14th to 27th May 2010
The TGO Magazine Coast to Coast Challenge is a 200 mile walk across Scotland, taking in 12 munros, amounting to a total ascent of 36,000 feet. The route was planned by the team – Will Wilkin, Emma Ross and Leon Ross – and included lots of wild camps and some remote B&B rest stops (for well needed wee drams and proper food).
Our fortnight long adventure crossing The Highlands is over and some time has now passed, more than enough to allow memories of the hard times to fade and the good to flourish.
Our first three days saw us crossing the dramatic and brooding wilds of the Knoydart Peninsula through to the welcoming embrace and eccentric hospitality of the Tomdoun Hotel.
These three days saw some filthy weather; some very wet feet; the sad news that another challenger known to us had retired due to injury and, most importantly, some of the most spectacular views this country, if not the world, has to offer.
The next day provided us with the start of what would be a challenge-long theme of beautiful weather, as well as everybody’s favourite view.
Yet – as we crossed the Great Glen, left the majestic Western Highlands and headed for General Wade’s military road over the Corrieyairack mountain pass of the bleakly beautiful Monadhliath mountains – trouble was brewing.
After a further two days of mountain tracks and unending tarmac, we arrived in Kingussie broken and battered by the perpetual effort with Emma almost crippled by the blisters she had been fighting through for the past 40 miles. They were to prove costly.
After an enforced rest day, and with heavy hearts, Leon and I dropped a disconsolate Emma off at the train station and struck out towards Glenn Feshie a man down.
Two days of landslides, stunning vistas, ‘luxury’ camp food, panic due to a short term inability to read maps and scorching heat, Leon and I rolled into Braemar to find a surprise welcoming committee that included a refreshed and fully recovered Emma, yay!
The rest of the journey saw us on an easier route via Ballater, Aboyne, a pub or two and the flatter, greener, rolling vistas of the east.With a recharged Emma and strength in our legs we powered through the final leg with little incident or trauma – feral herds of killer cows and the sad loss of my spork aside.
So, on a disappointingly drab and rainy Thursday lunchtime we duly touched the water in the shadow of the imposing Dunnottar Castle and contemplated our return to normal life.
This was my second challenge, and once again I was overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of the Scottish Highlands.
It is this incredible landscape which brings so many back to this event, but I also take as much from the trip in the form of the simplicity of the endurance feat.
There is really nothing to your day other than putting one foot in front of the next with the occasional stop to rest or refuel.
It is an opportunity to completely clear your mind of the clutter of everyday life, whether by slow contemplation or by completely blanking your mind.
On this trip the chance was taken, from time to time, to reflect upon the reasons behind our fundraising and, in no small part, how lucky I was to have the health and well being to be able to visit such places.
CRY do great work and I’m glad we were able to contribute in some small way to them helping the victims and loved ones who are affected by what is such a tragic condition.
Will Wilkin
Will, Emma and Leon have so far raised £1270 for CRY. You can still sponsor them at http://www.justgiving.com/Coast-to-Coast-for-CRY
Many more photos from their adventure can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/TGOC2010
