Martha and Andrew were heading for Cannich, whereas I wanted to get up high now the weather was improving. My route took me alongside the loch to Monar Lodge; then north on a made track, before veering off to the right up onto the ridge. It is pathless here but the line is easy to […]
Torridon to Aberdeen – TGOC 2022 part 2 Read More »
TGOC – The Great Outdoor Challenge – is a common theme on these pages. Originally described as ‘The Ultimate Challenge’ in the pages of an outdoor magazine in 1980, it involves a self-supported and individually planned multi-day walk from the West Coast of Scotland to the the East. Of course there’s a website where you
TGOC 2022 Torridon to Aberdeen – part 1 Read More »
An early start got me to the Mar Lodge estate for breakfast at 9:30, and to Braemar soon after 11. And not a TGOer in sight! Many places were closed on this Monday morning. Braemar Sports provided the main hub of activity with a busy café now attached to the mountain gear shop. Having bought
Acharacle to Montrose The TGOC 2021 notes: days 10-14 Read More »
The Duke of Gordon Hotel is not an obvious choice for an overnight stay. My original plan was to pick up a resupply parcel and camp; but I needed gas too. TGOC management were able to arrange delivery of a canister to the hotel. So this worked well for me. As I approached the hotel
Acharacle to Montrose The TGOC 2021 notes: days 7-10 Read More »
[Viewing the blog – in case you hadn’t noticed pictures are zoomable if you click on them. Maps can be pulled and pushed to follow the route in blue. Maps can also be zoomed in and out and viewed full-screen.] The Macdonald hotel makes a pleasant stop. It is on the edge of town, exactly
Acharacle to Montrose the TGOC 2021 notes: days 4-6 Read More »
[Viewing the blog – in case you hadn’t noticed pictures are zoomable if you click on them. Maps can be pulled and pushed to follow the route in blue. Maps can also be zoomed in and out and viewed full-screen.] 14 Different start places on the west coast of Scotland. How to decide? And then
Acharacle to Montrose the TGOC 2021 notes: days 1-3 Read More »
T was keen to revisit his youth! He had worked as a gillie on an estate while a fresh-faced student. He ran up and down the pathless hills to manoeuvre deer towards the hunters. On his days off he took free and walked to The West reaching the edge of that blank part of the
Knoydart – a TGO Challenge Pre-amble, or a Post-lockdown Taster? Read More »
The map shows the route tracked from 30 minute beacons sent by a Spot satellite tracker and captured by Phil Sorrell’s Social Hiking site. Push and pull the map in the window below to see the route in blue. Pitlochry was planned as the first night indoors. I had tried to find somewhere earlier, but
TGO Challenge 2018 – Oban to Kinnabaer: #3 from Pitlochry Read More »
The map shows the route tracked from 30 minute beacons sent by a Spot satellite tracker and captured by Phil Sorrell’s Social Hiking site. Push and pull the map in the window below to see the route in blue. This is day 3 – there is light rain, and clouds obscure the top of
TGO Challenge 2018 – Oban to Kinnabaer: #2 from Glen Etive Read More »
This year I captured my walk using the Spot Tracker which should record my location every 30 minutes. Is this truly representative? I always think of the occassions when I spend 30 minutes wandering in the wrong direction or zig-zagging up a hill and how in this instance it will show almost no distance travelled
TGO Challenge 2018 – Oban to Kinnabaer: #1 to Glen Etive Read More »