Lands End to Cape Wrath

      > Introduction
      > Getting Out There
      > 1. Lands End - Bude
      > 2. Bude - Severn Bridge
      > 3. Severn Bridge - Liverpool
      > 4. Liverpool - Arnside
      > 5. Arnside - Carlisle
      > 6. Carlisle - Ardrossan
      > 7. Ardrossan - Oban
      > 8. Oban - Mallaig
      > 9. Mallaig - Badrallach
      > 10. Badrallach-Kinlochbervie
      > 11. Kinlochbervie - Durness
      > Kit List
      > Daily Schedule

Links on Walking Places

DAYS AND DAYS

20 April
Lands End – Sennen Cove – Cape Cornwall blue and clear and cold – Pendeen Watch – wild camp above Portheras Cove.

21 April
All this in a blur along the Cornish coastal footpath.
Portheras Cove – Gurnard’s Head – Zennor Head – Trevalgan campsite.

22 April
Trevalgan – St Ives for breakfast – Lelant on roads in the rain – Hayle – through sand dunes and along the beach Upton Towans – Gwithian BnB. Still crawling across the first map; Landranger sheet 203.

23 April
Qwithian – Protreath – Porthtowan – St Agnes Head wild and wondrous in swirling fog – St Agnes – Cross Coombe campsite.

24 April
Coastal path winding in and out up and down.
Cross Coombe – Cligga Head – Perranporth – onto map number 2! Landranger sheet 200 – on along Perran Beach hard going sinky sand – Ligger Point – Holywell – West Pentire – across the low tide Crantock beach – Newquay – Porth campsite.

25 April
Porth – Trenance – along high cliff tops – Porthcothan – Constantine Bay – cutting of Trevose Head across on roads and footpaths – St Merryn – Padstow – Dinas campsite.

26 April
Padstow for breakfast – ferry to Rock – on the beach round to Polzeath – hop on the road to cut off Pentire head – Trevan Point very beautiful twisting folding cliffs – Porth Quin – Port Isaac – Ranie Point – wild camp above Barrett’s Zawn.

27 April
Barrett’s Zawn – Trebarwith Strand – paths round inland of Tintagel – Halgabron – onto map number 3 sheet 190 – down through Rocky Valley – Boscastle BnB.

28 April
Collapse, rest day. Windy blue bells on the cliffs outside Boscastle harbour.

29 April
On along that Coastal footpath
Boscastle – Crackington Haven – primroses and blue bells in dwarf oak woods to Millook – Widemouth Bay – wild camp on the cliff at Higher Longbeck.

30 April
Higher Longbeck – Bude – turn my back on the sea and road inland Stratton – hitch-hike to Bideford – buss to Barnstaple - train to Bristol.

1 May
Rest day in Bristol with Vivienne and Hob.

2 May
Train to Exeter – buss to Stratton – campsite in Bush outside Stratton.

3 May
All day roads in the rain, Cornwall into Devon.
Bush – Alfardisworthy – Bradworthy – Yeo Valley – onto map number 4 sheet 180 – farm camp near Littleham.

4 May
On down the Yeo Valley to pick up the Tarka Trail at Landcross – East the Water – Bideford for breakfast – East the Water – Tarka Trail disused railway on round the Torridge and Taw estuaries –  Barnstaple BnB. First supplies parcel.

5 May
Barnstaple – roads out to Gunn – Brayford – up onto Exmoor, paths and open moorland – wild camp out there on Cow Castle above the River Barle south east of Simonsbath. Opening up, moving along covering ground.

6 May
Cow Castle – on across Exmoor, paths and roads and onto map 5 sheet 181 – Withypool – Winsford – Exton – farm camp on Kendal farm east of Exton.

7 May
Kendal farm – winding footpaths getting lost on the Brendon Hills – picking up roads past Elworthy – Coleford Water – campsite beneath the Quantocks at Flaxpool.

