For some the start of this year’s Challenge was anything but straightforward – with rucksacks delayed on flights and usual scheduled ferries being cancelled. Fortunately, all missing packs managed to arrive at start points if not on time, within manageable timeframes, and local boats provided replacement passenger crossings. So almost all participants started the Challenge as planned, albeit without the universal sunshine we have all got used to in May.
It was probably too much to expect a fourth year of wall-to-wall sunshine, and Scotland certainly provided all its weather for this year’s Challenge! Having been asked to turn the heat down in 2025, we think we might have been a bit too enthusiastic in following this request for 2026, which was definitely a cold one – we will try to strike a happy medium with the temperature settings for next year. This year saw a bit of a north/south divide, with Challengers starting from Oban, Ardrishaig and Portavadie on southerly routes, managing to enjoy more sunshine than showers; whilst those with more northerly routes experiencing rain, hail and blizzards in strong winds, with the sun putting in a tantalising appearance in between as if to remind us of what good weather might have looked like.
This year we had 313 Challengers set out from the west coast between 7th and 11th May, 98 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 : 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.
We also welcomed 28 Starters on the inaugural TGOC East event this year, starting a week later from locations along the A9 between 14th and 16th May.
The 14th was recognised on this year’s Challenge as “Stormy Thursday” so many of our Easters certainly didn’t have a gentle first day, and we heard tales of their great spirit despite the conditions, which makes us think they will make great full Challengers in future years. Of the 27 who started, 25 completed (over 90%) with the 2 retirees sadly having to retire on the penultimate day.
When it came to walking their routes, it seems that this year’s first timers were also a resilient group, with a 91% completion rate, which stands shoulder to shoulder with our more experienced challengers, and going by the happy faces we met in Montrose, we look forward to meeting many of you again in 2027.
Of the 340 starters, 83 hailed from overseas (over 24% of the field): from Iceland to Barbados; Canada to Kenya to New Zealand; 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, now extended also to the Easters. 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. 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.
Others had help along the way, like the instance where a challenger who was locked in a bothy was rescued by a local estate worker; others had assistance again from estate workers to get across unpassable burns; and from other local farms & estates who provided injured Challengers with transport out to safety
This year was also a year when we heard many tales of Challengers helping each other – from walking a fellow Challenger with a broken leg out from Loch Monar; to helping a non-Challenger out to safety (with thanks to the Forestry Commission for managing to get their gates open in under ½ an hour to let a vehicle in); and a retired challenger going back out to help a Challenger out of the Monadhliath when struck down with a sickness bug. Stormy Thursday produced many more tales of Challengers helping themselves through burns and into bothies; a first timer helped an experienced challenger out to safety. Everyone seemed to pull together and help each other on the way across this year.
A few facts for you:
Of the 340 starters, around 25% were female; for TGOC East this proportion was 51%.
The age range for the main challenge was between 22 and 87 (Edie Roper-Caldbeck and John Burt); the age range of successful first timers was between 22 (Edie Roper-Caldbeck) and 78 (Stephen Walter, who broke the record for the oldest first timer by a mere 8 days!) – very impressive. For TGOC East the age range was between 20 and 69 – making Ben Pearson, one of our Easters the youngest overall participant.
We also saw a new record this year for the longest time between two Challenges. Martijn Steen, who completed his first Challenge in 1996, came back 30 years later this year to complete his second. We hope he doesn’t leave it quite so long before he comes back for his third.
Our first to sign in at Montrose was Dima Volsky, who arrived in Aberdeen on Tuesday 12th May after six full walking days. Our next finishers (on Friday 15th May) were Rob Hausam, Ruaraidh Petre and Hugh Stuart. Our last finisher into the Park Hotel was Mike Crawford at a respectable16:28 on the Friday – with only Jessica Hennis crossing the line later at 16:57, tantalisingly close to the final deadline when she concluded her partial crossing (having struggled on after illness in the Monadhliath). 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 (almost 20% this year).
