With only a few hiccups with rail services from the North West of England, almost all participants started the Challenge as planned, in the universal sunshine ordered for all start points this year.
For the third year running we had a hot one! From the start almost to the last day, the sun shone, with Challengers asking if someone could turn the heat down and requesting Challenge Control to send some ice! Until a very light shower on the last day, and apart from a refreshing light shower on the middle Sunday, we heard of only one Challenger experiencing real rain, who, on leaving Dalwhinnie was followed by their own personal stubborn raincloud for half a day. For everyone else it seems the sun was almost relentless. The beautiful weather is not without its own problems; lack of water, heat exhaustion and blisters (to name but a few), but this year’s Challengers were a tough lot, and the number of successful crossings reflected that.
This year we had 293 Challengers set out from the west coast between 8th and 11th May, 91 of whom were on their first Challenge – almost a third of the field. We are always pleased to see new Challengers start out on their first crossing, having traversed the TGOC application, planning and documentation processes. Even some of our experienced Challengers can find this a testing time too: getting the details right, meeting the deadlines and clearing the various hurdles before receiving that ‘Your Route Sheet is approved’ email from the Coordinators. It’s not an easy thing to do particularly on your first TGOC; and we are pleased that everyone persevered. When it came to walking their routes, it seems that this year’s first timers were a particularly resilient group, with a 95% completion rate, which stands shoulder to shoulder with our most experienced challengers, and going by the happy faces we met in Montrose, we look forward to familiar names popping up amongst the new ones when applications open for 2026.
Of the 293 starters, 85 hailed from overseas (over 29% of the field): from Australia to Iceland; Kenya to Barbados; and many more locations – it’s a truly international event. It was great to see and talk to you – we hope to see you again and that you’ll spread the word when you get home.
For the experienced Challengers – welcome back. Thank you sincerely for your continued support and the kindness that you show to our first timers. You are the backbone of this event and without you, it would not exist.
It was a pleasure to be on Challenge Control to provide help and encouragement to Challengers where needed, and also to hear the enjoyment of Challengers finding out that the event was more than they had imagined; moreover, their realisation that this isn’t just about the challenge of the walk itself, but about meeting people along the way, be they fellow Challengers or local folk offering assistance. It is the camaraderie of the event that makes it so special.
Many Challengers reported to us the great help that they received from local people, from simple things like a few words of encouragement, to offers of water, tea, cakes and advice on the best routes or footpaths to use. One enterprising Challenger walked several miles to seek help from a farmhouse for his walking partner with severe blisters. Amy from Clashgour offered wonderful support organising a landrover to take them out. Once treated and recovered they vowed to come back – fitter and wiser.
A few facts and figures for you:
- of the 293 starters, around 35% were female
- the age range was between 19 and 86 (Ollie d’Ambrogio and John Burt)
- and the age range of successful first timers was between 19 (Ollie d’Ambrogio) and 71 (Kenneth Damasco) – very impressive.
Our first to sign in at Montrose were Tim Medforth, Rob MacAlister and Robbie Morrison who all arrived in Montrose on Friday 16th May after 8 full walking days. When our next finisher was Rob Weir (who finished on 17th after walking for only 7 days), we think we can say that with the name Robert you are more likely to complete a crossing in fewer days. Our last to cross the line was Kevin Pryor at 16:51 on the final day, after a nervously delayed bus journey from Johnshaven. The majority of Challengers arrived, as usual, in Montrose on the final Wednesday and Thursday, with a goodly proportion taking their time and finishing on the Friday.
The celebratory dinners provided the usual opportunity for challengers to catch up with friends made along the way. We were delighted to welcome both Hamish Brown and Roger Smith, the inventors of the Challenge, as well as Dan Pearson and Andy Neil from our main sponsor Ultralight Outdoor Gear.
We had 8 Challengers who completed their 10th successful crossing, and were presented with their commemorative plaques: Jenny Adamson, Sue Foss, Andy Gerrard, David Hardy, David Milton, Martin Rye, Gordon Selley and David Wood.
We also had two challengers who completed their 20th successful crossings: Mike Knipe and Barbara Sanders.
This year’s event saw a very low level of retirements by Challengers: 27 of the field (9%), with 3 of these restarting and going on to complete partial crossings; giving us an overall completion rate of over 90%. This high completion rate is a tribute to the mental toughness and determination of this year’s Challengers, which was born out in the many tales we heard told of Challengers walking on through injuries and setbacks – congratulations to you all!
A frequently asked question is: “do more first timers retire than those who have completed the Challenger previously”? The following table suggests that the retirement rate for first timers is matched only by our most experienced challengers this year. In addition, the fact that there are far fewer Challengers taking part who have completed more than 10 Challenges, means a small number of retirees from this group equates to a larger percentage.