8 May
Collapse, rest day in the Quantocks campsite.

9 May
Flaxpool – footpaths up and over the Quantock ridge – roads and footpaths winding onto map number 6 sheet 182 across pasture and arable – into Bridgewater – BnB.

10 May
Out across the flat lands, roads and paths between villages– Chedzoy – Stawell – Catcott – Westhay – Theale – Chalcroft Hill south west of Westbury-sub-Mendip. Wild camp.
Oh yes moving along now.

11 May
Westbury-sub-Mendip – Up onto the Mendips. Mendip Day! – paths and roads – north to Black Down – Dolebury Warren – Churchill – Cowslip Green campsite.

12 May
Cowslip Green – paths and roads – Wrington – Wrington Warren – Brockley – Nailsea and onto map 7 sheet 172 – Cadbury Camp to stay with Jane and Julian.

13 May
Rest day with Jane and Julian at Cadbury Camp.

14 May
Cadbury Camp – paths down to Easton-in-Gordano – over the river Avon on the M5 road bridge – Avonmouth – roads through industrial zone – down onto the marshy Severn Estuary – Severn Beach – wild camp above the salt marsh between the two bridges.

15 May
Across the old Severn Bridge – Chepstow – lunch in Wales – picking up Offas Dyke path and onto map 8 sheet 162– following the Wye Valley – Brockwier – wild camp by the river at Coed-ithel Weir.

16 May
On along the river to Bigsweir bridge – Redbroke – the Naval Temple - Kymin – Monmouth campsite.

17 May
Out across rolling pasture roads and paths onto map 9 sheet 161- Llantilio Crossenny – White Castle – farm camp beneath Llangattock Lingoed.

18 May
Llangattock Lingoed – Llanvihangel Crucorney – up into the Black Mountains – Twyn y Gear hill fort for lunch – north north west along the ridge – Bal-Mawr – Chwarel y Fan – bothy at the head of Grwyn Fawr reservoir.

19 May
Grwyn Fawr – up to the northern scarp of the Black Mountains – north east – Lord Hereford’s Knob – rolling down and following the contours – picking up Offas Dyke paths down in to Hay-On-Wye BnB.

20 May
Rest Day in Hay-On-Wye.

21 May
Hay-On-Wye – on along Offas Dyke onto map 10 sheet 148 – Newchurch – Disgwylfa Hill – heavy rain sheltering in a barn for lunch – Gladestry – Hergest Ridge wild camp imagine the delight.

22 May
Hergest Ridge – Kington – winding lumpy hills – wild camp Hengwm Hill.

23 May
Hengwm Hill – Knighton – Panpunton Hill – along the dyke up and down onto map 11 sheet 137 – into the Clun Hills – wild camp at Hergan wet and cold May in Wales.

24 May
Hergan – out of the Clun Hills – paths along hedges across arable, ripening wheat and barley east of Montgomery – onto map12 sheet 126 – farm camp outside Forden.

25 May
Forden – Beacon Ring hill fort – down into the Severn Valley – Buttington – along the Shropshire Union Canal – Pool Quay – Arddleen – BnB exhaustion.

26 May
Ardleen – Four Crosses – buss to Shrewsbury – train to Leominster.

27, 28, 29 May
Days off with my Parents and Vivienne.

30 May
Four Crosses – back on the canal – Llanymynech Chinese take away carrying up to consume and wild camp on Llanymynech Hill.

31 May
Llanymynech Hill – On on along Offa’s Dyke more wiggly hills and villages east of Oswestry – Treflach – Trefonen – Craigant – Chirk Castle – onto map 13 sheet 117 – Froncysyllte BnB garden campsite.

1 June
Froncysyllte – Pont-Cysillte over the canal viaduct – wondrous path along beneath Eglwyseg Mountain – Worlds End – early stop to enjoy wild camp up on Eglwyseg Mountain.

