Cape Wrath Classic Guided Trail
Walk through the wild and dramatic landscapes of mainland Britain’s most north-westerly point with a guided trail around Cape Wrath. Journey along rugged wave-washed coastline home to some of the highest sea cliffs in the country, marvel at sky-high Scottish mountains, and keep your eyes peeled for rare wildlife including red deer and golden eagles.
What you’ll love
- Walking from Cape Wrath to Lochinver
- Exploring mainland Britain's most north-westerly point
- Marvelling at the dramatic mountains of Ben Stack and Suilven
- Taking the ferry to Handa Island Wildlife Reserve
- Strolling along the banks of the salmon-filled River Laxford
- The warm and welcoming hospitality of our partner hotels
- A more personalised experience thanks to small group sizes (maximum 11 people)
What’s included
- Comfortable en-suite rooms in our partner accommodation(s)
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Guided walks with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
- All transport to and from walks where necessary
- Luggage transfers
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Join us in Inverness for a group transfer to your accommodation. The journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and includes a short stop on the way.
Your leader will be at reception at 6:30pm to meet the group and provide an introduction to the holiday before dinner.
Kinlochbervie Hotel
Situated in one of north west Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations, the Kinlochbervie Hotel offers a warm and welcoming stay. Just 10 miles south of Cape Wrath and overlooking Loch Clash, this family-run hotel is the perfect base from which to explore. Public areas take advantage of the beautiful panoramic views over lochs and hills to the open sea, and locally caught fish is served in the bistro. En-suite bedrooms are basic but comfortable, and all come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs, and hairdryers. What’s more, there’s free internet access and parking available, too. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Our first day gives us a chance to familiarise with the area and the type of walking we can expect for the next two days. We start on the coast just east of Durness and explore the abandoned township of Ceannabeinne, before heading steeply up Beinn Ceannabeinne itself with stunning views in all directions. Taking an easier route down, we head for the famous Smoo Cave and the beautiful coastal scenery of the area. Passing the delightful Sango Sands beach and the village of Durness, we finish our walk at Balnakeil Craft Village, with time for an explore or maybe a paddle on Balnakeil Beach.
8½ miles (13.5km) with 1,600 feet (490m) of ascent.
Kinlochbervie Hotel
Situated in one of north west Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations, the Kinlochbervie Hotel offers a warm and welcoming stay. Just 10 miles south of Cape Wrath and overlooking Loch Clash, this family-run hotel is the perfect base from which to explore. Public areas take advantage of the beautiful panoramic views over lochs and hills to the open sea, and locally caught fish is served in the bistro. En-suite bedrooms are basic but comfortable, and all come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs, and hairdryers. What’s more, there’s free internet access and parking available, too. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
We use a ferry to cross the Kyle of Durness and a minibus takes us to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on the mainland in a stunning setting with its lighthouse sitting on top of some of the highest cliffs in Britain. From Cape Wrath you'll walk across pathless terrain to Sandwood Bay and its famous sea stack, Am Buchaille. This is a wild and remote area. There are no escape routes or vehicular access and the route can involve crossing rivers, bog and peat hags. The rewards however are spectacular.
14 miles (22 km) with 1,500 feet (450m) of ascent.
Kinlochbervie Hotel
Situated in one of north west Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations, the Kinlochbervie Hotel offers a warm and welcoming stay. Just 10 miles south of Cape Wrath and overlooking Loch Clash, this family-run hotel is the perfect base from which to explore. Public areas take advantage of the beautiful panoramic views over lochs and hills to the open sea, and locally caught fish is served in the bistro. En-suite bedrooms are basic but comfortable, and all come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs, and hairdryers. What’s more, there’s free internet access and parking available, too. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Walk along the delightful banks of the River Laxford, one of Scotland's finest salmon rivers, followed by an ascent of the pyramidal Ben Stack. The walk on Ben Stack is steep in places with only intermittent paths and leads to a fine summit ridge with fine views to Arkle and Foinavon.
7½ miles (12.5 km) with 2,500 feet (760m) of ascent.
Kinlochbervie Hotel
Situated in one of north west Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations, the Kinlochbervie Hotel offers a warm and welcoming stay. Just 10 miles south of Cape Wrath and overlooking Loch Clash, this family-run hotel is the perfect base from which to explore. Public areas take advantage of the beautiful panoramic views over lochs and hills to the open sea, and locally caught fish is served in the bistro. En-suite bedrooms are basic but comfortable, and all come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs, and hairdryers. What’s more, there’s free internet access and parking available, too. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Follow a good path across to Kylesku at the mouth of Loch Coul, with spectacular views of the local mountains and amazing geology and bird life. If the weather's looking good, we've time to climb one of those mountains too, Ben Dreavie.
8 miles (13km) with 1,320 feet (400m) of ascent.
(including Ben Dreavie 11 miles (18km) with 1,640 feet (500m) of ascent)
Kinlochbervie Hotel
Situated in one of north west Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations, the Kinlochbervie Hotel offers a warm and welcoming stay. Just 10 miles south of Cape Wrath and overlooking Loch Clash, this family-run hotel is the perfect base from which to explore. Public areas take advantage of the beautiful panoramic views over lochs and hills to the open sea, and locally caught fish is served in the bistro. En-suite bedrooms are basic but comfortable, and all come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs, and hairdryers. What’s more, there’s free internet access and parking available, too. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
A short ferry crossing takes you to this RSPB Bird Reserve where we have plenty of time to watch the sea birds and enjoy a superb cliff top walk around the island visiting the Great Stack of Handa. Occasionally dolphins and even whales can be seen.
