Scotland

TGO Challenge Trip Report – Part 1

Sputan Ban Waterfalls, Glen Affric

The TGO Challenge: More than a Hike Hiking across Scotland in the 2010 TGO Challenge this year was a great adventure and one of those life-list hikes that I’ve always dreamed of taking. But while the scenery is breathtaking, there is a …

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Scotland the Brave

Just a quick note to let you know that I successfully finished my 180+ mile TGO Challenge hike across Scotland this morning on the east coast in Montrose. This was a fantastic experience and I am eager to return and do it …

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Final Route Plan: TGO Challenge

I've now spent the good part of a month on detailed planning of my 2010 Challenge Route, and I've made some fairly major changes since I posted it last on January 7. I've added a nearly full rest day in Kingussie and …

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Days: 12-13 Tarfside to Montrose

The last two days of my TGO Challenge walk appear pretty straightforward. I follow the River Esk to Edzell and from there begin to follow smaller roads to Brechin and Montrose and the eastern shore of Scotland where my hike ends. Technically, …

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Days 10-11: Braemar to Tarfside

Days 10-11: Braemar to Tarfside The next few days will put my navigation skills to the test. I'll be passing over very wild, open country to get to Lochnagar, a cluster of magnificent Munros, south of the Royal Balmoral Castle and Estate. …

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Days 8-9: Kingussie to Braemar

Days 8 & 9: TGO Challenge Route Plan (2010) If the weather is good, Days 8 and 9 will be an incredibly scenic walk. My path on these days runs along Glen Feshie on the southwestern boundary of the magnificent Cairngorm Mountains …

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Days 5-7: Fort Augustus to Kingussie

TGO Route PLan

Days 5-7: TGO Challenge Route Plan 2010 During the first 4 days of my route plan, I kept my daily mileage low to acclimate to the local environment and build in a hedge against bad weather which is common in Western Scotland. …

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Day 2: Alltbeithe Youth Hostel to Loch Affric

TGO Route PLan

  Day 2 : TGO Challenge Route Plan (2010) After breaking camp somewhere between Alltbeithe Youth Hostel and Carnach Mor, I continue along the northern side of River Affric passing Allt Coire Ghaidheil (NH108208) and several ruins on the other side of …

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Day 1: Shiel Bridge to Alltbeithe Youth Hostel

TGO Route PLan

  Introduction As I’ve mentioned before, the TGO Challenge is a 14 day coast-to-cost walk across Scotland running from May 14th – May 29th, 2010. I’ve been accepted into this year’s event from a field of international applicants. I’m in the final …

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Hikers Guide to Gaelic Mapping Words

Off Trail in Scotland

If you want to hike in Scotland, you need to learn some basic Gaelic words so you can read a map. The maps of Scotland published by the UK’s Ordnance Survey are full of Gaelic place names like Lairg Ghru, Beinn Bhreas, …

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