If you're thinking of doing the Challenge, I hope you have found this both useful and interesting.

Shall I do the Challenge again? If you'd have asked me during week one the answer would almost certainly have been no, but the magic of the Challenge cast its spell; now I almost certainly will. I doubt I'll be doing ten TGOs though - there's just too much walking in the world to do!

I had used the Challenge to immerse myself in Scotland, an area I hadn't walked that much in. I thought that I would get a good feel for how the place worked and would see four or five different regions in the process. To that extent the Challenge was a big success.

My initial ambivalence was - I guess - down to being unsure about what this event is. It's obviously not a guided walk. But its not a backpacking event either. Rather it is something on its own, a warm mix of high hills, great hospitality and the pleasure of meeting so many other Challengers.

It is the beauty and variety of Scotland that lingers in the mind. It is this beauty which gives me the confidence to say that if you do decide to do the Challenge, well there's simple no way that you won't enjoy it. And if you've not done any long distance trekking before it will provide you with a great new experience. Similarly, this is the first experience of wild camping for many under-taking the Challenge for the first time; if so, you'll be doing it again.

The event itself is run and supported in a very professional - and admirable - way by a band of dedicated volunteers. They do a superb job.

Thanks also, to everyone I met along the way, for making this such a memorable two weeks.

Finally, if you're thinking of doing the Challenge and want to ask some of those questions that you're, perhaps, not wanting to ask in public, feel free to email me at:

andy.howell@ecotrend.org.uk

A more complete set of my Challenge photos can be found at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy-howell/sets/72157594148979925/