2 June
Eglwyseg Mountain – north down from the hills across farm land paths and roads between Villages into suburbia – Four Crosses – Trueddyn – heading for the bridge over the river Dee, last full day in Wales– Pontblyddyn – Drury – “Farm Park” campsite near Queens Ferry. 

3 June
Out of Wales – railway/foot bridge across the canalised Dee – confused going out of my way on cycle route and roads – Shotwick – Burton – down on to the Wirral coast – paths on the edge of the salt marsh – Neston – Parkgate – onto map 14 sheet 108 – wild camp on the coast at Thurstaton.

4 June
Thurstaton – north east to cross the Wirral peninsula mainly roads into the city – Birkenhead – Mersey ferry – Liverpool – Youth Hostel.

5 June
Day off in Liverpool.

6 June
Liverpool – following the coast north, roads and paths – Bootle – Crosby – Hightown – Formby – wild camp in the dunes on Formby Point.

7 June
Formby Point – onto the beach and on up across the sand – first all day hot and sunny – Southport – onto map 15 sheet 102 – road east inland to Boundary Farm campsite.

8 June
Boundary Farm – roads to pick up Leeds and Liverpool canal tow path – footpath along dykes north along the River Asland – east along the River Ribble – Preston BnB.

9 June
Preston lazy morning – Goosnargh – roads and paths through farmland – Green Hall farm camp.

10 June
Green Hall – Slowly wandering over Beacon Fell – to meet Vivienne’s parent’s at Wickens Lane End  - Clevelies for the night fed and watered.

11 June
Wickens Lane End – up onto the Forest of Bowland at Blindhurst Fell – following the ridge north – Fair Snape Fell – White Moss – Hawthornethwaite Fell Top – down through Black Clough – wild camp in the Trough of Bowland.

12 June
Trough of Bowland – on north across wide rolling moors – Brennard Great hill – Mallowdale Fell – onto map 16 sheet 97 at High Steven’s Head – down from Gallows Hill across Haylot Fell into the Roeburn Valley – wild camp by the River Roeburn in Outhwaite Wood.

13 June
Outhwaite Wood – along steep wooded valley dripping early morning into Wray – paths across fields to Hornby – roads and paths in the rain across rolling pasture land – Burton-in-Kendal to pick parcel number 4 – roads to Hale and BnB.

14 June
Lazy morning short day – Hale – over Slack Head on the Limestone Link – Fairy Steps – Hazelslack – Arnside – BnB.

15 June
Arnside – north along the Kent Estuary – Sandside – roads to reach the bridge – A590 – paths up through Wakebarrow wood – out onto Whitbarrow warming up on limestone looking west into the Lakes – paths across rolling pasture to farm camp at Lamb Howe west of Crosthwaite.

16 June
Lamb Howe – heavy rain on roads into the Lakes – Windermere fish and chips – onto map 17 sheet 90 – Ambleside – paths round Rydal Water and Grasmere – High Close Youth Hostel.

17 June
Rest day at High Close. Grasmere opening up to sunshine.

18 June
High Close – north east Blea Rigg – High Raise – north along Greenup Edge – Ullscarf – Standing Crag – wild camp on Bell Crags blissful summer evening up on top. (First).

19 June
Bell Crags – on north to High Seat – wide boggy ridge to Castlerigg Fell – Walla Crag – down to Castlerig campsite.

20 June
2 months out half way.
Castlerig – Keswick for breakfast – north into Skiddaw – round Latrigg – Cumbrian Way footpath in through Glenderaterra Beck – Skiddaw Ho – beautiful wide open high valley in the sunshine – Grainsgill Beck – Great Lingy Hill – wild and windy camp on High Pike looking down into Scotland.

21 June
High Pike – out of the cloud down to Hesket Newmarket – on along the Cumbrian Way – following the River Caldew – onto map 18 sheet 85 – Sebergham – river widening and slowing – now in open fields – Dalston – Carlisle BnB.

22 June
Carlisle slow start – last full day in England – long straight roads out of town – Rockcliffe – wild camp on the River Esk at Metal Bridge A74 into Scotland.

