course, there was rarely any need to waste time and energy looking for ways round boggy bits: I just ploughed on through.

I have since used the Amphibians a couple more times with complete success. This is not the outcome I expected but the results speak for themselves. This, therefore, is the combination I am going to use next month, thereby avoiding the risks involved with new boots, which was another option I considered. But what if the liners get damaged or stop working for some other reason? One then ends up with the default position, which is

Dont Bother As already remarked, until relatively recently nobody would have tried to maintain dry feet because the necessary technology didnt exist. That didnt stop people from enjoying the mountains and other wild places. They may, however, have suffered from some discomfort, possibly worse if wetness was followed by extreme cold. More commonly, though, wet feet can mean chafing and blisters, which can in turn result in more than just a little discomfort.

Why does this occur? Wet sox become compressed, so they do not support the foot so well, allowing it to move inside the boot. At the same time they may crumple, creating pressure points. And wet skin is more susceptible to damage.

At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, feet are a very personal thing. Some people only have to look at a hill to break out in blisters; others seem to have cast iron appendages. My own experience is that Ive had relatively little trouble, over the years, and when I have had a problem Ive dealt with it, more or less successfully, by one of two means.

One is to use plasters (or, rather, dressing strip, which is much more flexible) to protect raw spots. This doesnt always work since plasters dont readily stay stuck to wet skin. My main weapon, therefore, is deer tallow, a soft wax which acts as a soothing lubricant which can readily and effectively be applied to an area which is actually or potentially affected by chafe.

It works for me and is less messy than some of the compounds recommended by others. Ive been using the same tube for years but I am delighted to have recently found a new supplier, since it isnt very readily available. Armed with an extra tube, then, Ill be prepared to face the worst even if the Amphibians let me down.

My ultra running has taught me the importance of getting yourself mentally prepared for the terrain ahead. Tackling the Cape Wrath Trail imposes similar physical rigours and unlike other trails that are less arduous, it's worth giving some thought to how you'll deal mentally with adversity.

When I first walked the trail, even as a seasoned hill walker with many years experience in the Scottish Highlands, I remember being quite surprised at how punishing the series of consecutive days over very rough country with a pack proved to be. I particularly like this article, which gives a very honest account of a Cape Wrath Trail expedition that didn't go according to plan.

When I first started researching the guide, the only time of year I could get a decent amount of time off was at Christmas, hence a couple of early expeditions in midwinter, including one during one of the coldest winters in 20 years. I still remember being huddled in my Hilleberg Akto on a desolate shoulder of Ben More while a blizzard raged around me. In the morning, the blizzard still hadn't abated and I had to thaw my boots on a tiny gas stove before setting off towards Loch Glencoul through waist deep drifts.

I remember being very conscious about how far away from anything I was (at least a day and a half's walk from the nearest road) and how marginal the conditions were. Despite the physical hardship, it was quite an intoxicating and liberating experience. When I eventually reached Glencoul bothy I found that it had been left stocked with coal and plentiful firewood which I used to dry out my kit and down bag that were by now sodden. If I had found it cold and dank, I think I would have been sorely tempted to throw in the towel and quit.

It's not just in winter that the trail will test your mental toughness. At any time of year you'll be likely to encounter days of poor weather and the wear and tear on even well hardened feet can be significant. So if you haven't prepared mentally for these circumstances then thoughts can turn to giving up at the next available escape point.

From my ultra running, I've found that at least a third of your effort is about mental toughness. If you can convince your mind to keep going then your body generally follows. So as you prepare for the trail, give plenty of thought to how you'll handle adversity when it inevitably comes. Visualise yourself descending to Sandwood Bay and reaching the lighthouse, and the dark moments and thoughts will soon pass. You're on the journey of a lifetime, especially if you run it in one go!

That said, as a first edition there are a good few errors in there (in truth, a few more than I would ideally have liked), and many thanks to those of you who have got in touch about these via the forum. These and many other improvements will be rolled in to the second edition.

The website is going from strength to strength, and as was always the intention, most stages now have a number of comments that reflect advice or updates from the trail.

The popular BBC programme Coast is planning to film a mini expedition with presenter Nick Crane walking between Sandwood Bay and Cape Wrath. Watch out for this coming to your screens later in the year as part of an episode about coastal paths.

In other news...

