- Home
- Introduction
- The Walk
- Prologue
- Torridon to Achnashellach
- Achnashellach to Loch Monar
- Loch Monar to Cannich
- Cannich to Inverfarigaig
- Inverfarigaig to the River Findhorn
- Findhorn to Aviemore
- Coylumbridge to Derry Lodge
- Derry Lodge to Braemar
- Washed up in Braemar
- Braemar to the Shielin of Mark
- Shielin of Mark to Tarfside
- Tarfside to North Water Bridge
- North Water Bridge to Montrose
- Montrose
- Home
- Gear Overview
- Thanks to
- Blog
Introduction
This web diary tells the story of my third RAB TGO Challenge coast to coast walk across Scotland, undertaken in May 2009.
Re-reading the diaries from the first two crossings I'm struck by how much my knowledge of Scotland has developed. I first entered the Challenge to build up a working understanding of hiking and backpacking in Scotland and I can see how my relationship with this wild and wonderful land is developing.
I still count myself as a Scotland novice and hope that this diary — like the previous two — will be of real help to those who are planning their first Challenge or long distance backpacking trip. During this trip I met a number of 'first timers' who were gracious enough to tell me that these diaries had not only encouraged them to take part in the Challenge but had provided them with real help and support when planning their crossing. This is what I had set out to do.
This diary sees a new innovation designed to be even more helpful to others. The diary follows a simple format with an entry for each day of the trip. But on each page you will see an information tab. On this tab you will find details of accommodation stops, local amenities (where they exist) and hints and tips about route finding. The publishing of this kind of data is controversial, especially amongst the old timers of the event. They feel that this detracts from the challenge of developing a route and to some extent I can agree. But this information is all stuff that is in the public domain — I just hope to help you find it quickly. Also, this is the kind of support that you would get from talking to someone at a walking club or in meeting place in the Highlands. Not all of us are lucky enough to have this support on tap and the Challenge Notice Board is not always the most helpful of places to those not well aquatinted with the strange humor that underpins it.
This trip began in Torridon the most northerly start point for the Challenge. One thing that I realised very quickly is that it is the land of the North West that appeals to me the most. This route (and the one last time from Strathcarron) were designed to maximise the time spent here. As is so often the case with the Challenge things did not altogether go to plan. This event started in horrendous weather and after a middle period of glorious sunshine it ended ax badly as it began. The social side of this Challenge became more important and I hope you get a flavour of that here.
Finally, the wet weather played havoc with the camera which was steamed up for much of the trip. Some of the photos here feature raindrops. It was either lose the photo or give you a bit of the authentic atmospere, so the raindrops have stayed in!
July 2009