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OP I've drooled over that area on google maps for years. I've seen a few sections of it, but never had the chance to do that whole route. Fuck the Cape Wrath Trail; blaze your own path.
I came here to recommend Torridon and Applecross; glad I'm not the only appreciateur of those places.
I've been caught in a blizzard in late march in the Highlands; believe me it's a situation you never want to be in. It can still happen in late April, so prepare for anything; bring lots of wool clothes and a couple space blankets. There will certainly still be snow on the mountaintops. And for fuck's sake don't wear jeans. That's not even for safety reasons; you don't want trousers that take all day and night to dry out. Invest in some trusty Craghoppers.
And buy the relevant Ordinance Survey maps for your route. They list bothies too, which can provide occasional evenings of comfort and socializing, as well as save your ass if the weather turns foul.
Finally I want to state the biggest obstacle I've repeatedly run across in the Highlands, which is fog. Everyone knows Scottish fog is very thick, but what I didn't realize is how utterly, utterly impossible it is to navigate when visibility is 100 meters or less, especially in a landscape as featureless as the Highlands. That's why a proper topographic map (with altitude lines) and knowledge of how to use a compass is of utmost importance, because you will experience fog, and a lot of it.
Have fun exploring the most beautiful region on earth.
Gear nobody should explore Scotland without:
>High quality tent
>map and compass
>Space blankets for warmth and extra waterproofing
>3-season sleeping bag (at least)
>Firestarting cubes
>midge net