New bus service available from Durness

North Highland Way launches

New website for Scottish National Trail

Latest news on the MODs attempts to buy Cape Warth

Great West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail double trip report

Nice video of the journey across the Kyle of Durness to Cape Wrath

The guide should be available in shops shortly and from Amazon later this month / early next month.

Any book that follows a route primarily suggested by others inevitably owes a large debt of gratitude to those that blazed the trail. In particular David Paterson, Cameron McNeish, Denis Brook and Phil Hinchcliffe: without their pioneering and inspirational work, this route wouldnt be as popular as it is today.

Im very grateful to my beautiful and long-suffering wife, who put up with me being far away from home over two consecutive Christmases and many other trips to research this book. Id also like to thank Bob Smith for his companionship during the second winter expedi- tion where we endured some of the coldest conditions in twenty years.

Tom Forrest has probably done more than any single individual to promote the Cape Wrath Trail and has been hugely generous with advice and sup- port during the writing of this book. Thanks also to the many people who have got in touch from all over the world with information fresh from their own journeys along the trail, in particular Dean Crosby and David Hird.

Of course no printed guide can stay completely current for long, which is why this website has been developed to support it. It's already turned into a great resource with some fantastic photos and contributions from walkers all over the world.

This book draws together, updates and attempts to improve on a variety of routes that have previously been suggested. It also offers a wide range of variations, recognising that here can be no definitive path suitable for all.

Follow as much or as little of the route as you like. Take detours, plan alternatives, make the journey to the cape your own. Its one that will live with you for the rest of your life.

You'll also be pleased to know that the new guide is only a few weeks away - you can pre-order it via Amazon and it should arrive late April (although Amazon is currently showing a May delivery, hopefully it will be sooner).

I've received an early proof copy from the publisher and it's looking really good (pictures to follow).

We've re-vamped our forum following last year's problems with spam. It's now much easier to register and contribute.

A lot of people have been in touch asking for a Facebook page. I was initially reluctant to set one up (I'm not a huge fan of Facebook, personally) but I've now established one at [http://www.facebook.com/CapeWr... "Cape Wrath Trail Facebook") so you can post things on this site or there - whatever is easiest for you. So go ahead and "Like" the page if you get a spare second.

I'll make sure any useful info is always cross-posted to avoid things getting out of sync.

If you're setting out on the trail in the next few months, I wish you the very best of luck - stay safe and let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Iain

Conceived by Cameron McNeish, who has done much to popularise the Cape Wrath Trail itself, the new SNT has been widely featured in the press, had an accompanying TV programme on BBC Scotland and was officially opened by Alex Salmond; demonstration of Mr McNeish's political connections and talents for engaging the media.

The second episode of the TV programme covers the section of the SNT from Aberfeldy to Cape Wrath and much of the scenery will be familiar to Cape Wrath Trailers. I particularly liked the interview at the end with the legendary John Ure, owner of the Ozone Cafe at Cape Wrath. I gather the show will be available to buy on DVD at some stage.

There is also an accompanying book, available from Amazon. Some reviewers seem disappointed that it carries limited practical detail to support route planning and as yet there doesn't seem to be a website with details of the trail which would be a handy resource for walkers, in the same way that this website works in tandem with the Cape Wrath Trail Guide. Perhaps this will arrive at some stage in the future.

A few commentators have been a bit sniffy about the route being sponsored by Gore-Tex, given that there is currently no waymarking or obvious investment in the trail itself. On this point I think one has to realise that Mr McNeish is himself a professional and the amount of time taken to research such a route is significant.

So, despite carping from some quarters, on balance this is an excellent addition to Scotland's network of long distance paths and a great option for those of you that want to make your Cape Wrath Trail expedition even longer!

One can only hope that as the trail beds in, better resources to aid the practical planning of an expedition will emerge. Who knows, maybe that's the next project :-)

Quite what this means for access to the Cape remains unclear at this stage. The MOD already uses the peninsula as a bombing range and manages access to it for walkers.

But locally there are fears that it could lead to the Cape, already closed for around 130 days a year during military exercises, being shut off completely to all but the military.

The local community have made an application to buy the land which they are entitled to do under Community Right to Buy legislation and with a referendum on independence looming, this is sure to become a political issue, so we'll have to wait and see what transpires.

