Where? Pachena Bay to Gordon River, Vancouver Island, Canada
Length: 75km
Days: Five to seven
Difficulty: Tough, with tidal/river crossings. You'll be wild camping, with no shelters or facilities.
Independent? Yes – but permits and proper bookings are essential.
The walk: Don’t underestimate the WCT: it might be in lovely, well-developed Canada, but it’s a wild prospect. Along its glorious Pacific-battered route, there are no settlements, ferry ports, shelters or shops – you must be entirely self-sufficient.
There are also rivers to ford, gullies to cross, ladders to climb, bears to avoid and inclement weather to contend with. But the rewards are many: this is North America at its most pristine, where the trail runs via old-growth forest, untouched beaches, caves, coves, cliffs and incredible sunsets. Watch out for whales, sea lions and wolves, too.