There are sections, when planning your TGO Challenge, that just seem almost impossible to cross. One of the most notorious, and I feel like the most often asked about, are Monadhliath Mountains. Remember, when I was working on my route, couldn’t wrap my head around it- how to put all of those little bits together into one route from Drumnadrochit to Kingussie, as nothing did look obvious on the map. Thanks to the posts on Facebook Group somehow I managed to connect the dots. Starting off by crossing Loch Ness by the ferry, through the Wind Farm, towards Dalbeg Bothy and Coignafearn Lodge, following Elrick Burn just to find the path again all the way down to Kingussie. I’m attaching .gpx file with my route- maybe this will help you plan your own!
(Okay, I did struggle to upload the file- just have the link to my Google Drive instead!)
My fifth day started early- Ive had to make my way to the other side of Drumnadrochit to meet Gordon for my agreed Loch Ness crossing. And I almost lost the Challenge! As I mentioned in my previous posts- completing The Great Outdoors Challenge means walking across Scotland. Walking. Not sure what was I thinking waiting on the bus stop. So close to losing the challenge, just because I was still half asleep. Thankfully I have realised few minutes before the bus arrived and hurried up towards Temple Pier where few other challengers been waiting already. Soon, our skipper, Gordon arrived and took us across the Loch Ness. For few moments I forgot about the challenge- it did feel like we were just cruising the Loch, soaking up wonderful views.
Soon we got dropped off at Inverfarigaig and to my utmost surprise we all parted ways within few minutes. Looks like there are actually many ways to go through Monadhliaths! I started by going south through Farigaig Forest towards the wind farm. I didn’t really know what to expect. I have seen wind farms many many times- but from the distance and the have always fascinated me. But also I have read so many things online about them- how terrible for the environment they are, that walking through them is a nightmare due to the noise. There was even a post on TGO Facebook group, that I still remember- when the walkers were greeted by the workers, ‘Welcome to hell’. And somehow I wanted to see it for myself. I wanted to walk through the hell.
Going towards the wind farm (and later- through it) was actually very easy, even if it was uphill all the way. Wide tracks took me there in no time. Straight to hell. But… but it wasn’t as I imagined. The noise wasn’t bad at all and there was something mesmerising in the sound of rotors. I spent quite some time exploring the area, getting a bit closer yet keeping safe distance from the wind turbines- the size of them alone was enough for me to be in awe. Welcome to hell- it’s not as bad as they say!
But it was after the wind farm when going got actually harder- even if most of the climb was done for the day. Because after the wind farm, path has disappeared and all that was left, was bog hopping for about a mile. It was only a mile but felt like forever, I was probably zig-zagging way more than I was walking in a straight line. Oh, the joys. Thankfully, soon I could see a faint track in the distance. At least I knew I was following a right direction and trust me when I say- when I have finally reached it- it felt amazing, like a highway all the way down to Dalbeg!
Dalbeg was once a bothy, now it’s just a remote holiday cottage. At first I was planning to stay there for the night but upon finding out it’s not actually a bothy I decided to carry on alongside River Fidhorn towards Coignafearn Lodge.Wgen I finally found my camping spot I felt sudden wave of anxiety. It was the moment I was the most afraid of, and the one I couldn’t get out of my head all day- will I actually be able to pull off the pen knife trick? I needed the answer as soon as possible- few drops just fell onto my face, sleeping under the stars wasn’t the option that night.
Roue taken: Inverfarigaig- Farigaig Forest- Corriegarth Wind Farm- Carn na Saobhaidhe- Allt a’ Ghille Charaich- Allt Odhar- Dalbeg- River Fidhorn (33km)
Outdoors with Karolina 