The Great Outdoor Challenge (TGOC) 2025 – a glorious walk from Shiel Bridge on the west coast of Scotland to Kinnaber Links near to Montrose on the east coast of Scotland. I started TGOC 2025 at Sheil Bridge on the west coast of Scotland and reached Kinnaber Links on the east coast, to the north…

My TGOC (The Great Outdoor Challenge) 2023 started in Mallaig and ended 14 days later in Portlethen. It was approximately 300Km with a climb of +6,000 meters. A low level and easy route. I plotted an easy route as the memories of the aborted crossing of TGOC 2018 were fresh when I made it. This…

The Great Outdoor Challenge celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019. It was conceived by Hamish Brown as a self-supported backpacking crossing of Scotland. Roger Smith was the editor of the TGO Magazine and he supported the idea when Hamish approached him. There are no categories or prizes. Everyone gets the same T-shirt, thanks to Berghaus…

I started at Strathcarron a few minutes after the main group. That was a good thing. No one knew I made a “navigation error” in the first 300 meters and ended up in someone’s front yard.  A quick backtrack and I was on my way to Montrose, or so I thought! After Achintee it was…

When the TGO Magazine published the entry forms for the TGO 2017  I was planning another hike and did not enter. When this was delayed by 6 months I was left with 2 weeks in May free. Scotland is one of my favourite hiking destinations so I returned for a short walk. The plan was…

The 18:20 from Glasgow Queens Street to Mallaig halted at Garelochhead because of a fire close to the tracks. I joined the crew and passengers enjoying the sunset. It was a clear evening. Looking at the surrounding mountains I recalled some of the highlights of my previous years. In 2012 walking along Loch Leven in…

In May 2015 I made my third successful TGOC crossing, starting at Lochailort and finishing at Stonehaven 13 days  later.  My route, as with previous years, was  low level with no major obstacles, or so I thought at the start! The bar  at Lochailort Inn on the evening before the start was full of old and new…

The Great Outdoors Challenge for 2015 takes place between May 08th and May 22nd.  Around 300 backpackers will be hiking from Scotland’s west coast to east coast, through some of the most stunning and testing landscape in Europe. It’s a test of back country skills, navigation and stamina – but Challengers also share wonderful camaraderie…

The TGO Challenge is a demanding self supported event where participants hike from the West Coast to the East Coast of Scotland and are responsible for carrying their own tent, sleeping bag and food. The Great Outdoor Magazine and RAB, an outdoor clothing supplier sponsored the event in previous years. Every solo hiker or group (maximum…