Below you will find information on some specific access issues in places that are popular with Challengers. The nature of the Event and the remote terrain encountered means it cannot be comprehensive and is it is often difficult to access up to date information. You therefore need to be prepared to encounter missing bridges etc along the way. If you know of any access issues that you think should be included or have any updates on issues mentioned please contact the Co-ordinators. You can see this information on an interactive map. Thanks to Mick Blackburn for producing it.
If you have any information regarding access issues (missing or newly built bridges, locked gates, restricted access etc) that isn’t included in the list below please click here and complete a Vetters information form.
Autumn 2023 Storm Damage
A series of huge storms hit the Highlands last Autumn causing significant damage to local communities as well as paths and bridges. Below is a summary of what we know, but there is likely to be damage to bridges and paths in remote places of which we have no knowledge. Should you come across any issues on your TGOC24 crossing please let the Coordinators know.
Cowal Way – Glenbranter
This has been washed out by the Allt Robuic burn at NS 105 967. The path is closed as there is currently no official diversion. There is severe damage from landslides affecting the tracks to the north of the burn so these are also impassable. A possible, but unofficial, 8km long diversion has been emailed to all Portavadie starters. Due to the severity of the damage this may also be a problem for TGOC25.
Glen Feshie landslip
This occurred at NN 850 913 on the site of an old landslip. Initially it was difficult to pass but stabilised withing a few weeks and a report from Chris Townsend in March 2024 shows no further damage has happened over the winter and it is now passable with care.
The path was washed out at the Allt Garbhalach in Storm Desmond several years ago and a path upstream to an alternative crossing has formed. This autumn’s storms washed the small bridge downstream where it is now lodged under a fallen tree and is difficult to use.
Edzell’s Shakin’ Brig
The suspension bridge at Edzell, though still standing was badly damaged and is deemed unsafe. In March 2024 it was barriered and there were no signs of plans to repair it in the near future. Please do not attempt to use it. Challenge Control will assume all routes planning to use it will divert north to the road bridge at Gannochy. If you plan to use any other alternative route please send an ammended route sheet to the Coordinators.
Brechin & North Water Bridge campsites
Both were severely damaged by Storm Babet but have worked tirelessly to get up and running in the near future.
Dovecot Caravan Park at North Water Bridge will re-open at Easter and Eastmill Road Caravan Park in Brechin hopes to open it’s touring and camping area in early May though the timescale is not yet definate. Both site have supported the TGO Challenge in the past. The best way for us to support them is to give them custom so please consider using them if they are on your route.
Some good news
We have checked out the Allt Darrarie Bridge at NO 3188 838 and the bridge across the White Water in Glen Doll at NO 247 767 needed to access the Jock’s Road diversion have both survived the Autumn storms
Glen Doll
The lower section of Jock’s Road remains impassable due to wind-blown trees caused by Storm Arwen in 2021, and will remain so long term. The track on the south side of the White Water, known as the Donault Road, is the only viable alternative. The lower section of the Capel Mounth Road is also blocked requiring a diversion along the forest edge to pick up the track from Moulzie. Both problems are long term with no plans to clear the badly affected areas.
Dalwhinnie Level Crossing
The level crossing at NN 633 846 has been closed by Network Rail on safety grounds. To access the village Challengers need to use the underpass 500m to the south at NN 634 841
Bridges
We don’t intend to give a comprehensive list of all bridge issues. It would be impossible to keep up to date information on all bridges and one of the challenges of the Challenge is dealing with unexpected issues such as a missing bridge. However we have put together as much information as we have on bridges on popular routes that are shown on OS 1:50,000 maps which may be missing or damaged especially those crossing potentially unfordable rivers.
Allt Darrarie, nr Loch Muick – the bridge at NO 318 838 was replaced in early 2023 and was in good condition in March 2023
Angus – Severe autumn storms resulted in flooding throughout Angus. The “Shakin Brig” over the River North Esk in Edzell was damaged and remains closed.
Deeside – Many bridges were damaged or washed away by Storm Frank in December 2015 The bridge over the River Quoich at NO 117 910 and the Punch Bowl bridge at NO 114 913 have been replaced. The Pollhollick bridge NO343965 was repaired in 2019 and the Cambus O’May bridge at NO420976 finally reopened in April 2021. The Glen Derry bridge at NO 040934 and Luibeg NO013942 bridges are intact but the bridge over the Derry at NO 039 958 remains damaged and closed.
Glen Banchor – The bridge at NN648984 was washed away several years ago but remains on some reputedly up-to-date maps. Other bridges are shown across the Calder on older maps but there are none, other than the A86 road bridge.
Glen Doll – Bridges at Moulzie NO281773 and Bachnagairn NO254796 have been washed away and as far as we are aware have not been replaced.
