A goodbye hug from 5yr old Ellen
Heading to Strathcarron - wind and rain lashing against the train
Day 1 - Gear test: 3 lasers survive the night whilst we sleep comfortably inside!
Sue Oxley and me brave the elements
Loch Carron - it's stopped raining
Looking back at Strathcarron and a hint of sunshine
Stalker's path from Achintee - it's raining again
Bob Simpson and Loch an Fheoir
Jack Addison and Sue heading for the shelter of distant Bendronaig Lodge
Usige Dubh - more white water than black today
Ann & Alvar Thorn . . .
. . . and Steve Smith . . .
. . . on the fine bridge over the Usige Dubh
Approching Bendronaig lodge . . .
. . .and a chance for Lynday and Alaistair Pooler to have lunch out of the elements
An “interesting” bridge for short legged wimps like me
Fine but windy campsite near Loch Calavie
Looking east to the Lapaichs and Aonach Bhuidhe
Terry Leyland and this years “must have” bit of kit
Day 2 - Heading towards Pait Lodge on a path that soon disappears stranding us in bog
Aonach Bhuidhe
Pait Lodge at last
Bridge over the Allt Riabhachan landing us in more bog
We pick up a fine track over the coll running through an old building . . .
. . . and beside waterfalls on the Usige Misgeach
Day 3 - 5.30 am. Must we go out there?
6am - weather improving
High camp on soggy heather with the Poolers
Loch Toll a'Mhuic, Sgurr na Muice and a hint of blue sky
Heading for Sgurr Fhuar-thuill from the east avoiding the snowy stalker's path
Sgurr na Muice
Cornice on Sgurr Fhuar-thuill
Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais
Looking west from Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais
Sue on Carn na Gobhar looking towards Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais
Sue nearing the summit of Sgurr na Rhaidhe
Starting a long decent on a moss and snow carpet . . .
. . . that becomes a bog slog along the Neaty Burn until a welcome rough path . . .
. . . brings us to the hydro track and the Strathfarrar road.
Day 4 - A fine breakfast with Steve, Alastair and Lyndsay . . .
. . . at the Struy Inn
Perfect reflection on a perfect day
Sue . . .
. . . and Steve taking a break . . .
. . . from the tarmac on the way to Kilarlity
Shetland ponies near Fassock . . .
. . . grateful to Steve for the greener grass from the other side of the road
Nearing the top of the hill near Teavarran
The Great Glen Way - welcome relief from tarmac but trust us to find the highest bit!
A memorial to “Stuart” . . .
. . . with a fine view of Loch Ness
The Great Glen Way continues on a broad forestry track with suprisingly good views . . .
. . . then on purpose built paths with welcome shelter from the sun.
Terry . . .
. . . or Sheik Leyland waiting for . . .
. . . the Loch Ness ferry
Margaret Brocklehurst, . . .
. . . husband David . . .
. . . and Skipper Gordon Menzies
Disembarking at Inverfaigaig . . .
. . . then a walk through the impressive but difficult to photograph Pass of Inverfairgaig
A warm welcome awaits tired Challengers
Tea and biscuits offered here then . . .
. . . a fine flat pitch
Day 5 - A frosty morning watched over by . . .
. . . Mrs Dyson . . .
. . . and Don Quixote
Climbing above Loch Mhor
The path then disappears and despite mutiple signs we found ourselves in the manicured grounds of . . .
. . . the new Drunmaglass Lodge. Thankfully the owner didn't mind!
Shirley Worrall aka Peewiglet
Steve taking a break as we head uphill again
Looking west to snow capped peaks
Airing feet and tents by the Aberchalder Burn with Phil Turner
Approaching the top of Carn na Saoibhaidhe
River Findhorn near Dalbeg
Day 6 - Early morning by the Eldrick Burn
A climb over Monadhliath peat . . .
. . . then a tricky descent towards the River Dulnain
A fine bothy for a well earner break
A good track runs from the bothy over the shoulder of Carn an Fhreiceadain . . .