23 June
Metal Bridge – across fields for full Scottish breakfast – Gretna – east and down to the northern shore of the Solway firth – path disappearing along the salt marsh struggle – cutting north inland to pick up the road at Dornock – Annan campsite.

24 June
Annan – following the river Annan north – Brydekirk – short day Hodden Castle campsite by lunch time.

25 June
Hodden Castle – continuing north west up through Annandale – open farmland paths and roads – onto map 19 sheet 78 – Lochmaben for parcel number 5 – roads north to Templand – and on to wild camp in a wood above the Kinnel Water river near St Ann’s.

26 June
St Ann’s – 2 hours on paths and roads north to meet Charlie at rendezvous on the A701 – Charlie’s place in Calgaith near Penrith.

27, 28, 29, 30 June
Little holiday with Vivienne and Hob and friends in Culgaith.

1 July
Culgaith  - car train and taxi to Charlie rendezvous spot on the A701 – late afternoon moving into the hills – roads and open hill fort country to pick up the Southern Upland way at Beattock Hill – north east paths through thick plantation – wild camp in a marshy clearing at Rivox.

2 July
Rivox – on along the Southern Upland Way – up and down along fire breaks through the conifers – out onto the open at Hods Hill – Sweetshaw – down to Daer Reservoir – tatty forestry land heavy weather coming in winding round hills heavy legs – wild camp early down in the Potrenick valley beyond Overfingland.

3 July
Overfingland – up onto Lowther Hill, highest spot so far 725m soft lumpy hills all around – down into Wanlockhead for early lunch – on north west – the Southern Upland Way following the Wanlock Water – Spango Bridge – path up westwards – over high grassy hills – Lamb Knowe – wild camp by the Spango Water east of Blackgannoch.

4 July
Blackgannoch – north east onto map 20 sheet 71 – plantation and high rolling grassland – Pepper Hill – Muirkirk – Scotch Pie and out again into wide open – wild camp by Polkebock Burn beneath Meanlour Hill.

5 July
Polkebrock Burn – out across open heather and peat – north west heading for the Greenfield radio mast – Wedder Hill – Grange Muir – Dog Hillock – out of the Southern Uplands – onto map 21 sheet 70 – and the road down to Galston BnB.

6 July
Galston – west to the coast – roads to Kilmarnock – out of town paths along the River Irvine – Gatehead – Drybridge – Shewalton – wild camp in the dunes south west of Irvine.

7 July
Irvine Bay – roads and paths around the Garnock Estuary – tatty suburban / industrial – Saltcoats – Ardrossan for supplies parcel number 6 – the ferry to Brodick and Arrann – across the sea to map 22 sheet 69 - BnB.

8 July
Rest through the day in the sun on Brodick beach – off with Mark in the evening – north to wild camp with the midges in Glen Rosa.

9 July
Glen Rosa – up over The Saddle at the head of the glen – down almost too steep into Glen Sannox – out to the coast – wild camp on the beach at Fallen Rocks.

10 July
Goodbye to Mark – Fallen Rocks – on north along the coast – round the Cock Of Arrann – into Lochranza venison casserole – ferry back to the mainland – Cloanaig and map 23 sheet 62 – hot and sunny coast road along to Skipness with a snooze and a swim in the icy clear sea – up hill to cross the An Coire moor – defeated and retreating into the Skipness river valley – wild camp hot and midgy at Glenskible.

11 July
Glenskible – winding path north through plantation and open muir over the top too – Tarbet – on along the coast of Loch Fyne – onto the old coast road – Stonefield Castle – wild camp on the rocky shore at Aird nan Ròn.

12 July
Aird nan Ròn – on north following the coast – roads all day – onto map 24 sheet 55 – Inverneill – Ardrishaig – Lochgilphead – Bridgend – stay with Richard and Sue in Kilmichael Glen.