In the meantime you can read more about this story on the BBC and Scottish Herald websites.

You can keep up to date with the Community Right to Buy Application here.

If you feel strongly about this issue you can also email the local MSP, Richard Lochhead.

A petition to support the Durness community buy out has also been raised. You can sign it online.

Update 20/12/2012 - John Muir Trust lends its support to keeping Cape Wrath open by backing community buy out

John Hutchison, Chairman of the John Muir Trust said:

It is unthinkable that Cape Wrath should be turned into a military exclusion zone, from which the people of Scotland and overseas visitors are locked out.

We welcome the initiative of the Durness Development Group, who are standing up not only for their own community but also in defence of Scotland's access rights, which are admired across the world.

We would urge the Scottish Government to make sure that the community buy-out is speedily agreed to keep Cape Wrath open.

Read the full article.

The Battle for Cape Wrath: STV news clip starts at 4 minutes. Very good piece on MOD threat to access

Update May 2013 The Ministry of Defence has dramatically withdrawn its bid to extend its biggest UK bombing range at Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on the British mainland.

Read more here

John Muir Trust's Alan McCombes talks to BBC Outdoors about the victory (first item in programme)

The first expedition had to be aborted after just a few days because of a ferocious storm, and during the second expedition we endured some of the coldest winter temperatures seen in Scotland for 20 years.

So I guess the answer is that winter expeditions are feasible, but you'll need to be very well prepared and realistic about the prospect of completing it. Here are a few things to consider if you're planning a winter trip.

Be realistic about daily distance I've made the mistake of planning overly ambitious winter days and lived to regret it. The main limiting factor is daylight - you'll only have 6-7 hours in midwinter and even if you start and finish with a head torch you need to be realistic about the amount of ground you can cover. I've found that over most of the trail around 20km is a good guide for winter days. It's also wise to have an escape plan for each day.

Expect bad weather The likelihood is that you'll get at least one severe depression coming in during a winter expedition bringing heavy rain and high winds. Sometimes these storms make walking, even at low levels, difficult and dangerous. It's best to build in enough flexibility to your schedule to allow for a day holed up in your tent or a bothy.

Allow time for river crossings In winter, water levels in rivers are generally higher, and this means you need to allow for extra time to cross rivers that might be straightforward in drier conditions. In particularly bad spate conditions, you might have to wait for some hours until it's safe to cross certain rivers.

Take the right kit This might sound obvious, but winter conditions in Scotland can often catch out people who aren't used to them. In particular you'll need to balance weight with utility. The few grammes you might save on a lightweight waterproof will soon seem ill-advised if it wets out after a day's torrential rain.

Allow time to get kit dry A long expedition in winter conditions makes it very hard to keep your kit dry. It can be especially demoralising if everything is wet, so allow for a few stops at places where you'll be able to dry out your kit - it will make a huge difference to your morale.

Be self-sufficient Accommodation is limited along the Cape Wrath Trail even in summer, but in winter many places close. This means you'll have to be largely self-sufficient and carry significant amounts of food. Bothies will also be more tempting in winter.

Are you planning a trip along the trail this winter? Let us know in the comments and we look forward to seeing your expedition reports in the forum.

I remember being particularly keen to see photos of the trail. Although I'd walked extensively in some of the areas, there's nothing like seeing the terrain you'll be up against.

That's one of the reasons I set up the Cape Wrath Trail group on Flickr, so we could build a collection of photos from the trail cataloguing each section. I hadn't quite bargained on the encyclopaedic contributions from @ttwff.

I was astounded to find his superlative Flickr set containing more than 5000 shots from the trail. It is almost like having Google Street View for the Cape Wrath Trail.

All I can say is hearty congratulations for capturing so many images and providing such a wonderful resource for other trail walkers...

In the last few years there has been a huge surge of interest in the walk and various groups have sprung up to promote it. This has created tensions as people seek to define their own versions of the trail.

My view has always been that the Cape Wrath Trail should remain an un-waywarked, unspoilt challenge for serious walkers. It will likely never have sufficient amenities to be safely day walked without a tent or provisions. It is resolutely not the West Highland Way, and for most people that is precisely its charm.

I've focused on writing the best possible guidebook for walkers. There's a suggested main route and the established alternatives are also included. There's a danger in offering so many alternatives that it becomes confusing, but I think the book strikes the right balance.