4 miles (6.5 km) with 500 feet (150m) of ascent.
Inchnadamph Hotel
Inchnadamph means 'meeting place of the deer' and you’ll see plenty of red deer here. The rather isolated Inchnadamph Hotel lies at the foot of the main mountains of Assynt such as Ben More Assynt and Conival and nearby are the well-known ‘Bone Caves’, where relics of lynx, arctic fox, reindeer, polar bear and human skeletons have been found. The area is also a mecca for geologists. The hotel offers a public and residents' dining area along with a popular walkers' bar. Many rooms have views out to Quinag. Rooms have tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer (on request). There are no TV facilities at this hotel, limited WiFi and very poor mobile phone reception. Drying facilities for clothing and boots is excellent. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
A walk from Loch an Gainmhich through wild and remote scenery to the delightful Loch Bealach a Bhuirich. From here an excellent stalkers' path brings us up to the pass between Glas Bheinn and Beinn Uidhe, where ptarmigan can sometimes be seen, before descending across country to our hotel at Inchnadamph.
10 miles (16km) with 2,250 feet (680m) of ascent.
Inchnadamph Hotel
Inchnadamph means 'meeting place of the deer' and you’ll see plenty of red deer here. The rather isolated Inchnadamph Hotel lies at the foot of the main mountains of Assynt such as Ben More Assynt and Conival and nearby are the well-known ‘Bone Caves’, where relics of lynx, arctic fox, reindeer, polar bear and human skeletons have been found. The area is also a mecca for geologists. The hotel offers a public and residents' dining area along with a popular walkers' bar. Many rooms have views out to Quinag. Rooms have tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer (on request). There are no TV facilities at this hotel, limited WiFi and very poor mobile phone reception. Drying facilities for clothing and boots is excellent. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Trek through some of the wildest and most dramatic scenery in Scotland beneath Canisp and the iconic Suilven, whose ever changing form and dramatic outline will captivate you. The route finishes at Lochinver.
12 miles (19km) with 800 feet (245m) of ascent.
Inchnadamph Hotel
Inchnadamph means 'meeting place of the deer' and you’ll see plenty of red deer here. The rather isolated Inchnadamph Hotel lies at the foot of the main mountains of Assynt such as Ben More Assynt and Conival and nearby are the well-known ‘Bone Caves’, where relics of lynx, arctic fox, reindeer, polar bear and human skeletons have been found. The area is also a mecca for geologists. The hotel offers a public and residents' dining area along with a popular walkers' bar. Many rooms have views out to Quinag. Rooms have tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer (on request). There are no TV facilities at this hotel, limited WiFi and very poor mobile phone reception. Drying facilities for clothing and boots is excellent. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Transfer back to Inverness airport and rail station.
Kinlochbervie Hotel
Situated in one of north west Scotland’s most stunning coastal locations, the Kinlochbervie Hotel offers a warm and welcoming stay. Just 10 miles south of Cape Wrath and overlooking Loch Clash, this family-run hotel is the perfect base from which to explore. Public areas take advantage of the beautiful panoramic views over lochs and hills to the open sea, and locally caught fish is served in the bistro. En-suite bedrooms are basic but comfortable, and all come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs, and hairdryers. What’s more, there’s free internet access and parking available, too. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Inchnadamph Hotel
Inchnadamph means 'meeting place of the deer' and you’ll see plenty of red deer here. The rather isolated Inchnadamph Hotel lies at the foot of the main mountains of Assynt such as Ben More Assynt and Conival and nearby are the well-known ‘Bone Caves’, where relics of lynx, arctic fox, reindeer, polar bear and human skeletons have been found. The area is also a mecca for geologists. The hotel offers a public and residents' dining area along with a popular walkers' bar. Many rooms have views out to Quinag. Rooms have tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryer (on request). There are no TV facilities at this hotel, limited WiFi and very poor mobile phone reception. Drying facilities for clothing and boots is excellent. This hotel is dog-friendly so you may meet four legged friends in some of the communal areas.
Essential information
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)
- Mid-layer(s) to keep you warm. Fleeces make a good choice
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Rucksack with waterproof liner
- Flask for hot drinks
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)
- Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters
- First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
- Camera
- First-aid kit
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Non-member fee: £30 per person.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||||||||
|
21 Jun - 29 Jun 2025 8 nights |
Guided Trail Single from £1,859
Double Call to Enquire
|
Call to Enquire |
from £1,859 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
|
12 Jul - 20 Jul 2025 8 nights |
Guided Trail Single from £1,859 Double from £1,859 pp |
from £1,859 pp |
from £1,859 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
|
26 Jul - 03 Aug 2025 8 nights |
Guided Trail Single from £1,859 Double from £1,859 pp |
from £1,859 pp |
from £1,859 |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | |||
197Kg of CO₂e
Average carbon footprint per person Learn More
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