Comments on: The Sutherland Trail

By: David Fowlie

David Fowlie — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:27:40 +0000

Dear Cameron,
Am planning to walk from Fort William to Cape Wrath in late August. Have planned route to go past bothy at Shenavall, on to Corrie Hallie, then cross Loch Broom to Ullapool near GR 115930. Any idea if it is possible to get a boat across Loch Broom to Ullapool? Or make to Inverlael and walk along road to Ullapool? I know what I’d rather do. Any local contacts of boat owners willing to make the crossing? With thanks.
Regards, Dave.

By: cameron

cameron — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:54:15 +0000

I think you might be courting trouble going at that time of the year, unless you’re prepared to talk to landowners en route. There should be no problem between Lochinver and Canisp. There might be some difficulty between Inchnadamph and Kylescu, although you could take a lower level route that parallels the main road. I think the biggest problem would be between Achfary and Strath More. This is all hunting country and all Duke of Westminster estate where the record of tolerance to hillwalkers during the stalking season is not great.

By: John Dally

John Dally — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:36:58 +0000

Hi, Cameron,
On a previous backpacking trek in the northwest my partner and I had an extremely friendly and informative chat with Charlie, the gillie at Benmore Lodge, Loch Ailsh on the subject of deer stalking which we now understand to peak in the months of Sept - November.
We plan to start The Sutherland Trail at the very end of August this year - we cannot do it at any other time - and would appreciate any advice you could give us on the subject of any deerstalking which may take place en-route at this time as we do not want to interfere with what is an important scource of income for the area.
Best wishes,
John and Kate

By: cameron

cameron — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:35:32 +0000

Hi Sarah,
The River Loanan isn’t too difficult to cross - we crossed it with dry feet in June, but I do appreciate that it might be a but higher in May, especially if the weather has been wet. If it is high you could simply cross by the bridge below Canisp and walk down the eastern bank of the river towards Inchnadamph.

By: sarah

sarah — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:09:28 +0000

Hullo, Cameron -
Thank you for constructing what looks like a wonderful walk! We’re tentatively planning to try it in late May. The one point that concerns us slightly is crossing the Loanan - did you use the bridge shown where the river leaves the lochan below Canisp, ford the river further north, or is there another bridge not shown? We’re novice river-forders

regards
sarah

By: cameron

cameron — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:04:16 +0000

Hi PB,
You won’t get much troubled by midgies at Easter, although you might get a mixture of weather, but that’s the chance you take walking anywhere in Scotland. I think the ST would offer you a great trip - it’s not particularly hard and you have the option of climbing the hills or not. The vast majority of the trip is on good tracks so you shouldn’t find it too difficult. There is a train from Inverness to Lairg and from there a postbus to Lochinver. Coming back there is a postbus from Tongue to Lairg.
Aviemore to Fort William offers a good week’s walking, and there are good routes between Aviemore and Glasgow. I’d strongly recommend the Sutherland Trail though for spectaular scenery. The DVD is out now and is available from this website

By: PB

PB — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:49:40 +0000

Just got back from a quick sortie of last 2 days of WHW with a newbie to wild camping and others. As you do we started talking about the next trip and I suggested Sutherland Trail and April around Easter seemed a possibility. Do you think that would be a good idea in view of weather and the legendary nature of the vicious Scottish midge found north of Ullapool (supposed to be even worse than any other midges found in other areas of Scotland)? Is there public transport up there? I guess it will be once a day post bus in and out at each end.

Got any other 5 - 7 day trail you can recommend as an alternative?

By: Dave Smith

Dave Smith — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:35:56 +0000

Hi Camero

Thanks for coming back I’ll keep an eye out for them

By: cameron

cameron — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:59:51 +0000

Hi Dave,
I’ve put some basic information elsewhere on my blog and I’ll update it from time to time. I’m actually still writing the book, trying to fit it in between everything else and still get time to get on the hill!
I hope the book might be out by the spring and I also hope the DVD of the television programme, with some extra material on it, will be available in the next couple of months.

By: Dave Smith

Dave Smith — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:43:15 +0000

Once a year I take time to do a ldw having done theWest Highland way a few time and the great glen way speyside way I am very interested in looking at the Sutherland Way this year have you any idea when your book might be published or can you furnish me with info about the way

Regrds
Dave