At the moment there seem to be various moves to "claim" the route or to make it official. I feel that the Cape Wrath Trail's greatest attraction is its freedom. The route you choose is down to your own judgement, skill and preference. If you succeed, it will be down to guts, determination and endurance. As people who have finished the trail will attest, it is an experience and achievement of a lifetime

Places in life where one can escape official directions or instructions are so rare, it would be a shame if they intruded into this last rare corner of remoteness in these crowded islands of ours.

In the meantime this site will be regularly updated with news and information from the trail. I'm delighted to see that the forums are already turning into a useful resource where walkers can swap information and experiences. So if you've walked the trail this year, do get in touch with your experiences, and add yourself to our growing Roll of Honour.

I've become a bit weary of late with the growing obsession with gear that has gripped our industry. Maybe it's because we've got more time and disposable income to devote to such things, but part of me hankers for simpler days when we didn't obsess over grammes and materials so much.

Marketing has played a strong role in making us feel like what we have is inadequate, prodding us to buy the latest wonder gear. I'm as guilty of this as anybody and my kit locker is full of impulse purchases that haven't stood the test of time and the elements.

The equipment I've listed below is what I use. Most of it has been tested to, and sometimes beyond, destruction. I know it works for me. It may not always be the lightest stuff around, but the north west of Scotland is no place to mess around. Some of it would be overkill in other places. It's year round gear, so in summer months you may be able to get away with less.

The two things you need for the trail are sensible gear that will keep you safe and common sense. The rest is down to personal choice. Here's mine:

Camping & carrying

Tarptent Scarp One For many years I used the Hilleberg Akto. Like the Tarptent, it was re-assuringly bombproof and I find it hard to criticise a shelter that has seen me through so many tough nights when lesser tents would have crumpled. But it was rather prone to condensation, pronounced in cold and snowy conditions which is what led me to reluctantly sell it.

The Tarptent I've replaced it with is similar in many ways to the Akto, but has two porches which is a real advantage. I generally chuck all my wet gear in one porch and use the other to cook. It also vents better, so is less prone to condensation and is slightly easier to pitch on rough ground.

I've not joined the recent craze for tarp type shelters like Mountain Laurel Designs' Trailstar, but people I respect swear by them, so they are also worth considering.

Vargo titanium pegs I bought these a while back in a fit of titanium lust. They weigh practically nothing. I use a combination of the nail type and v-shaped pegs for softer ground. Alpkit do similar but cheaper aluminium nail pegs.

PH Designs Minim 500 down Sleeping bag For years I used a heavy Buffalo pile bag after a few wet and cold experiences in an old down bag. Eventually I succumbed to down again and got this bag in one of PH Designs' occasional sales. It is rated to -11, but I've used it down to -20 with clothes and a silk liner.

The bag has a Drilite shell which is very effective at dispelling moisture and keeping the down dry(ish). An expensive piece of kit for sure, but this will last me most of my life. In really cold conditions I use it in conjunction with my summer bag, a PH Designs Minim Ultra which weighs next to nothing. I also like the fact that PH Designs are a small, British manufacturer, something it's good to support

Thermarest NeoAir I was initially sceptical as the sample I checked out seemed flimsy but this has turned out to be a game changing piece of kit. It epitomises what lightweight technology should do - increase comfort and function whilst reducing weight with little or no sacrafice in terms of durability. I've heard some complaints about the mat's insulating properties, but I've camped on ice with only a groundsheet beneath it and didn't have any heat loss problems.

Lowe Alpine TFX Expedition 75+20 This is a bit of a beast and would probably bring lightweight enthusiasts out in a rash. The pack alone weighs a couple of kilogrammes, but it is absolutely bomb proof. On a long trip like the CWT you need a solid load carrier that can swallow a week or more of provisions. My sack is a few years old now and there may be better options on the market, the big Go Lite sacks in particular are worth looking at. But this sack has shrugged off a tremendous amount of abuse so will be with me for a few years yet.

OMM Trio Chest Pouch This is a really versatile bit of kit that allows me to carry my daily food, camera and compass on my chest. It also has a handy pocket I can slide a laminated map into. This means less stopping which is a definite advantage when carrying a heavy pack.

