I can vouch for Colin's advice. I had to walk out that way in October 2004 after the long walk out from the lighthouse. Very rough ground, deep heather strewn with rocks. It was hard going and definitely best to stick to the higher slope rather than head down to the loch edge.

Apparently that day I held up a firing exercise off the coast. I'd called in at the first pill box after the lighthouse and they'd said I could cross if I was quick. I marched the 10+ miles across the range but walked straight past the pill box at the other end without the guy seeing me (too busy making a cuppa). After the rough walk out from the jetty I got a lift into Durness from a couple of Naval officials on their way to watch the exercise.....which was apparently being held up because some stupid backpacker had gone missing in the area.

Hi,

I'm finishing the Cape Wrath Trail myself next week and will be walking out the way you describe. I can give you an update on that bridge when I get back.

Cheers,

Gary

The Joint Warrior exercises take place twice a year, in April and October.
The first one this year finishes 6th April, so you should be okay

At last, I have a pub anecdote! Holding up Joint Warrior exercises off Cape Wrath. And all this time I thought I'd put the kibosh on some daily naval routine. I always wondered why the blokes who picked me up had rather a lot of gold braid on!

I walked out that way in November a couple of years ago after getting stuck for two days at Cape Wrath in a Force 10. The guy at the lighthouse advised me to take a rough track starting at NC 366 662 which apparently runs along just below the ridge of Beinn an Amair. Needless to say I lost it completely within half an hour by coming down too low on the hill. When I did reach the bridge there was evidence of a bit of a track heading NNW in the direction of the lochan at NC 344 639. The bridge was only just holding up then. I also found the burns to be pretty hard to cross lower down the hill as they ran in deep rocky gullies and were in spate.

I'm afraid Joint Warrior scuppered my plans and I came out via Sandwood, so no comment on the other way out. That'll teach me to believe a Government website.

Many thanks for all your advice. I hope Plan A works (good weather & tide: minibus and ferry to carpark and family pick-up) rather than plan B - long, arduous walk out. However, another day in Scotland.... better than being at work!

Good luck with the trek Lindy, let us know how you get on. I'm planning to do the Cape Wrath trail in May, at the same time as the Challenge. I'm hoping to bump into one or two challengers on my way north!