It was finally time for TGOC'26. I had to pull out of the 2025 Challenge because I was retiring in June 2025 and that was just too close to the Challenge in May, without putting everyone in a really short spot, so I deferred my place until this year. This means that my route has been in the making for 2 years! Briefly, to catch up anyone not familiar with the TGO (The Great Outdoors) Challenge. It is an annual event of about 300 participants, who enter, and if chosen, present a unique route, of their own making, from the West coast to the East coast of Scotland, to expert "vetters" for critique and approval. Once approved you make your travel and any lodging reservations you require. The Challenge begins on the Thursday and Friday of the second week of May and everyone must be finished inside 2 full weeks. During the Challenge there is a group of dedicated volunteers (Control) that keep track of your journey through a series of phone in points that are predetermined and if anyone misses their phone in points, Control is available to call out the cavalry!
This will be my 6th time doing the Challenge.
As it has been my habit, I get a day pass to the American Airlines Ambassador Lounge before my flight as it is a nice place, quiet and relaxing, before the 14 hours of travel to get me to Strathcarron, my starting point for this years Challenge. I should mention that British Airways restarted direct service from St Louis to London Heathrow in May 2026, but my flights had been booked way back in November of 2025.
I only check through those items that can not fly, my hiking poles, stove, small knife, etc. I carry on everything I would need to start the challenge. This is an old habit from my working days, as if my checked bag was ever lost, it would not ruin my trip... This will become an issue at the end of my trip!
While I was at the airport, another Challenger posted "today's" photos on the tops of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland. One of the hills I am scheduled to walk over in about a week is indicated by the red arrow..... maybe, maybe not!
My first stop is Chicago O'Hare Airport, never a pleasure, but my next ride is here. This Air Lingus A330-300 is about as small as you would want for a transatlantic flight holding about 250 passengers
Flying east and taking off in the late afternoon, we flew toward the Sun all the way to Dublin, losing time as we went. It never really got dark during the flight.
We landed in Dublin around 6 am local time. I did not realize that you could go through customs for Scotland in Ireland, but I got my passport stamped so no need for any customs in Glasgow.
My next ride over to Glasgow Scotland was on a twin engine turbo prop. It had been about 12 years since I was last on a plane with a propeller! It is only about an hour over to Scotland from here.
Smooth flight over the North Channel to Scotland, Met by the many wind turbines dotted along the coast
The big train board at Queen's Street Station
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| The journey from Glasgow to Strathcarron by train (in Black) |
| I never mind this part of my journey, Vicky and I both love the trains in Scotland. The scenery from the trains as you pass through the Highlands and the West Coast of Scotland is fantastic. |
About halfway through the train trip you pass through the Aviemore, the gateway to the Cairngorm Mountains, you can see them in the background of this photo. You can also see the rather large amounts of snow still on the tops!
The Strathcarron Hotel, my accommodation for the night before the start of the Challenge.
First things first, after checking in, the first pint in Scotland (or 2)
Strathcarron was a very popular starting point this year. I think about 20 Challengers would be starting from here between tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday.
It is great to meet new friends and get reacquainted with those I have met before.
After what I must confess was a mediocre nights sleep. My room had 2 twin beds with about 4" foam mattresses on each. I awoke and got down to what was a very good breakfast before finding out I had been charged double because my room had two beds??? Having only booked a reservation for one, I chose to chalk it up to my misunderstanding, paid my bill, and signed out at the TGO register in the hotel lobby. I set off into a chilly and rather unsettled looking day.
Edit -Upon returning home, I double checked my reservation and in fact I had not changed the default occupancy (which is always 2) to one as I had thought. I am glad that I had let it go and will chalk it up to helping the Highland economy 😉
Leaving Strathcarron
One of my two favorite plants that remind me of Scotland (Gorse) it smells like coconut and vanilla
A view back to Loch Carron, which leads out to the sea. This is of course a Coast to Coast Challenge.
There are parts up here that are good track and then at times it is only faint, but for the most part, I have been able to see something on the ground, which makes the walking easier.
Reaching the highest point of the climb you cross over the bealach, (this is Gaelic for mountain pass). It was quite a steep downhill
There is a dam at the end of the loch. You can see Jess just about to stop for a break next to the water.
At the bottom of the road was the mechanical house for all the pumps for the hydro dam. A very beautifully built building using local stone to match the landscape.
After lunch it was time to cross the Black Water where it meets the River Ling. Today that wasn't a problem as I found enough aligned rocks to keep my feet dry.
I was hoping that this route would be popular enough to have at least some kind of path along here, but sadly no. The only thing that passes this way are the deer and thankfully they choose the path of least resistance, so I looked for that thin single file line and followed all the deer poop.
The weather tried to get a bit better, which was nice so I wasn't fighting the terrain and the weather at the same time.
great waterfalls all along this section
Leveling out a bit, but getting boggier. I can see Loch Cruoshie in the distance
Crossing the Ling (in the photo above) proved not a problem, as the river was low. Surprisingly, it had not actually rained all day until just after I arrived at the Bothy.
The setting is beautiful
Several people tried to get a fire going. There was some dried peat for fuel and some sticks, but they could not get it started. It would have been nice to have a warm fire, but since it really had not rained on me today, I was nice and warm in my sleeping bag.
Another Loch comes into view on the way down
Great views off the other side of the bealach
While Jess went to the left along the Loch, my route went right, up a rise and along a track down toward the River Ling. The River Ling can be a notoriously tough river to cross when in spate (Gaelic for flooded)
This was an excellent place for lunch. I used the building as a wind break. For lunches, I have been using hard salami (summer sausage) and gouda cheese, for years. I normally bring Fritos, but this year I brought cheese flavored Ritz crisps. You can not get summer sausage in Scotland, so I bring this with me and have it for the first 3-4 days as my lunch.
Welcome to the wild! my job now was to go the 4 miles up the left side of the River Ling to reach Maol-Bhuidhe (pronounced Mull-Booee or Mull-Buoy).
I was hoping that this route would be popular enough to have at least some kind of path along here, but sadly no. The only thing that passes this way are the deer and thankfully they choose the path of least resistance, so I looked for that thin single file line and followed all the deer poop.
The scenery along the river was stunning and wild
An inkling of a deer path, going up a steep drop off on my right hand side.
great waterfalls all along this section
First view of Maol-bhuidhe Bothy
This bothy was the first I had seen in my walks in Scotland that I would actually stay inside. It was very clean and well cared for. I decided to stay inside as it started to rain. Several other Challengers and also some hikers doing the Cape Wrath Trail where all staying in the bothy tonight
As if to apologize for the path up the Ling, an amazing rainbow appeared at the end of my day.
It had taken me 2 hours to go the 3 miles from my lunch spot to the Bothy.
Day 1 route and stats
You can see my route as the multi color line from Strathcarron and then the solid blue line along the River Ling. You can also see the route Jess took when we parted at the dam. Her route and a few others went slightly farther in miles, up and around Loch Calavie, but was all on a good track. I did not even see this way around when planning my trip, obviously I picked a much more "wild" route, but I am happy with how the day went overall. I felt good and strong on the early climbs and didn't have any difficulty navigating up the river, besides the obvious, of avoiding really boggy bits.