Clothing

Paramo Velez Adventure Light / Aspira smock & trousers These are absolutely superb performers. This is not the place to go into the various arguments about breathable waterproofs (besides which, Andy Kirkpatrick pretty much wrote the last word on that), but I have always found Paramo's performance to be superior in the very worst conditions.

I started out on my winter expeditions using the Aspira smock and trousers. It's warm gear to be sure (often cited as a disadvatage). I've worn the smock with only a merino base layer in -24 windchill.

When Paramo brought out the Velez Adventre light range, I immediately tried them. The trousers get worn from dawn to dusk (and are much better cut than previous bag-tastic versions) and the smock is thinner, lighter and therefore more versatile. I often wear it all day as a fleece/windproof over a merino base layer.

Mammut Basejump pants Great backup trousers (I particularly like the massive range of sizes Mammut seem to provide). Fairly light, stretchy and superb quality (but not cheap).

Chocolate Fish Taranaki merino base layers (top and long johns, pants) After expensive merino baselayers from Icebreaker and Howies ended up in holes after a short space of time, I started to look for something with better quality. It became apparent that a lot of the big manufacturers get their stuff made in China and perhaps lose full control of quality.

And then I found Chocolate Fish, a small manufacturer of some of the best garments I have ever worn. The quality is superb, as is the service. The price is well worth paying. When the weather is looking particularly cold, I throw in a pair of long johns.

Rab Baseline hoodie If the weather is too warm for the Paramo Velez smock, I often walk in just the Baseline. It's well made and well cut like a lot of Rab products. The hood add's a bit of extra warmth if the wind whips up. I quite often wear this on its own, with no base layer.

Montane Slipstream GL Smock I use this mainly for ultra marathon running, but it has crept into my walking as well. I sometimes chuck this on over the Baseline hoodie for a bit of extra windproofing when it's really blowing, but not raining. It's also good around camp (as it's showerproof). A very flexible and functional bit of kit.

PH Designs Minim down gilet This is a good few years old now and is a staple bit of kit. It uses high performance 900 down, and is very warm for almost no weight. Usually the first thing I put on in camp.

PH Designs Sigma pullover I use this in conjunction with the down gillet (usually over the top) to provide top quality, weatherproof insulation. It uses artifical Thinsulate insulation that is more water resist than down. It's a few years old now and there are lighter and less bulky alternatives on the market (artificially insulated jackets currently seem all the rage), but this has served me faithfully.

Drymax socks It's probably fair to say that over the last few years I've conducted a fairly obsessive quest to find the best socks for the Cape Wrath Trail. The frequent river crossings and rough terrain make the choice of sock particularly important.

In the end, it was my ultra running that led me to the perfect sock. Made by Drymax, their trail socks are designed for long races where the foot is frequentlty immersed in water. The only problem is that they are not available in the UK (try eBay). The next best I have tried are Wigwam's silk/merino/nylon mix socks.

Rocky Goretex waterproof socks Another US only product, but these are worth their weight in gold. They are the best waterproof socks I've tried bar none. They can make all the difference on days when you're in and out of rivers or bogs on a regular basis.

Gaiters I've never really found a gaiter that I've got on with. I've tried the Berghaus Yeti gaiters, but found that they tended to slow the drying of boots after repeated river crossings. My current pair are bog standard Berghaus. They do the job, but aren't very well made. I've got my eye on Hillsound's Super Armadillo Nano gaiters when they're released in this country. One other point to consider is that in snow and freezing conditions, velcro stops functioning well. Some newer gaiters that rely solely on velcro are not a good option.

Boots One of the features of the Cape Wrath Trail is frequent river crossings, making the choice of boot particularly important. Over the years, I've tried a few variations. I've used a traditional leather boot which never really dried out properly and caused rubbing problems.

I tried the ultra lightweight Montrail Hardrock Mid boot, a very light and fast drying boot. This was an improvement, but offered very little ankle support and disintergrated quite severely in some places after only a couple of weeks of use.

I've settled on the eye wateringly expensive Haglofs Grym boot. The boot uppers are made from a new synthetic material called Superfabric. My experiece so far has been superlative. They are very light (but offer the support of a "traditional" mountain boot), fast drying and highly waterproof. They are without question the best pair of boots I have ever worn, and will last me many years.

