TGO Challenge Day 2 - 13 May 2022

Walking 8am to 3.10pm

Distance walked 14 miles
Distance remaining 150 miles

It was quite a wild and blustery night and it hardly stopped raining. Still, the tarp held up well and I was on firm ground. Had a good night's sleep, better than I'd have had in the bothy, waking every time someone went outside to the "loo", not to mention my own visits.

It was raining a bit as I packed up. Because of all the rain the track was flooded in many places. I managed to walk round most but where a stream crossed the track it was easier just to walk through, maybe about nine inches deep.

Looking back to Athnamulloch

                                                                                    Towards Loch Affric

 

The rain continued on and off all morning so coffee at 11 was out. I stopped at 12.15 where the Affric Kintail Way turns right and straight on to the Affric car park. Had a late coffee followed by early lunch. Just five miles to go. The track was easy and generally level. Collected water for the night along the way. My vetter, Emma, thought I might struggle to find somewhere to camp but I'd noted a location from someone's blog and found it easily, a flattish area down a steep trod below the track. It's at NH264269.

 

Camping at Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin

I'm on my own and have rinsed my socks and dunked my feet in the loch. Now to heat up home cooked spaghetti bolognese.

TGO Challenge Day 0 - 11 May 2022

Travelling today, having overnighted at the Travelodge in Queen Street, Glasgow. Just a couple of hundred yards walk to Queen Street station this morning for the 8.20 to Fort William. On arrival, I ascertained that Morrisons' cafe doesn't do hot food so had a (late) full Scottish breakfast at the Lochaber cafe at the station. 

View from the train 

Anyway, it was fine and convenient for the 915 bus to Shiel Bridge where I now am. It's raining now and set to continue for the next couple of days. 

My planned route for the Challenge (https://www.tgochallenge.com/) is 175 miles from Shiel Bridge to Kinnaber Links just outside Montrose on the east coast. I should finish on Tuesday, 24 May, all being well. 

I plan to camp every night, using an Alpkit Rig 7 tarp. There have been a few midges about but hopefully it's too early in the year for the hoardes. 

Glenshiel Campsite

Sent from my iPhone

Cotswold Ring Day 2 - 8 April 2022

Walking 6.30am to 6.15pm

Distance walked 15.5 miles

Across a misty field into an early morning in Lower Slaughter, surely one of the most beautiful (and photographed) villages in England. I passed through quickly following the Macmillan Way to join the Windrush Way just west of Bourton-on-the-Water. I t was turning into a lovely morning. I followed alongside the winding River Windrush and then left it to ascend and then descend into Naunton and across fields to Guiting Power. Here, I supported a local business, The Old Post Office cafe and succumbed to an excellent coffee and a sourdough sausage sandwich together with a couple of things to take away.

On then through Hawling and Brockhampton. On high ground approaching the abandoned buildings of Wontley Farm I found myself in a quick and sudden blizzard but it didn't last. I joined the Cotswold Way which took me past Belas Knap tumulus. Descending through fields, I found myself a pitch for the night in discreet woodland high above a little used road a couple of miles from Winchcombe.

Cotswold Ring Day 1 - 7 April 2022


Walking 3.10pm to 6.00pm
Distance walked 5 miles

This is the first day of a shakedown walk prior to the TGO Challenge next month. I need to check that my legs will carry me for a few days. I'd planned to bring along a new backpack that I finished only yesterday but one of the shoulder straps isn't right so I'm using my Gossamer Gear Mariposa which is tried and tested.

The Cotswold Ring is a circular route of about sixty miles. The official start is on the western edge of Cheltenham and the furthest point of the route on the west is Moreton-in-Marsh. That was a convenient place for me to start and Amanda dropped me off this afternoon. I have to be home on Tuesday so I probably won't go as far as Cheltenham and have identified on the map where I'll shorten the route.

There was a rain and hail shower as we left home but it cleared up very quickly. I located the footpath I wanted in Moreton and set off at about 3.10pm. My route so far has variously followed the MacMillan Way, the Monarch's Way and the Heart of England Way. At Longborough I decided to vary my route so as not to go through Broadwell and Stow-on-the-Wold and, instead, went through Upper Swell and Lower Swell.

I've found a nice woodland pitch just before Lower Slaughter although I have a noisy muntjac for company.

Pennine Way Day 17 - 24 June 2021

Clennell Street to Kirk Yetholm
Walking 6.10am to 1.15pm
Distance walked 14 miles
Distance remaining 1 mile

A very quiet and calm night, unlike in 2017 when I camped here in the windiest conditions ever. I was woken by a skylark singing at what I thought was 5.40 but it was 4.40. Still, I thought I might as well get going. There was low cloud outside which meant no views but, in a clear moment I got a photo of a cloud inversion. As I was packing up, two Spine Race runners went by and we had a brief chat. 

I got under way. There was no chance of going wrong, just follow the fence, sometimes in England, sometimes in Scotland. In fact, the fence doesn't really denote the border. 

When I reached the signpost for the detour to The Cheviot visibility was poor so I didn't go that way. It's about a mile each way and The Cheviot is an unimpressive lump by all accounts. This partly explains why I've got a mile left over above. I didn't see anyone until I got to Hen Hole Hut where were some tents and one person (two others had gone for water), a Spine Race checkpoint. By this time, the clouds and mist had cleared and I had good views for the rest of the morning. I'd never seen Hen Hole before as visibility was bad here in 2017. 

