TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 72: 13 May 2017)

My second camp in 2017 was in Glen Etive, near sea level, at NN137459, after 22km and an early finish on my FWA (Fowl Weather Alternative) route as I chickened out of going up Beinn Trilleachan, a rocky peak with slippery slabs.A good spot with nearby water and nobody else around.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 71: 12 May 2017)

2017 saw me setting off on a solo crossing, starting again at Oban, but taking the ferry to Lismore and following my planned route, as reported at the time:

Route: roughly as planned - Ferry to Lismore > Port Appin > Airds Hill (Ma) > Appin > Strath of Appin > camp to the west of Beinn Churalain at NM 986 464 (420 metres)

I've still not processed the photos from this crossing, on which I used the stalwart Phreerunner tent, which performed as well as ever, and on this day was positioned exactly as planned on the slopes of Beinn Churalain..

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 70: 22 May 2016)

Our fifth and final wild camp on our 2016 crossing was at NJ 214 046, at 820 metres, on Cairn Sawvie, by Brown Cow Hill. Another comfy spot at the top of a mountain.

This was three days after our previous wild camp, as we had enjoyed the luxuries of Kinross House B&B in Grantown-On-Spey, and Argyle Guest House in Tomintoul.

From here we would be camping all the way to Montrose, but staying at recognised camping places in Ballater, Tarfside and North Water Bridge, before heading for the coast at Kinnaber Links, via the delights of Charleton fruit farm.

So that's goodnight to the entries for 2016. Next up - 2017, and a solo crossing for me.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 69: 19 May 2016)

22 km further on from our mountain top campsite, we'd passed the Black Bothy and reached an enticing sward of grass about 3km short of our intended destination. It was 4:30, and rain could be imminent. So we stopped at NH 889 325 at a height of 390 metres. Another excellent spot.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 68: 18 May 2016)

After nights in the Cnoc Hotel at Struy, Lovat Bridge Campsite, and a B&B in Inverness, we finally got to wild camp again on the 548 metre summit of Beinn Bhuidhe Mhor (NH 786 406).

It was blowing a gale, otherwise a comfortable flat site. Some fellrunners whose training involved running up and down this hill seemed somewhat surprised to find us there. On the misty evening we were equally surprised to see them!

The following morning we woke to good views over the Moray Firth and many miles of peat hags ahead of us.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 67: 14 May 2016)

After a longish 22 km day traversing a high, broad ridge, we passed Monar Lodge and set up camp by Allt Toll a'Mhuic (dry, so we had to use filtered river water) on a pleasant but cool evening at NH 225 391.

We had taken a little over 10 hours, whereas Richard Fuell, who was again camping near us, had started earlier and finished later, taking about 12 hours over the same route. He was good company when our paths did enter some form of synchrony.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 66: 13 May 2016)

This was the second time I'd camped at Bealach Bhernais, the first time being on Day 1 of my TGO Challenge experience - the starting point for this series of postings. See here.

Sue and I took the same route as I'd done on 11 May 2007, but we pitched camp facing west, whereas on the earlier visit I'd used the other side of the bealach due to a brisk westerly wind.

A lone figure slowly made its way up the valley to the col to which we had descended. It was Humphrey. Sadly, our brew wasn't yet on, and he proceeded over the bealach towards a better party.

A little later, Richard Fuell appeared, looming over the tent with menaces. We gave him tea and pointed to a distant spot where he could set up camp outside the 'snore zone'. (He has a reputation!)

After a restful night, we woke in the old Nallo tent to another fine day at 580 metres (NH 058 448).

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 65: 18 May 2015)

After a night at Thornbank Cottage in Braemar, we got an early start for quite a long day. We paused for 45 minutes to observe the post party antics at Lochcallater Lodge, then headed over three Munro summits to find an excellent camping spot at NO 281 798, on the upper slopes of Broom Hill, at around 700 metres.

The view into Glen Clova

Having seen nobody since Lochcallater, we received a brief visit from Graham Brookes before settling down to our final evening of wild camping for this crossing. The next two nights we would be camping at Tarfside and at North Water Bridge campsite, so whilst they are both good venues, this spot was one to savour.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 64: 16 May 2015)

After a night in an Aviemore B&B, Sue and I walked over the Lairig Ghru in fair weather despite pessimism at Control regarding the forecast wind, meeting a first timer, John Sheffield (airline pilot, wearing a skirt!) - I note he's doing it again this year. Good luck to him with the midges that he'll no doubt encounter on the postponed to late June event. [In normal - non-Covid - years we would now be in the middle of the Challenge.]

We stopped well before the fleshpots of Braemar, choosing an excellent site in Glen Luibeg at NO 020 937. Pretty cool at 500 metres, but our Rab 400 sleeping bags kept us snug and warm.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 63: 14 May 2015)

After a ten hour day crossing the Monadhliath hills, we were tired enough to stop a little short of our target. We chose a lovely grassy, sheltered spot at NH 770 155, just below Carn Caol, at 630 metres.