Rab Power Stretch Gloves Rab was one of the first manufacturers to use Polartec's Powerstretch fabric, and the gloves are still going strong. They still provide some insulation even when wringing wet.

Latex gloves On my winter trips, I use surgical latex gloves to break camp on frozen/snowy mornings. This might sound bizarre, but they keep the worst of the cold away from your hands while you pack the tent and pull out pegs and keep other gloves dry to put on later.

Montane Extreme mitts Another winter bit of gear - a bit like my faithful old Buffalo mitts but with extra material on the palm which was rather prone to wear.

Mountain Equipment Gore Tex over mitts I'll take these if the forecast is very wet as they can be useful in all day torrential rain.

OutdoorDesigns Ninja Balaclava Useful in very cold and windy conditions. Always something you're tempted to leave at home but was incredibly glad of this piece of kit on Ben More in a day long white out blizzard. I also like the fact that in my head it makes me look a bit like a ninja. Can be used just as a hat or a neck gaiter, so is quite versatile.

Haglofs powerstretch beanie Basic hat in Powersretch.

Primus Express Spider stove It took me years to abandon my trusty Trangia and I never really got on with the Jetboil stove I replaced it with. The Primus is very light and easy to pack as a unit. It boils water quickly and has a loop that warms the gas before it hits the burner (handy when it gets cooler).

Food

Real Turmat expedition meals (freeze dried) I've tried pretty much every expedition meal going over the years and these are by far the best of the freeze dried options. Wayfarer meals are ok, but much heavier.

Other food My strategy is to eat little and often and make sure things are handy for keeping going when the weather is too foul to stop.

Stoats porridge bars; Snickers; Assorted nuts; Sweets; Beef jerky; Honey Stinger energy chews & energy gels

Other Stuff

Silva compass & spare

Canon Powershot G9 camera Good cross between SLR and compact. Delicate lens, broke this slipping on ice on Sandwood beach!

Basic first aid kit

Mini toilet trowel

Camelbak antidote 2L hydration system I've had some freezing problems, but you can get an insulating kit. Usually fill at end of the day so it's ready to go in the morning.

Nalgene bottle 1L Doubles as a hot water bottle

Waterproof matches, gas lighter, fire steel All bases covered.

Dry bags A wide selection - Ortlieb compression dry bag, Exped.

Kahtoola lightweight crampons Mistakenly sent these home unused from Ullapool, would have come in very handy on the last leg of the big winter trip.

Leki retractable trek pole Old and knackered. Hankering after some carbon.

Garmin GPSmap 62s Not used much, but was a re-assurance in white out blizzards in Sutherland. Full UK OS 1:50,000 mapping on an SD card.

iPhone Podcasts & films help with the long dark nights. Experimented with Social Hiking, but not really practical on the remote bits of the trail.

A good book When the phone battery inevitably runs out!

Diary For keeping route notes - I like Field Notes.

Colour printed A4 route sections Printed when no one's looking at work.

Sealine A4 Map case Designed for kayakers, but worth the extra weight as I've broken and ripped so many others over the years, heavy, but idiot proof and durable.

The Cape Wrath Trail is not an officially recognised UK National Trail. In truth, it is not really a trail at all, more a jigsaw of routes between Fort William and the most north westerly point of the UK to be assembled according to your own preferences.

Perhaps because of this unique flexibility and lack of formal status, it has become highly regarded by many backpackers. It's a tough test for anyone and you'll brave genuine wilderness, rugged terrain, rain, wind, midges, bog and remote river crossings.

Most people take between two and three weeks to complete the full journey and whatever time of year you attempt the trail, it will test the limits of your physical and mental endurance. But dark, boggy moments are quickly forgotten amidst a solitude and beauty rarely found in modern life.

This trail has an intriguing capacity to draw people out of their everyday bustle into some of the most wild and remote places Scotland has to offer. The cape itself, so aptly named, pulls you inexorably northwards - there can be few other long distance paths with such an inspiring finale. There is also something in the challenge of traversing such a vast, primal and largely unspoilt tract of land that explains why this route has attracted so many fans. Its beauty lies in its freedom - you'll find few signposts around here, this one's for true wilderness connoisseurs, and it's down to you.