The celebratory dinners provided the usual opportunity for Challengers to catch up with friends made along the way. We were delighted to welcome Hamish Brown who created the Challenge with Roger Smith. Roger sadly died last year and was represented this year by Patricia at the dinner on Thursday and Friday. We were also pleased that Andy Neil from our main sponsor Ultralight Outdoor Gear was also able to attend; and Ali Ogden and Mick Blackburn, co-ordinators of the TGO Challenge East We had 6 Challengers who completed their 10th successful crossing, and were presented with their commemorative plaques: Paddy Burrows, Louise Evans, Chris Kitt, Frederic Maillard, David Pickles and Peter Stickler. We also had one Challenger who completed his 20th successful crossing: Mark Storey Photo: Nell Riviere-Platt
This year’s event saw quite a high level of retirements by Challengers: 57 of the field (17%), with 10 of these restarting and going on to complete partial crossings; giving us an overall completion rate of over 83%. The high retirement rate this year reflected the challenging conditions and for those that completed a full crossing we think that you experienced a real “challenge” this year – congratulations to you all!
A frequently asked question is: “do more first timers retire than those who have completed the Challenge 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 33rd Challenge, were aged 20 or 87 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 48% of Challengers went through Tarfside this year and will no doubt have met Ann & Alvar Thorn, as well Gus & Rita McKinnon, Keith & Janet Leonard and Pauline Marshall 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 £820 donation for Hospice at Home, Carlisle & North Lakeland – Thank you all!
Challenge Control was stationed at the Park Hotel throughout the Challenge this year, with a core team of Di Gerrard and Ava & Kenny with Pauline Marshall in the first week and Emma Warbrick in the final week. The team worked well together in what was quite a busy year on control.
We were assisted in the final week by Mike Glass, who oversaw 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 with refreshments, and Sue Oxley also joined Control after finishing her crossing.
Due to the diligence of Challengers making their Phone-Ins (mostly) on time (or very soon after a reminder message), we had only a few late nights worrying about the whereabouts of our Challengers. Thanks to you all, it really helps make the life of the Coordinators reasonably stress free.
We also have longstanding support in the form of hospitality and services: Melanie Strang at Cougie, Alex & Janet Sutherland at Ault na Goire, the staff of Mar Lodge, and Bill Duncan & his team at Callater. We also had new support for the ferry crossing across Loch Ness from Drumnadrochit, where the fabulously named Beastie Boats stepped in to fill the gap left after the sad death of Gordon Menzies earlier in the year – we think they did very well and we are pleased to say that they have agreed to do it all again next year. 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 Rab Challenge T-shirts, which we are sure will be put to good use; OMN 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 both events and the magazine editor, David Lintern is interested in articles of around 400 words and photos (from both TGOC and TGOCE participants) for their November issue of the magazine. Please send them to us at tgochallenge@gmail.com by 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.
As well as your articles this year, we are looking for your photos to feature in a 2027 calendar we are pulling together. This initiative was the brainchild of one of our challengers Ian Ford, and the net proceeds raised from the sale of calendars will be donated to one of the Scottish Mountain rescue teams in the Challenge area. If you would like one of your photos to be considered, we are asking Challengers to submit individual photos (in landscape mode) to us by e-mail by 31 July (maximum of 2 photos per Challenger please!).
Whether a full Challenger or an Easter, if you want to catch up with other Challengers before TGOC27, why not come to one of the Reunions? Kirsten Paterson runs the Scottish Reunion, which will take place from the 9th to 11th October 2026 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.
And finally, with thanks from the whole of the support team, and with apologies for any minor edits , a couple of Challenger quotes from the comments book that we think rather sum up this year rather nicely:
“To be remembered as the Winter Challenge, especially stormy Thursday, with blizzards coming through the Cairngorms: all gear was tested to the limits in terms of warmth; ice on the tent, and in the water bottle. All in all, a great experience along with the usual convivial company”
Photo: Mike Hale
“Take away memory – the birds – kite, buzzard, lapwings, curlews, oystercatchers, geese, swans, ducks and all the ones I don’t know the names of….I will miss the morning wake up calls. And of course – the daily cuckoo”
Thinking about next year yet?! TGOC27 will take place between Thursday 13th and Friday 28th May 2027, and we will be poised, ready and open for entries on Monday 5 Oct 2026 at 1200 (noon) BST.
And following its successful first year, TGOC East will take place for the second time next year from Thursday 20th to Friday 28th May 2027, with the event opening for entries on Saturday 31 October 2026. It remains aimed at people who have not yet completed a full challenge, and who want an opportunity to do a shorter crossing to find out if the Challenge is for them. From the feedback we have received this year, it seems many Easters are already thinking of start points on the West Coast for next year, so it seems to have inspired quite a few. So if you know of anyone who has not completed a full crossing who may be nervous of applying for the main challenge, why not encourage them to apply for the TGOC East.
