TGO Challenge Day 13 Wed 22nd May

North Water Bridge to Nether Warburton  13.2km - 163m ascent - 192m descent
So the beginning of the end.....I was up and away at 5.15am! Madness? Well no, I wnted to beat the forecast rain. I'd spent so long walking in the dry it seemed a shame to get wet so close to the end! It seemed hard to pick a route which had much offroad betweeen these to points. However the minor roads I used were very quiet, a bonus of the early start.

Across the Norh Esk again, which gave access to the minor roads to Marymill.

The minor roads here reminded me of rural France.....don't know why? 

The "track" up to Morphie was rather imposing, it was blowing a fair bit over the top of the Hill of Morphie. I had to put my Buff Mitts on!!

Having crossed the busy A92 it was downhill all the way to the dunes at Nether Warburton and the North Sea.

So here it is the North Sea, I arrived at 8am. Not surpisingly I had the beach to myself!

Except for the wind!
Despite my best efforts to write in the sand, the wind was blowing sand into my beautiful artwork as fast as I was writing it!

Well I'm still smiling!
I'd rarely stopped smiling since I'd started at Sheil Bridge almost a fortnight before.
It had been a great 2 weeks, it was a pleasure to meet all you folks both on the trail and at camp/hostels, you're the ones who made the journey special.
Many thanks to all who've persevered looking at the blog posts of my Challenge. Your kind comments on the photo's and putting up with reading my poor grammar.
Thanks again :-))

TGO Challenge Day 12 Tues 21th May

Tarfside to Northwater Bridge  26.9km - 209m ascent - 377m descent
Today provided the "prettiest" part of my Challenge. It was actually going to be my foul weather alternative when I submitted my route, but I'd left things open in my own mind. A mention here for @akkw1803 who gave me the location of the "new bridge" Thanks Andrew! I was fortunate to have the company of Peter Dixon@munro277  Lee Taylor@Leerockwell15 and Matt Holland@OutdoorsMH.

Leaving Tarfside....

For a second breakfast at the "Retreat", and very good it was too!

We waded the North Esk to gain the track on the other side.

After which we passed through Keenie and then walked above the river on what appeared to be a new bulldozed track.

Having descended back to the riverside we followed the track, which eventually led us to the "new bridge". This gave us access to the path to "The Rocks of Solitude" 

The path, carved out of the rock twists and turns above the river, the picture doesn't do any justice!

Here lower down the valley the river widens once more and tumbles over these low rapids.

The fresh leaved Beech trees gave welcome sdade on what was turning out to be a hot day.

A map of the walk...highly recommended!

The Blue Door Walk...Great!!

Once across the B966 the river can still be followed almost into Edzell. Arable crops on our righthand side.

Another Challenge institution "The Tuck Inn"....so we did!

It was road for much of the way from Edzell to Northwater Bridge. Its a very long, straight road, here we look back.....

.....and here we look onward! :-(

Eventually we arrived at Northwater Bridge...it soon filled up with Challengers. A tentspotters delight!
This had been a much better day than expected, the North Esk was a grand riverside stroll.

TGO Challenge Day 11 Mon 20th May

Glen Doll to Tarfside  32.6km - 1012m ascent - 1263m descent
The weather today was superb, I was looking forward to the day immensely. I'd been in Glen's Clova and Doll before, but none of the hill tracks other than a couple of 100m. Looking at the stats above I find them hard to believe...the day felt so easy.

This was such a great wildcamp I have no hesitation in putting it up again.
Here I'm almost all packed, I was walking just after 7am, keen to get a few miles in before it got really warm.

It was lovely and cool under the trees as I walked down Glen Doll, the early light streaming in thro' the trees.

I stopped at the carpark/picnic area at Acharn, used the loo and had a second breakfast.

The road down to Clova passed soon enough, then the good path took me up above the Glen.

Loch Brandy....and isn't it just magnificent? Another tick on my list of Challenge objectives!

A short pull up from Loch Brandy brings you to Green Hill, and an excellent view to the Lochnager group.
I'd left it open in my own mind as to wether I would climb Ben Tirran, the weather was so good it would have been rude not to!

I had this beast for company as I made my way over to Tirran...what an abomination :-(

The summit of Ben Tirran, a Corbett. I don't actively collect Corbetts but this was too easy to miss.