The new guide book draws together, updates and attempts to improve on a variety of routes that have previously been suggested. It will also offer a wide range of variations, recognising that there can be no definitive path suitable for all. It shares the same intrinsic aims as those that have gone before, namely to visit the most scenic areas and avoid most tarmac roads and high level mountain traverses. This brings the route well within the abilities of all ambitious, competent hill walkers.

The trail traditionally begins in Fort William and winds across Argdour towards Glenfinnan taking in the gloriously remote rough bounds of Knoydart, before striking north to Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Kinlochewe and lnverlael, near Ullapool. A popular alternative route briefly heads up the Great Glen Way to Loch Lochy before turning north to cut across Glen Garry and Glen Shiel before rejoining the main route at Morvich. North of the Ullapool road, the main route turns inland to Oykel Bridge before heading towards Glencoul via the majestic Ben More.

Then, below the shadows of Arkle and Foinaven, the final stretch passes Rhiconich and on to the farthest west coast and over the moors to Sandwood Bay and the Cape Wrath lighthouse, the end of the journey. Follow as much or as little of the route as you like. Take detours, plan alternatives, make the journey to the cape your own. It's one that will live with you for the rest of your life.

The guide will be split into three main sections: Fort William to Strathcarron, Strathcarron to Inverlael (Ullapool) and Inverlael to Cape Wrath. Because of its remoteness, this is not a path that lends itself particularly well to being walked in sections, but all of the points above allow reasonable access by bus or train if you want to pick up or leave the trail. The guide is written south to north ie Fort William to Cape Wrath, but the walk is equally rewarding walked in the opposite direction, perhaps lacking such an impressive finale.

The sections themselves are sub divided into a series of legs. These legs are not intended to exactly correspond with single days of walking although in many cases they do. Varying age, ability and terrain make it difficult and potentially dangerous to suggest generic mountain days to rigidly follow. Some legs can be walked comfortably in a day, others may be possible in a day but require a long, hard slog and some may require two or even three days. The aim of this guide is to allow you to create your own personal itinerary, based on your pace, needs and ability.

The main route steers near what few hotels, hostels or bothies there are in this part of the world where it is practical and not too circuitous to do so. Although it is possible to walk the trail without a tent, you'll find it severely limits your options and from a mountain safety point of view, carrying some sort of shelter on the remoter sections is definitely advisable if not essential.To help you plan your route, each leg notes accommodation and wild camping options as well as any amenities and transport options available.

The main route alternatives are listed in each leg. These cover some of the established detours to the main route. These range from shorter options or easier terrain to more technical routes for those seeking an even greater challenge or allergic to civilisation. There will be those that regard any attempt to codify this route as something approaching sacrilege, but hopefully the guide will strike the right balance between providing useful and necessary information to support the planning of a trip without an overly prescriptive approach.

Make it what you will and go where the glens and weather take you.

Most of the route sections have been walked multiple times which has allowed me to develop a route that really works on the ground. Much of it is familiar, but it became evident that certain sections perhaps hadn't been explored as fully as possible by previous guides. Also, things have changed substantially on the ground in places. For example, there is now a nice riverside path along Strathcarron, almost all of the way to Coulags where previously the road was the main option.

The route has been improved in numerous other places and I'm really excited about the finished product. Many of the starting and finishing points have also been rationalised. It's still very difficult to break the walk down into days as people have such different paces and abilities, but the new structure makes a lot more sense and allows the ability to break up longer legs into multiple days.

One of the problems with writing a printed guidebook, is that with publishing lead times, it can be out of date in some respects as soon as it's printed. That's why I've developed this website to support the book.

You can use the site to post pictures and experiences from the trail as well as suggesting route alternatives. The Cape Wrath Trail is fairly unique in the fact that there are so many potential variations and this is an aspect that can be better explored via a website than in the book.

My hope is that this site will work hand in hand with the new guide book and over time will grow into a valuable resource for those walking the trail - make it your own.

But for now, it's back to the manuscript.

A route through Assynt was also suggested by David Paterson in his original book on the Cape Wrath Trail, so I was also keen to include something that paid homage in this new version.

Make no mistake, this is a route only for the most experienced walker and crosses some of the most wild, remote country in Scotland, including several potentially treacherous river crossings before rejoining the main route at Inchnadamph.

My feeling is that this alternative is probably too hard to be included in the final book, but for those that are seeking an extra element of challenge it's worth considering.

Here's the prospective route