. . . then descends to Kingussie
Essential resupplies in Kingussie
Badenoch Way - a fine alternative to tarmac . . .
. . . easy going on the feet . . .
. . . and hard to get lost!
Insh house and a chance to sleep in a bed
Day 6 - A leisurely start on another glorious day
Huskies after training in Inshriach forest
Inshriach Bothy where we rendezvous . . .
. . . with David Albon
David and Sue amidst young Caledonian Pines
A chance to sit down
Rothiemurchus Forest
Cairngorm
Un-named lochan on the way to the Cairngorm Club footbridge
M. A. Harper who cycled in to meet Steve
Camp under a stand of pines by the Allt Druaidh
Day 7 - David waking up to rain
Cairngorm across Loch Morlich - not so inviting today
Loch Morlich cafe - a fine excuse to get out of the rain . . .
. . . and meet the locals
We suspect this is Vetter Tocks work!
The weather is so foul we stop for the day at 11.30am along with Natasha, Jayme and Markus. Graham bravely moves on.
Nan Lyle and Tom Carver also pass through
Day 8 - Ryvoan bothy after the storm
Two Akto's survive the storm . . .
. . . but Markus petter didn't get much sleep
Heading over the shoulder of Bynack More
Peter Molenaar above the River Avon heading for . . .
. . . Faindouran
Day 9 - Faindouran bothy and tempory campsite
Looking east towards Beinn a'Chaorainn
Who needs a kite!
Following the River Avon
Carn Fiaclach
Still going along Glen Avon
Mid morning break - David Godfrey, David Wishart, David Albon, Sue Oxley and Ann & Alvar Thorn
A trail of Challengers . . .
. . . headed by David Albon and Sam Hackett
Linn of Avon
Me, David and Sue
Beautiful little Glen Builg
Just incase you forgot your map!
Lunch break - David W, Les and Issy, David A, Sue, Ann & Alvar
Loch Builg
Camp by the River Gairn
Three Challengers, three spoons and one pot of custard
Day 10 - Breaking camp in the rain
General Wade bridge over the River Gairn
Approaching Ballater
Breakfasting with Alan Sloman
Day 11 - Pete Varley considers whether to retire (after a days rest he made it to the coast)
Leaving Ballater
It's over there - honest!
Elusive Mount Keen
Italian style
Looking down Glen Mark - still a long way to Tarfside
St Drostan's - welcome relief from the rain
Day 12 - Leaving Tarfside
Tarfside Kirk
Shirley and Peewiglet enjoying breakfast at the Retreat
Stepping out for the next cafe in Edzell
River North Esk - our companion from here to the coast
Stuart and Maria Scott
John Hesp
Rocks of Solitude
Dalbog
Looking back to Dalbog
Taking the short cut to Edzell
Senior lady Barbara Johnson celebrating her 10th crossing at the Tuck Inn
John Hesp on Edzell's supension bridge
Stud farm at Chapeltown
Inglismaldie
Inglismaldie House
Lyndsay Pooler celebrating her second Challenge birthday
Swopping tales at North Water bridge
Sue and her essential bit of kit - the wine platypus
Shirley Worrall and Dave Skipp
Day 13 - North Water Bridge . . .
. . . small green tent exhibition
Evidence of the night before
Last night under canvas for many
Oilseed rape fields near Gallery
Viaduct over the River North Esk
Long road to Morphie
Simone Pinzolo, Guiseppe Valfre and Colin Tock
Last look at distant hills
Stone of Morphie
The sea!
Scurdie Ness lighthouse
The estuary of the North Esk
Steptoe's Yard
Congratulations Sue and David
David building the alternative Dunnottar Castle
Looking towards St Cyrus
Towards Montrose
We woz ere!
A walk up the beach . . .
. . . then the cliff path - torturer of many Challenger's legs . . .
. . .and, after a cup of tea, the bus to Montrose
Sue kindly paying tribute to my right knee which made it across Scotland 7 weeks after surgery . . .
. . . and David gets the celebrations started