Camping high like this is fine for us - the tent is warm and our RAB Quantum 400 sleeping bags keep us warm. Apart from our outer waterproof layers, we have little need to update our equipment. I see that I was back to my old Karrimor Jaguar rucksack on this trip, more modern rucksacks from GoLite and Lowe Alpine having failed after fairly short periods of use.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 62: 13 May 2015)

After a comfy night in a B&B in Drumnadrochit, we took the ferry across Loch Ness and then savoured the delights of Alex and Janet's hospitality for breakfast at Ault-na-goire.

Following that, the industrialisation of the remote Monadhliath hills was a depressing sight, but we managed to secrete ourselves away from the mayhem at the Allt Cailtidh confluence at NH 612 207, at 425 metres.

The route to this idyllic camping spot was across a river. I managed to stay upright on the submerged stepping stones, but Sue decided not to risk falling in...

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 61: 11 May 2015)

After a very pleasant night drying out in the Slaters Arms in Cannich, and at Kerrow House B&B, we proceeded to the Balmacaan Forest, where a plan to camp in a spot that I had previously passed and deemed to be 'idyllic', was foiled by an excess of water. 

Eventually we got to a point where we decided to camp, rather than cross a fast flowing river - by Loch nam Meur at NH 390 245. 

At least we didn't have to go very far to get good water, and next day, after the storm had subsided, we were able to leap across the river without the need to take our boots off.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 60: 9 May 2015)

After a day in which we climbed six Munro summits and tops along the north Mullardoch ridge, we descended to an excellent campsite at 735 metres - at NH 172 351. The tumbling stream pictured provided a contrast with the previous night's complete silence, but we slept well again.

Note that my lightweight rucksacks had all perished by the time of this Challenge, when I reverted to the stalwart and rather ancient Karrimor Jaguar with broken pocket zips. It's still going strong.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 59: 8 May 2015)

On this Challenge (my 9th) with Sue (her 4th), we set off in fine weather from Dornie, and enjoyed an eight hour walk, via Iron Lodge and over Carn na Breabaig, to Coire na Breabaig (NH 072 308) at about 500 metres.

As dusk fell, we enjoyed superb views towards tomorrow's objective, the North Mullardoch Ridge.

Next day dawned fine, and the sun dried any condensation well before we struck camp. This next picture looks back to Carn na Breabaig (679 metres) that we had climbed the previous day.

[Readers might have to endure a few of these wild camp postings, whilst I sort out another 'project'.]

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 58: 21 May 2014)

Another early arrival saw me pitched in the Fetteresso Forest at NO 721 876 by late afternoon, in a spot near Hill of Roughbank kindly recommended by HMP3. This would be my final wild camp on this, my eighth Challenge.

Bernie Clark and Paul Myerscough arrived just as I was turning in for another comfy night on soft ground. The following morning I noticed that Stefan had also pitched up, but I was long gone before any of them woke to the new day.

Given a forecast of rain, I then enjoyed a final sprint to Dunnottar Castle, covering the 29 km route by 9 am, after which a short walk into Stonehaven saw me on the bus to Montrose, narrowly avoiding a soaking from the first rain for nearly two weeks.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 57: 20 May 2014)

From Tarfside I headed up Mount Battock and enjoyed a brew stop with Maggie Hems on the summit. From there it was an easy walk on a short day to this comfortable spot by the Burn of Badymicks, at NO 588 834. There are lots of good camping opportunities around here. I chatted with several other Challengers as they passed by on their way to Charr Bothy, a little further along the track.

After a fairly early dinner, I settled down to a long and peaceful sleep, as on most of these 'Wild Camping' nights.

'Leave no trace.' The flattened grass on my camping spot next morning will have recovered in an hour or two.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 56: 19 May 2014)

Here I am at Tarfside, communing with JJ, on a warm, sunny afternoon after a walk over Mount Keen. It's arguably not a real 'Wild Camp', as we are in the village field, near a public toilet, but I've deemed it appropriate for inclusion here. Unusually, I have no photo of my tent!

The previous two nights were spent at Thornbank Cottage in Braemar, and on Ballater's excellent campsite, both good spots.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 55: 16 May 2014)

After a pretty hard day beside the Tarf, I halted at NN 997 824, in Glen Tilt about 4 km south of Bynack Lodge, just to the east of Loch Tilt. It was another idyllic spot for a good night's sleep, after which I woke to the view below.

I got going at around 8 am, after chatting to Mole and Ed, who had camped about 50 metres away from me in one of the many excellent spots around here.

For a change, I wouldn't be camping tonight as I had been carrying the weighty key to Thornbank, friend Simon's cottage in Braemar. Thanks Simon.

TGO Challenge - Wild Camps (No 54: 15 May 2014)

After a sociable stay at Newtonmore Hostel, a late start (after breakfast with David Wishart at the transport cafe), and a bus back to rejoin my route at Dalwhinnie, followed by an easy walk over Carn na Caim, I pitched camp before 5 pm at NN 795 817, on lovely soft turf near some waterfalls at Bruach Gharbh Ghaig.

A chap called 'Mole' and his mate Ed arrived, chatted, and moved on. But Markus and Philipp, arriving at 6:15, discounted any thought of continuing further and pitched their tents nearby in this great spot at 650 metres. 

The weather was fine - the tent stayed open all night.