13 July
Kilmichael Glen – roads north through plantation and pasture – Loch Leathan – Ford – along the north shore of Loch Awe – Kilmaha – camp in Sid and Maggie’s vegetable patch.

14 July
Kilmaha – on along the north shore of Loch Awe – plantations in mist and rain – Dalavich – north on plantation tracks – Loch Avich – up and over bumpy wet moorland hills on the String of Lorne drove road – onto map 25 sheet 49 – wild camp on the shore at the eastern end of Loch Scammadale.

15 July
Loch Scammadale – on drove roads and forest tracks round and over low hills – Kilmore – Loch Nell – round Cnoc Mor – Oban Youth Hostel.

16 July
Day off in Oban

17 July
Oban – on the ferry to Craignure on Mull – Craignure camp site.

18 July
Craignure – roads south west round – Lochdon – Loch Spelve – Strathcoil – north west on the old road along the Lussa River – into Glen Forsa – boggy paths and bush whacking beneath Beinn Bheag – out to the east coast of Mull along farm tracks by the River Forsa – onto map 26 sheet 47 - wild camp on the shore near Salen.

19 July
Salen – raod along the coast to Aros Cott – inland into Glen Aros – Tenga – path out across moor and in to plantation along the east side of Loch Frisa – Wild camp on the shore of the Mishnish Lochs.

20 July
Mishnish – roads down into Tobermory – ferry to Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan – road north then paths out across the volcanic crater – Glendrain – wild camp above Fascadale on the north coast of Ardnamurchan. 1 month to go.

21 July
Fascadale – roads and paths following the coast east – Kilmory – Ockle  - path out into tangled rocky wilderness – onto map 27 sheet 40 – down along forestry tracks – wild camp on the shore of Kentra Bay near Arivegaig.

22 July
 Arivegaig – cross the river Shiel on the old bridge at Blain – road then path and bush whacking along the southern shore of Loch Moidart – Ardmolich – north into the Moidart mountains – Loch nam Paitean – wild camp up on top Meall á Mhadaidh Mòr.

23 July
Meall á Mhadaidh Mòr – bush whack down along Irvin Burn – Roshven on Loch Ailort – roads east along the loch – Lochailort Hotel for fish and chip luncheon – A830 north west – Beasdale – Borrodale – path north east following Borrrodale Burn into the hills of Arisaig and South Morar – wild camp beneath Carn á Mhadhaidh-ruaidh. One thousand and four and a half miles. (Love a duck)

24 July
Breakfast on Carn á Mhadhaidh-ruaidh looking down on Loch Morar – down to Scamadale – round the western end of the loch – along Cames Ruadh the red beach – Steak and Ale Pie in the Morar Hotel – road to Mallaig BnB.

25 July
Mallaig – ferry to Armadale on Skye – onto map 28 sheet 32 – road north west along the Sound Of Sleat – Saasaig – Teangue – following A851 north inland – bush whack north east across open muir Glac na Luarchrach – wild camp on the shore at Sgeir Fhearchair.

26 July
Sgeir Fhearchair – east along the coast road – Skye bridge – Kyle of Lochalsh for breakfast – road all day east along the shore of Loch Alsh – Balmacara – Ardelve –road northeast along the shore of Loch Long – Allt-nan-Sugh – onto map 29 sheet 25 – wild camp above the salt marsh at the head of Loch Long.

27 July
Loch Long – footpath north east into Glen Ling – north on paths and forest track – up past Carn Allt na Bràdh – down into Attadale – roads and railway track northeast into Glen Carron  - Strathcarron – Balnacra – “garden camp” on the shore of Loch Dùghaill at Achnaschellach.

28 July
Acnaschellach – north on forest track and drove road over the Coulin Pass – down through Glen Coulin – Coulin – Torran Coulin – up on forest track and out in the open beneath Carn Dhomhuill Mhic á Ghobha – down along imaginary forest paths onto map 30 sheet 19 - into Kinlochewe – Kinlochewe Hotel BnB.