Glen Dye/Fetteresso – The bridge marked at NO655867 at Heatheryhaugh is in fact a wire cable and basket which is normally locked and therefore unusable.
Glen Feshie – The river altered its course during Storm Frank in late 2015 resulting in several sections of the path on the east bank being washed away although it is passable with the occasional detour. The bridge at Carnachuin was washed away several years ago and is no longer shown on the most up to date maps. The bridge near Baileguish at NN823982 survived but the bridge across the Allt na Caoileig at NN827983 was damaged and the burn formed a new course around it but there is a footbridge by the ford (not seen until you reach the river) at NN826979.
Glen Gairn – the bridge at NO172998 was damaged in 2016 and we have no recent information regarding whether it is useable.
Glen Kinglass/Abhainn Shira – The bridge at NN185402 has been replaced by a new bridge around 800m downstream. The bridge across the Abhainn Shira near Clashgour was removed several years ago as it was in a dangerous state.
Glen Shee – The bridge over the Baddoch Burn NO129822 was washed out in 2015 and the footbridge downstream is reported to be damaged and dangerous.
Glen Tromie – The bridge at NN752923 is no longer there but the damaged one at NN755911 near Bhran Cottage has been replaced by a new bridge downstream next to the cottage. March 2024 update – we have reports that this new bridge may have been damaged over the winter and will try and review the situation before May.
Invervigar Burn – The bridge shown at NH336056 is still shown on OS maps despite being absent for many years. There is however an unmarked bridge upstream at Achadh-nan-darach NH313056.
Knoydart – The bridge at Carnoch NM865964 has been replaced with a new sturdy one that we hope will resist winter storms for many years.
The bridge over the Allt a’Ghille Chruim at NM 879 945 was reported to be in a poor state of repair in 2022.
Moray Firth – The bridge at NJ 238705 across the River Lossie was damaged and closed in 2019. A new bridge openned a little downstream in 2022.
River Dulnain – The bridge at Dalnahaitnach (NH855201) has long gone but is on older maps. There is now a new track along the north side which leads to the bridge at NH865212. The bridge at NH789135 has been swept away. If you can ford the Dulnain there the bridge at NH790134 across the Feithlinn appears to be intact. The bridge at NH765121 is , we believe no longer there.
Strathfarrar – The bridge at Inchvuilt NH230387 became dangerous and was removed by the estate in 2013. The bridge at NH 262 383 was renovated in 2022 and is now in good condition..
Tarfside/Glen Esk – The bridge at Woodhaugh NO491790 is deemed unsafe and has been blocked by the estate and the bridge at Turnabrain NO501789 is no longer there. Downstream the suspension bridge at Dalhastnie is usually locked. The Esk can be crossed at Dalbrack NO469782 or Fernybank NO534782 to access tracks on the west bank and re-crossed by a new bridge at NO580740, not yet on manymaps, if you want to access the paths on the east bank of the Esk.
Bothies
Culra bothy remains closed due to asbestos contamination.
Peanmeanach bothy is no longer an MBA bothy and is now permanently closed.
Glen Buck bothy is currently closed whist there is hydro works construction nearby.
Construction Projects
Access during the building of wind farms and hydroelectric schemes is not often restricted but heavy plant vehicles are likely to be operating in the area. For your own safety ensure you are visible and comply with any reasonable diversions or requests from construction workers you may encounter. In recent years several small scale hydro-electric projects were reported (including Glen Etive, near Bendronaig Lodge and Allt Garbh nr Loch Affric and Glen Prosen) There are no access restrictions that we know of though new tracks and the obliteration of some old tracks may affect navigation.
Nigg Bay, near Aberdeen – The new harbour is now complete.
National Park Restrictions & Estate Requests
Loch Lomond – There are bye laws restricting wild camping by many of the lochs in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Places have to be pre booked (for details click here) and fines may be imposed if you do not have a permit. However it is relatively easy to avoid them and camp elsewhere.
There are a few reasonable requests made by some of the estates which we would ask you to comply with:
Glen Feshie – The estate requests camping be confined to the area around Ruigh–aiteachain Bothy (NN 847928), or further up the glen.
Glen Muick/Loch Muick – Balmoral Estate request no camping because of the specific characteristics and sensitivities of this area. The nearest bothies are at Gelder Shiel, Glas-Allt Shiel (north side of Loch Muick) and Shielin of Mark and it is acceptable to camp discreetly outside the bothies.
Glen Lee – Dalhousie Estates request there should be no camping on or near the shores of Loch Lee, which is often used for night fishing.
Glen Mazeran – The estate requests Challengers do not walk past Glenmazeran Lodge. Please take the right fork at NH 744 227, cross the river and drop to the minor road at NH 748 224