The ascent to The Schil was long but I was expecting it. 

I took the high level alternative towards KY (I took the low level on last time - more road walking and fewer views). It was worth it as the views were stupendous and far reaching although the ascent to White Law was punishing. 

Descending the to the road where both routes meet, there was a steep hill before cruising down to KY and the Border Hotel where I claimed my free half pint of beer and got a certificate of completion. I also treated myself to lunch, my only meal out. 

Me in 2021

Me in 1977

Pennine Way Day 16 - 23 June 2021

Byrness to Clennell Street
Walking 5.40am to 4.20pm
Distance walked 14 miles (plus 1.5 miles for detour)
Distance remaining 15 miles

I woke early to see the midges swirling again. Fortunately, I'd slept with my head net on so I had a good night. I started getting ready at 4.45am and made tea. I should have covered it while it was brewing. I had to scoop loads of midges out before I could drink it. Those that were left were unlikely to cause me any harm. 

The steep ascent and final rock scramble out of Byrness got me on to Byrness Hill with the warning on the gate that there might be soldiers milling around and that there might be firing and pyrotechnics, but reassurance that live ammunition wasn't used. In fact, I saw no soldiers at all, unlike in 2017 when a spread out file of them in full battle dress emerged out of the mist and followed the PW for some distance. I simply took my place in the file. It was quite amusing. 

I made really good progress over the dry, springy ground. At Chew Green, the Roman camp, I stopped to brew coffee and a Spine Race runner came by. I took a photo and then he was off again. Not running though. When you've been going for nearly 250 miles it's more of a trot. Coming from the other direction was a fellow walking from Cape Wrath to The Lizard. 

There wasn't any sun and it was generally overcast and a little breezy. Perfect walking weather really. At Yearning Saddle refuge hut was another Spine Race checkpoint and not long after another runner appeared. I stepped off the path to let him go by. 

At Windy Gyle I stopped for lunch. I recalled my camp here in 1977. It was hot and late afternoon. I was parched but some kind people coming down gave me some orange squash which I put in a mu and carefully carried it up. As I was putting my tent up, a nosey sheep came by and knocked it over! A fine spot if the weather permits it as the views are superb. Darren and Dave appeared and stopped as well. I left first and headed for Clennell Street, a mile further on, where I spent a very windy night in 2017. I made a detour to Davidson's Linn, a twenty minute walk away to the east through some forest to a secluded valley. Here there is a neat waterfall and fast running stream. I drank a good amount of my remaining water, made tea and replenished my water from the stream to get me through the rest of today and tomorrow. 

I then returned to Clennell Street and pitched on the Scottish side of the fence. I didn't want to be on the English side this time as I might find a Spine Race runner tripping over a guy line in the night. 

Later this afternoon, two lady PW walkers appeared, Sandra and Ally, who I hadn't seen before. After chatting for a while, they went off to pitch not far off. 

I had an interesting supper. At the pitstop at Hornistead there was a part used bag of Huel, green Thai curry flavour. I took a couple of scoops and memorised the instructions. I ate it this evening. It was quite good and probably my healthiest meal so far. 

Pennine Way Day 15 - 22 June 2021

Bellingham to Byrness
Walking 9.40am to 7.30pm
Distance walked 16 miles
Distance remaining 29 miles

I had to wait until nine o'clock to retrieve my power pack from the site reception. I called first at the Village Bakery in Bellingham and bought two steak pies, two slices of Sly cake and two pieces of flapjack. Then a few items from the Co-op next door. I ate one of the pies for breakfast just across the road on a bench. Oh my, it was amazing. 

 

It was to be yet another warm, dry day. Not a lot to be said about the terrain for the first few miles. All dry underfoot and the path easy to follow. Plenty of sheep (but hardly any birdsong for some reason) and large open spaces with wide ranging views. Past Padon Hill as the forest is reached on the left, there was a very steep climb with some oozing mud of an unpleasant colour which I was careful to avoid stepping in. 

Reaching Brownrigg Head, I was passed by a Spine Race runner, she having run all the way from Edale. She didn't stop. I was glad to see that a rough path had been laid for the mile or so that was a nightmarish bog experience when I passed this way in 2017. Further along this path, much of the forest had been felled and replanted. It looked totally different from before.

 

Eventually, the path met the forest road leading to Byrness, a few miles away. It was tedious so I started listening to an audiobook on my phone. About a mile before Blakehopeburnhaugh I stopped for a breather before the final push to Byrness. Whilst sitting by the side of the road, I espies a young woman walking up the road. No pack and there's nothing for miles in the direction I'd come from and where she was going. I asked her where she was going. She was the medic for the Spine Race and was wandering up to see the route. I don't think any runners were due as they can all be tracked online. The last in the race were around Hawes and I was there about a week ago. They are very spread out. 

I stopped at the Race checkpoint at Blakehopeburnhaugh and cheekily asked the marshal if he had any water to spare. He had 100 litres and happily let me have two and also offered me a mug of tea which I didn't refuse. The checkpoint is being manned till Saturday. 

A mile further on I came to the forest wild camping spot I had in mind but it was totally unsuitable so I walked on. Not far on from there I found my spot, next to the footbridge before Byrness - and the river provides good water although I didn't need any. A vehicle track passes nearby and there's a house up on the edge of the forest but I'm screened from it by a belt of trees. A lady with children who walked by said she didn't think I'd have a problem. It's rather midgey though when the breeze drops.