TGOC'26 Day 11 - Rest Day at Ballater

Today is a zero day (a day with no miles walked). You have a maximum of 15 days to complete the Challenge successfully. In my previous years I have always started on a Friday and finished on a Thursday, 14 days, Why? Because, everyone that I knew on the Challenge did it that way. After Covid, the Challenge instituted a staggered start of Wednesday through Friday. The Wednesday start has now gone away, but the Thursday remains, giving you an extra day of walking. Having an extra day allows you to either spend more time on the hills or do a rest day, as I am doing this year. My rest day was brought about because my original route was going to put me into Ballater before the core of people that I knew would arrive, so I decided to wait for them in Ballater, which is such a nice place to hang out for the day. 

First off, today's weather is fantastic (It did rain a little). Went downstairs for breakfast and the sun was beaming through the windows

Fantastic scrambled eggs. sausage and toast to start the day.

Rest days are for catching up on chores. I had supplies to buy so I went out early, got a latte, and took a stroll around town before the Coop grocery store opened.

The Glenmuick church in the center of town 

The Village Green across from the Church. 

Challengers started to show up around noon today and there was the usual gathering of friends in the Bothy Cafe at lunch time. Louise and Carl arrived and then later Andy and Emma. Reservations were made for dinner at the Hotel.

(Left to Right, clockwise) Emma, Lindsay, Esther, Andy, Lynsey, Humphrey, Sir Dave the Beaver, and Colin

Of course, Muffin made an appearance. 

Summary and Stats:

A rest days also give you plenty of time to think, especially about my final 4 days on the Challenge and what I wanted. The weather did not look like it was going to improve greatly over the next few days. As we walk east the snow was no longer a possibility, but rain and low clouds were in the forecast. I had planned one more day of hills the day after tomorrow and then walking through the Fetteresso Forest (I have done that before) and then finishing at Dunnottar Castle (done that before). Half way through the day tomorrow I would be committed to that route to the end, regardless of weather. I decided that I did not want to do the work to walk up high and then see nothing, so I called into Challenge Control and completely changed my route. What did I decide? Day 12 coming soon.... 😉

TGOC'26 Balmoral Woods Wild Camp to Ballater

I again slept in as much as I could today. It is not a short day over to Ballater, but I am 9 miles ahead of where I had planned on being by yesterday. The big push over to Red House Bothy on Thursday is what I needed to do, in order to have two "normal" days into Ballater. Yesterday, just shy of 18 miles and today just 12 miles into Ballater. If I had stayed in the Feshie Bothy, Thursday night, I would have had  a 20 mile day yesterday and today would be 21 miles. I am gutted that I have not been able to do my planned route, but the one long day made the rest of this section really enjoyable. The silver lining about this year is, I can do the bits I missed, starting and ending in different places and it will be a brand new route! 

The sunrise this morning was just beautiful. In fact, waking up a couple of times during the night, with the bright moon, the entire forest was lit up.

Walking back downhill and regaining the forest track with blue skies ahead. 

I was actually enjoying the walking through the forest so much that I missed my turn to head uphill. I was going to walk past the Princess Royal's Cairn, but by the time I reached the sheep fields, I knew I had missed my turn. It was not a problem,  I just continued to walk straight until I reached Ivergelder and headed uphill from there.

Up the hill from Invergelder you take a small bridge that crosses over the Gelder Burn.

Gelder Burn (small stream) 

The forest path was very quiet. No one else but me. I did make it just in time to see some beautiful horses coming into their stables for breakfast. They know exactly where to go and they came in one by one. 

Looking up from the path to where Prince Albert's Cairn is located. 

I probably should have gone to see it, given it is a very impressive pyramid shaped monument from 1862, but it was a 500' climb.... 😅

Internet photo

Great views across the River Dee, to the hills on the other side.

Descending lower into Easter Balmoral. I have walked the hills directly behind Balmoral Castle this time. Previously, Vicky and I had walked directly through the grounds and gardens 

A series of the cottages and houses in Easter Balmoral. The track coming out of Balmoral Castle contains the really BIG Estate houses, but Vicky and I love all these cottages just as much 

As you exit the village of Easter Balmoral you can walk up a steep hill to the Royal Distillery.

I was hoping to stop this time at the Distillery, but I was 30 minutes too early.  I seriously thought about just sitting outside and waiting for them to open.  I am not a huge whiskey aficionado, so I just decided to press on. 

Royal Distillery

It is now a little under 2 miles of a quiet road before reaching a B road for the remainder of the day. 

All along this quiet road are farm fields and more lovely cottages. 

May is the time of year for the new lambs 

When I am taking the time to compose flower shots with hills as a backdrop, I am having a good time.

A new build, made to look old

This one has always been one of my favorites.

Reaching the B976 at a farm called Mains of Abergeldie.

There is now an old phone box converted to a mini library on the corner. 

This is the original phone box, on this route. It is in the village of Little Mill

This one is abandoned. I would take this one! 

Just at the turn off to the Polhollick Bridge, The Ballater Hostel had left a box of trail magic. In this case, some home made cookies. 

I had one of those thin ones that is made with molasses. I think they are called a Snap. One of my favorites and very much appreciated. I understand the Hostel is a fantastic place to stay! 

There is a house called the KnockHouse along the road that has a yard full of gnomes and other figurines displayed by the side of the road. 

A few more miles and the Royal Bridge appears, coming into Ballater. 

River Dee, from the bridge 

The town of Ballater is very lovely. It has a interesting history. It came into prominence in 1760 when a women claimed to be healed by bathing in a local bog... Talk about turning a curse into a miracle! 😉

It became a big tourist town. In addition it had a natural Royal connection with Balmoral Castle just down the road. 

Nice park, located right next to the Cathedral. It is normally very busy with kids playing or people lounging on the grass

It was only a bit after noon. I knew my room would not be ready yet, so I headed to the Bothy Cafe just a few doors down from the park. Latte and Coke please

Followed up by a Coronation Chicken sandwich. I had a leisurely lunch, about 90 minutes... 😆, but no other Challengers showed up, that I recognized. 

While I was in the Cafe, It rained/hailed/snowed. Scotland, all weather in one day

I gathered up my things and I walked the 2 blocks back toward the Bridge to the Alexandra Hotel.  I think this might be my third time staying here, I learned about the "Alex" from Alan Sloman, as he would always rave about their hospitality. Fiona has been very kind to me, each time I have been here and I have enjoyed staying here so much, I am taking my first zero day, on any Challenge so far, here, tomorrow. 

My room was ready and not only does it have a main street view.....

but a bath tub!  a good hot soak will be very appreciated. 

I picked up a Kopparberg Cider, at the Bar, before coming upstairs ! 

Out my window

First things first, drawing a nice hot bath and soaking for awhile 

Yuck, that is a lot of dirt!. However not to waste it, I throw some more soap in there and washed all my clothes... Then it was really disgusting! 

Decades of hotel travel for work, I just can't be a bad guest, so I cleaned the bathtub and ring myself. 

It was just me for dinner tonight, of course, it is fish and chips... only I get the chips replaced with salad, since I seem to be craving salad on this trip more than anything else... 

Day 10 Summary and Stats:

Actual route in blue