TGOC'26 Day 6 Melgarve Bothy to Balgowan

Had another excellent night, indoors.  When I originally planned this route, I was sleeping inside only 4 nights and the rest I would be in my tent. As it is turning out, it might be reversed, with only 4 nights in a tent... We shall see. The weather did come down last night and it was lightly raining when Andy and I set off today. 

This was an eerie sort of morning. The clouds were moving really fast and it was 20 minutes of rain, then 20 minutes of almost sun and the cycle would repeat itself. You didn't know when to put on or take off your rain gear. 

Leaving Melgarve Bothy you can see more of General Wades bridge building. 

Today will be a long road walk. It won't be all hard pack, but a good portion of today will be. Walking the road is much harder on your feet than even walking in heather or bog. In fact, for ever mile on hard surface, it is equivalent to 5 miles on a path, when it comes to how your feet feel at the end of the day!

Today will be 15 miles on this type of surface. 

There was still fine scenery today along the path. The only good part about walking along a road is that you can walk side by side and chat. Waiting on the next front, you can see the Monadhliath Mountains ahead that I would have been up on starting today. 

Reaching Garva Bridge

next round of mist and rain along with another bridge

more sheep with lambs 

maybe a good decision to not be up on that hill right now? 

A nice view of Spey Reservoir and Dam, in the back. 

While not officially on the Spey Side Way yet, We have been following the River Spey the entire day. The Spey River starts at a little lake close to Melgarve Bothy.

Deer in the field (below) 

Once you pass the Spey Dam you enter a little section of farm land. The Coul Farm runs this whole length of road, a little more than a mile long with a breathtaking backdrop.

Main Entrance to Coul Farm

After that, a steep road section takes you up and over into Laggan. Laggan is a very nice tiny village with an exceptional coffee shop, that does lunch and cakes. I ended my day in Laggan in 2024

It was good to see that they have continued to be open and doing well. Cider, Latte and Cake for me, just what the doctor ordered for being on my feet all day. 

I remember taking almost the same picture, of this Church yard, in '24 leaving Laggan

2026 above  

2024

Leaving Laggan, you have to walk along the very busy A86, for just a mile and half, to reach the community of Balgowan

Where we were done for the day and meeting up with Emma and Carl

Emma and Andy on the porch of the Hobbit Hut. This location is called Tigh an Each, It is also known as Laggan Glamping. I can highly recommend it. The owner was very nice and she welcomes Challengers.

The hobbit hut had plenty of room for 4 people 

Andy (seated), Carl, Emma. It was great to have Carl take the extra time to drive here as well

Emma made a fantastic curry dish. Not being used to curries, I requested a mild version as to not be up all night... 🤣

More on and off storms rolled through and of course the apologetic rainbow appeared again. 

Just wait around a few minutes and the weather will change on this Challenge

Andy and the "horse"

Andy got this horse (inflatable pogo stick) at Cougie. It was left for Andy by Lindsay to carry across Scotland. Lindsay has a mascot stuffed animal named "Sir Dave the Beaver". He has his own Facebook page! That is another story... 

Andy thought that he had forgotten "Muffin" at Cougie. He was distraught, as he couldn't find her for 2 days. When Andy cleaned out his pack here at Belgowan, Muffin was, unceremoniously, stuffed in the bottom of Andy's pack.

Challenger Shenanigans... 😀😉

Day 6 Summary and Stats:

There were several variations of what could have been done today. Our actual route is in blue 

Extra special thank you to Emma, who while not on the challenge this year,  Still set up this fantastic stay and meal today. 

TGOC'26 Ft Augustus to Melgarve Bothy

Today I needed to decide what my next few days would look like. My planned route was to go up to Chalybeate springs. A spring but now situated in the middle of a giant windfarm, just above Ft Augustus. This would set me up for going to the top of the Monadhliath Mountains and spending two days walking the ridge line to Kingussie.

My next three days are below: Purple would be today, Blue- Day 6 and Red- Day 7. In good weather this would not be an issue and something I have looked forward too doing, as the views should be fantastic from up on the ridge.