29 July
Kinlochewe – paths north west all day out along the shore of Loch Maree goodbye to sun/rain hat – Letterewe House – wild camp above Letterewe House. 100 days on the path.

30 July
Letterewe – path north north west down through Strathen Buidhe – into the Fisherfield Forest – walking slowly into wild country eyes wide open– east to cross the causeway between Fionn Loch and Dubh Loch – Cranmore – north west to wild camp on the shore of Fionn Loch.

31 July
Fionn Loch – path up north east to pass between Beinn á Chàsgein Beag and Frith-mheallan – past Loch Toll á Mhadaidh – bushwhack north and down to the Gruinard River – track north west along the river out towards the sea – wild camp on Carn na h-Aire above Gruinard House.

1 August
Carn na h-Aire – bushwhack north east over and down to Badluarach – meet up with John for a boat ride across the mouth of Little Loch Broom – Scoraig – stay with John amd Debbie at Achmore.

2 August
Achmore – Scouraig – path south east above the shore of Little Loch Broom – Badrallach – meet again with Jane and Julian Meg and Ryan.

3 4 5 6 August
Little holiday with these nice people in Badrallach.

7 August
Badrallach – road and track carrying canoes down to Altnaharrie – canoe across Loch Broom – Ullapool – road north west then track north east; The Peat Road across much dug moors – onto map 31 sheet 15 – Loch Bein Deirg reservoir – bushwhack north boots off to wade the River Kannard – on to wild camp above Drumrunie.

8 August
Drumrunie – main road A835 north all morning – into Southerland – Elphin – path north west out along Cam Loch – sunshine walking slowly into Assynt – wild camp on  Meall á Mhuthaich above Loch na Gainimh between Suillven and Canisp oh blimey.

9 August
Meall á Mhuthaich – bushwhack down to Loch na Gainimh - path out to the sea through Glencanisp in the mist – Lochinver - Timbale of Haggis with Drambuie Cream – Monkfish with Creamy White Wine and Prawn Sauce – Pint of Tenants 80% - wild camp above Baddidarach on Loch Inver.

10 August
Baddidarach – lazy raining morning in tent then on path over to Rhican – path north east up to Loch Crocach – bushwhack on across lump moors to wild camp on top above Nedd on Loch Ned.

11 August
Ned for elevenses – road all day winding east around Quinag – north down to Kylesku – wild camp on Garbh Eilean  by the Kylesku Bridge.

12 August
Kylesku – path north out into hills – bushwhack north east out heading for Ben Stack – onto the last map number 32 sheet 9 – Cnoc na Saile – up to wild camp on the stormy western shoulder of Ben Stack.

13 August
Ben Stack – up to the top into the clouds – down and north to Loch Stack Lodge – path north east and round the north of Arkle – bushwhack to wild camp above Loch á Gharbh bhaid Beag.

14 August
Loch á Gharbh bhaid Beag – following my nose in a circle out west towards Foinavon – round east to wild camp on Garbh Shron above Rhiconich.

15 August
Rhiconich – road north along Loch Inchard – Kinlochbervie – pick up the last supplies parcel – Kinlochbervie Hotel BnB by lunchtime.

16 August
Kinlochbervie – north west on the last road out to Sheigra – path then bush whack out to the coast – along the cliff tops – wild camp in the dunes in Sandwood Bay.

17 August
Day of waiting for the weather to change and wonderfying at Sandwood Bay.

18 August
Sandwood Bay – bushwhack north up and down along the cliffs – Cape Wrath at 4.00 – wild camp on the cliff at Cape Wrath.

19 August
Cape Wrath – bushwhack west up and down along the cliffs and wide open rolling high dry moors – Kearvaig – bright sunshine sea and sky – wild camp out there for the last time on Beinn an Duibhe.

20 August
Beinn an Duibhe – south down to the road at Daill – road along the Kyle of Durness – ferry to Keoldale – onto limestone and over to Durness – Durness Youth Hostel by 6.00

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