The first glimpse of Loch Lee, there were a few drops of rain here...nothing to speak of really though.

Looking back to Inchgrundle and the hills I'd just crossed. I had the realization that this was the last of the proper hill country for me on this Challenge.

I've never been in Glen Esk, and was pleasantly surprised. This section from Loch Lee to the start of the tarmac at Invermark was very nice.

The Tower of Invermark Castle..a Challenge blog of this valley wouldn't be complete without a photo!

I left the tarmac to pass by Westbank on the well worn Challenger route.
The view from here down Glen Esk particularly grand.

And so to Tarfside...lots of space here for folk to spread out.
Another great day on the Challenge, although it was the last of the hills.

TGO Challenge Day 10 Mon 19th May

Braemar to Glen Doll  19.9km - 643m ascent - 543m descent
I had a leisurely start this morning, there wasn't a huge amount of climbing so I was looking forward to unvisited terrain beyond Callater Lodge. The weather looked good and I was looking forward to getting on the "Trail" again.

I crossed the valley just North of the golf course, the view South up the valley urged me on back into the hills.

Gratuitous "arty" shot of the footbridge which brought me onto the minor road which runs thro the golf course. A short way up the road I was caught up by Emma Warbrick, we walked together for much of the day.

The Clunie Water

The infamous Callater Lodge....there had been great festivities the previous evening we understood.
We were welcomed inside and plyed with tea and biscuits.
 A big thank you for the hospitality!

The weather at the head of the glen didn't look wonderful, but only turned out to be an atmospheric effect. There was no rain nor any sign of it, luckily.

The climb up "Jocks Road" at the head of Glen Callater. The path is vague for much of the time hereabouts. This is one of those photos where scale is difficult, Emma is on here for those who care to zoom in!

Before long we reached the col, and caught up with Lindy Griffiths. I waslast in this area almost 25 years ago when climbing the Munro Tolmount, seen here in the background. The 3 of us made our seperate ways over to the Munro top of Crow Craigies the high point of todays walk.

Lindy Griffiths kindly took this picture on the summit of Crow Craigies.....see you can make a silk purse out of a sows ear!

The descent down towards Glen Doll was uneventful, Lindy had told Emma and I to carry on as she said she would be slower downhill. I had particularly wanted to see the shelter, (above) You'd only want to use it in a dire emergency!

Glen Doll laid out before us, I was very taken by this beautiful valley.

I could have carried on to Clova and made a shorter day tommorrow, but this was where I'd planned to camp. It was a wonderful spot, probably my favourite wildcamp of the Challenge.

TGO Challenge Day 9 Sun 18th

Rest Day
This was the day I'd gained over the previous 3/4 days, truthfully I would have prefered to carry on walking but I had the Sunday night booked at the hostel. So I spent the day in The Old Bakery, browsing Braemar Mountain Sports, washing/drying gear and eating...always good!

The Clunie Water from the bridge in Braemar.

TGO Challenge Day 8 Sat 17th May

Derry Lodge to Braemar  14.8km - 208m ascent - 288m descent
An easy day today as I ambled down Glen Lui then Glen Dee to Braemar. The weather behaved it's self remaining dry until I got to the SYHA....perfect.

Early morning sun on the tent at Derry Lodge, another box ticked. I've been this way many times before but never camped...I have now. :-)

Bob Scotts bothy, this place always feels special to me. Emma Warbrick and Fred Campbell were just about to leave, we walked and chatted together down Glen Lui.

Emma and Freddie near Bob Scotts

Me near Bob Scotts, taken by Freddie...his fee must have been the £1 I found in the grass, which he thought must have been his?!

This is the track to Claybokie from Glen Lui, very pleasent through here.

A couple of mugs of tea were very welcome at Mar Lodge. I think it's Jayme in the photo.
(Please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Inside the Great Hall at Mar Lodge, some folk find this macabre. I only found it fascinating, I hope that doesn't offend anyone.

Mar Lodge...we're very good at this type of thing, us Brits!

I walked on the road for a while, before testing my navigation in the dense pine plantation which leads to the Morrone Birkwood...it was worth it though!

Braemar..and civilisation, a day early!

My home for the next 2 nights Braemar SYHA. The warden's here are some of the best I've encountered.