However they are currently covered in some snow with more bad weather forecast for Day 6 and 7. Which would put me camping up high during what could be a storm bringing more snow and poor visibility. I was more concerned about the visibility. What is the point of climbing up high if you can only see as far as your hand in front of your face?  While I needed to, and did, provide a FWA (foul weather alternative) that was accepted, it was not the ideal solution as it still needed some off trail hiking in possibly bad weather. 

For several days, Andy has let me know that I would be welcome at a planned get-together in Belgowan. The original plan was for Andy, Emma, Carl and Lindsay to all meet there for a night, but now with both Carl and Lindsay having dropped out due to injury, there was plenty of room. Most of the route that Andy was doing, the next couple of day, I had been on before, but the thought of either spending a few days in what could be cold and wet conditions with no guarantee of any views, or having a lovely walk and a meet up with friends, didn't take me long to decide. I would be changing my route to follow along with Andy. 

Crossing over the canal that empties into Loch Ness 

Andy on the bridge. We left Morag's after breakfast around 9 am. We just have to navigate out of the town proper and up into the hills you see in the distance. 

Wild Garlic growing under the trees 

Lots of new lambs in the fields. 

Bluebells 

Gorse and Bluebells 

A candidate for the cutest cottage award this year. This is a new rental cottage being built on a property just outside of Ft Augustus. 

Gaining a quiet road across this stream 

This was a different way than Vicky and I went in 2014. This approach to the Corrieyairack was much quieter and nicer than walking the busy B road that we used to reach the old cemetery turn off.

Another cottage candidate, this one just the gate house for the Ardachy House (Estate). I had seen this before as it sits right where the cemetery path meets this path. 

Taking the path that leads around the estate

close up Gorse. 

Highland Cattle (Hairy Cooz)

Or as I think of them (my son, as they have the same haircut 🤣)

Culachy House. 

Culachy House was covered in scaffolding, in 2014, as it was being completely refurbished by the new owners. 

Culachy House and its surrounding 8,000-acre Highland estate in Scotland are owned by Colin and Jorie Grassie. Colin Grassie is a former UK chief executive of Deutsche Bank, and Jorie Grassie is a luxury jewelry designer known for her "Culachy collection" made from red deer tusks.

After here you start to climb... and climb and climb. A great view back to Ft Augustus and the southern end of Loch Ness. 

It was around noon time when we arrived at the Blackburn Bothy, located right along the path. This entire path is part of the General Wades Military Road in the area. We stopped here for lunch and a break. 

After lunch we continued up to the top of the Pass 

Just past Culachy House we meet up with Lorna. She is on the TGO Challenge, and since our paces seemed to be about the same, we all continued along together for the rest of the day.  She was great fun to chat with. 

Andy and Lorna on the bridge over the stream

The bridge (above) was the newer version of the one done by General Wade in the middle to late 1700's (below). Just a couple years older! 😉

An emergency hut about half way up the Pass, before the real slope starts 

On and on, around this point it is equivalent to the highest point in Missouri at 1772 feet. The Pass climbs to 2823 feet 

Almost at the top.  Great views today. The wind is cold, but any rain has held off so far. 

Made it to the top

Looking out from the cairn marking the top of the Pass. 

Panorama from the top.

Lorna, Andy and I at the top. 

The second emergency hut just over the top of the Pass.

Now down, with great new views into the Badenoch area. 

Glenshirra Forest Area 

More remnants of General Wade's Road construction. 

Quick breather after coming down from the Pass. 

As we approach Melgarve Bothy, more great views of the hills just above. 

Melgarve Bothy, another really nice bothy that was suitable for sleeping inside

The bothy filled up quickly with Challengers and also several cyclists that were doing the Highland Trail 550 bike event. 550 miles in 3-5 days! And we thought we were nuts! 

Tonight we did manage a very nice fire. 

The mist came down in the early evening bring some rain down low and more snow up higher. 

Another rainbow as the fronts pass one after the other 

Everything was dry and warm inside. Everyone made dinner and sat by the fire

My spot in the corner of an upstairs room. It was Lorna, Andy and I in this room. 

I would have had no weather problems today getting to my original planned stop at Chalybeate Spring. It will be interesting to see what the weather looks like in the morning. 

Day 5 Summary and Stats:

My original route is in the purple. The actual route today is in blue with the Corrieyairack Pass circled in yellow and the different points of interest marked on the map.