TGO Challenge 2012 - The Route

Thursday 10th May - Day Zero

Actually day minus one will involve us driving from Yorkshire up to Glasgow and stopping with some pals for the night, day zero will be the real start to our adventure.

I’ll probably get no sleep at all from being so excited, I know that for a fact, but we have to be up fairly early and get a lift with Stuart to Queen Street station in time for our 10:10 train to the wild west. Here I expect to meet a good number of fellow Challengers and we’ll soon be hearing tales of previous crossings no doubt, the train journey is a bit of a slog but there should be some great views along the way.

We’ll switch trains at Inverness and then head south west towards our start point at Shiel Bridge, to be more accurate we’ll be getting off at Kyle of Lochalsh and then figuring out the last bit for ourselves. Hopefully there’ll be a bus or taxi, failing that it’s thumbing and praying for a lift, worst case scenario we’ll pitch up the tents somewhere and wait for a bus to come by the next morning.






Friday 11th May - Day One

Shiel Bridge to Glen Affric

14.53 miles

775 metres of ascent

Shiel Bridge campsite NG938186 – Glenlicht House NH006173 – Camban NH053184 Alltbeithe NH080202 – Glen Affric ruin NH110207




Saturday 12th May - Day Two

Glen Affric to Coille an Tuathanaich

14.76 miles

559 metres of ascent

Glen Affric ruin NH110207 – Athnamulloch NH133206 – Allt Garbh – Cougie - Coille an Tuathanaich NH289230

Sunday 13th May - Day Three

Coille an Tuathanaich to Fort Augustus

17.09 miles

737 metres of ascent

Coille an Tuathanaich NH289230 – Lochan Seogh NH294189 – Dundreggan – Fort Augustus campsite NH372085






Monday 14th May - Day Four
Fort Augustus to Melgarve

12.38 miles

913 metres of ascent

Fort Augustus campsite NH372085 – Blackburn bothy NH382029 – Corrieyairack Pass – Melgarve bothy NN468951

Tuesday 15th May - Day Five

Melgarve to Glentruim

15.78 miles

372 metres of ascent

Melgarve bothy NN468951 – Garva Bridge – Sherrabeg NN568930 – Laggan – Glentruim campsite NN688951

Wednesday 16th May - Day Six

Glentruim to Ruigh-aiteachain bothy

16.77 miles

546 metres of ascent

Glentruim campsite NN688951 – General Wades Road – Ruthven barracks – Woods of Glentromie – Killiehuntly – Baileguish NN824981 – Stronetoper – Ruigh-aiteachain bothy NN846 928

Thursday 17th May - Day Seven

Ruigh-aiteachain to White Bridge

13.96 miles

588 metres of ascent

Ruigh-aiteachain bothy NN846 928 – Geldie Lodge NN957870 – Geldie Burn – White Bridge NO019885

Friday 18th May - Day Eight

White Bridge to Braemar

9.94 miles

248 metres of ascent

White Bridge NO019885 – Lin of Dee – Inverey – Braemar campsite NO154909

Saturday 19th May - Day Nine

Rest day (pub)

0.00 miles

0 metres of ascent

Sunday 20th May - Day Ten
Braemar to Glas-allt-Shiel

14.91 miles

865 metres of ascent

Braemar campsite NO154909 – Bridge of Dee – Garbh Allt Shiel NO197908 – Feith an Laoigh NO230897 – Gelder Shiel – Coire na Ciche NO273869 – Glas-allt-Shiel NO277825

Monday 21st May - Day Eleven
Glas-allt-Shiel to Tarfside

16.97 miles

755 metres of ascent

Glas-allt-Shiel NO277825 – Spittal of Glenmuick – Shielin of Mark – Muckle Cairn – Glen Lee – Tarfside NO494796

Tuesday 22nd May - Day Twelve

Tarfside to North Water Bridge

16.64 miles

318 metres of ascent

Tarfside NO494796 – Corharncross NO513782 – Holmhead NO563775 – Gannochy – North Water Bridge campsite NO649664

Wednesday 23rd May - Day Thirteen

Tarfside to North Water Bridge

16.64 miles

318 metres of ascent

North Water Bridge campsite NO649664 – Broomley – Morphie – St Cyrus

Thursday 24th May – Day Fourteen

Bus from St Cyrus to Montrose – checkout and then grab the train back to Glasgow