Anyway, enough of statistics. Regardless of whether you completed or retired, were on your first or 32nd Challenge, were aged 19 or 86 or anywhere in between, we sincerely hope that you enjoyed what you achieved and are looking forward to taking part again. To make this happen, the event relies very heavily on the goodwill of our many volunteers and supporters.
First and foremost are our Route Vetters who give a huge amount of their time and effort, and deal with the enormous task of reviewing the route sheets and providing advice and guidance to Challengers as well as to us: it is very much appreciated.
Almost 40% of Challengers went through Tarfside this year and will no doubt have met Ann & Alvar Thorn, as well Gus & Rita McKinnon, serving tea, coffee, cake, bacon butties and no doubt a large amount of sympathy at St Drostan’s. Through their efforts and the Challengers’ generosity, they managed to raise a £600 donation for Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland. Thank you all!
Challenge Control was stationed at the Park Hotel throughout the Challenge this year, with a core team of Mick Blackburn, Di Gerrard & Pauline Marshall, assisted at various times by Ali Ogden. The team worked well together in what was largely an incident-free year.
We were assisted in the second week by Mike Glass, who was in charge of the most important job: the supply of teas, coffees and biscuits to the finishers. Once again, for the hectic days, Martin and Sue Banfield helped out with refreshments, as well as Gerena Suman. Gayle Faulkner and Sue Oxley also helped on Control after finishing their respective crossings.
Due to the diligence of Challengers making their Phone-Ins (mostly) on time (or very soon after a reminder message), we had no late nights worrying about the whereabouts of our Challengers. Thanks to you all, it made the life of the Coordinators reasonably stress free.
We also have longstanding support in the form of hospitality and services: Melanie Strang at Cougie, Gordon Menzies for the Loch Ness ferry service, Alex & Janet Sutherland at Ault na Goire, the staff of Mar Lodge, and Bill Duncan & his team at Callater. Our thanks, as ever, to the Park Hotel for hosting us and dealing with the ever-changing needs of Challenge Control and arriving Challengers with such good grace.
Our sponsors offer us invaluable support throughout the year: special thanks go again to Dan Pearson and his team from Ultralight Outdoor Gear for, amongst other things, providing the Haglöfs Challenge T-shirts, which we are sure will be put to good use; Anquet for providing free access to digital mapping for both Challengers and Vetters; and Darn Tough socks for their excellent contribution.
We’d love to hear your Challenge stories. If your blog, vlog or photo collection isn’t already in the TGO Challenge blogroll and you would like it to be added please email us a link. The TGO magazine continues to support the event and the magazine editor, David Lintern is interested in articles of around 400 words and photos for their November issue of the magazine. Please send them to us at tgochallenge@gmail.com by the mid July and we will forward them on. Ultralight Outdoor Gear are once again offering a £50 voucher to anyone who has an article published.
If you want to catch up with Challengers before TGOC26, why not come to one of the Reunions? Kirsten Paterson runs the Scottish Reunion, which will take place from the 3rd to 5th October 2025 in Newtonmore. The Spring Gathering will once again be held in the Peak District in March/April, organised by David Hardy, with details to be circulated later in the year. Finally, The Hill and Mountain Walking Club was formed by Challengers and meets regularly throughout the year. For more information on any of these and to book click here.
We announced at the celebratory dinners that Ali and Mick will be stepping down as Coordinators of the TGO Challenge once the loose ends from TGOC25 are completed but they will continue to support Sue and Di in the background. They have both made huge contributions to the Challenge and we thank them again for all that they they have done over their times as co-ordinators.
One of the ways they will be helping is in taking forward a new idea for 2026 and beyond. More details about the thinking behind and the plans for the TGOC Lite, which is expected to run in the second week of the Challenge can be found here. Essentially TGOC Lite will be targeted at those with a lower level of prior experience and/or confidence. So if you have friends or relatives that you think might be suitable please start spreading the word!
And finally, with thanks from the whole of the support team, and with apologies for any minor edits , a few Challenger quotes from the Scotland Outdoors Podcast (the full recording of which can be accessed here ) :
“The challenge is a family; real family”
“It was amazing; the social aspect is really, really lovely….”
“You find somebody, probably at your lowest point on the day and get chatting about utter nonsense sometimes, and the next thing you know you are 5km down the track and feeling much happier…”
“We sang all the way across….”
On lesser-known parts of Scotland…“I have been to places I never thought I would be, and they are stunning ….”
“Absolutely amazing; tiring, a little bit of type 2 fun, the people are phenomenal, and the country is beautiful…’
Thinking about next year yet?! TGOC26 will take place between Thursday 7th and Friday 22nd May 2026, and we will be poised, ready and open for entries on Saturday 4 Oct 2025 at 1200 (noon) BST.
