Let’s begin with the most obvious features shown on the map. You could achieve a crossing of Scotland entirely on tarmac, possibly a very fast and problem-free one, but we’d suggest that it wouldn’t be much fun. Only in towns are you likely to find pavements (sidewalks, footways) and verges can be scanty or non-existent. You could be sharing your route with heavy traffic and the stress on your feet could be severe.
Many Challengers would agree that walking long road sections is the antithesis of a good Challenge route. Having said that, some degree of road walking is probably inevitable in order to link up paths. Try to minimise it as far as possible, though sometimes you just have to shrug and accept a short section of purgatory. Please bear in mind that routes which are predominantly road walking will be rejected by the Coordinators.
Firstly, let’s define how a road is shown on an Ordnance Survey (OS) map.
Road types
On OS maps, roads tend to be marked in different colours depending on the type of road depicted. Roads on a map range from thick blue lines, showing motorways, to dashed lines, indicating an unfenced minor road. The OS symbology is shown here, however, roads that you may well come across during the Challenge are colour coded as follows:
- Motorways: blue line.
- Dual carriage ways and main (A) roads: red or green line.
- Secondary (B) Roads: orange line.
- Minor roads (often narrow): yellow line.
- Other roads, drives or tracks: white line.
Walking along a motorway is illegal, whereas with all other road types walking is permitted.
An A road is not a pleasant experience and most Highland A roads are narrow, many are bendy and may or may not have verges. Some are surprisingly busy, with large forestry wagons or fish container lorries, plus tourist traffic which includes campervans and caravans with drivers who may be unused to narrow roads.
A quick word on ‘white roads’ on the map. These can also be very useful if they’re available, but technically they’re regarded as private and you do run the risk, probably small, of a confrontation with a landowner. Discretion is the watchword here.
Challengers will often say that it is a sudden shock to be faced with a major road crossing and getting across the A9, which runs through the middle of the Challenge area, and the very fast A90 close to the end, are hazards and need to be treated with care.
Safety concerns
The main safety concerns with road walking are injury, traffic awareness and being seen. The following section explain a little more on these.
Injury
Walking along roads carries with it the attendant risk of injury due to traffic collision, so care needs to be taken on all roads. Even on minor roads, they are often used by heavy forestry and agricultural vehicles. Some advice on using the roads can be found below.
Stress Injuries
Road walking may also cause sore feet and aching joints, especially when a heavy rucksack is factored in. At the very moment when something starts feeling sore, you need to stop and deal with it, as this will only get worse. Every so often it might help to have a breather, take your boots off and if there is some handy running water refresh your feet in it. This can work wonders. We have seen the most dreadful blisters from excessive road walking and there is nothing worse than a blister on the sole of your foot and the throbbing which can occur after a day on tarmac.
Drive on the left
In the UK we drive on the left – sometimes forgotten by overseas visitors! So take extra care when crossing roads, as it is all too easy to step out into the path of oncoming vehicle. When walking along a road, you should walk on the side of the road (not in the middle), in single file, and facing the oncoming traffic (unless on a bendy road, when it may be safer from a visibility point of view to cross over).
Be seen, be safe
You need to be as obvious as possible – light clothing and reflective strips help. Try to have some bright, reflective material on the back of your rucksack. If walking in poor visibility or at night, consider wearing a head torch as well, as a warning to oncoming traffic.
Using roads on the Challenge
Generally speaking, if there is an alternative to a road then we would advise you to use it. Certainly, your Vetter will suggest an alternative, if a road appears on your route and there is one which is feasible.
Some minor roads are unavoidable, such as along Loch Arkaig, Loch Quoich, Glen Lonan and numerous others linking between tracks and paths and into settlements. Occasionally, your Vetter may suggest and sometimes require a road as a FWA, such as the minor road through Glen Truim near Newtonmore (instead of the A86 from Laggan) to avoid the unbridged Allt Madagain heading in to Glen Banchor, which can be impassable after heavy rain.
Road avoidance
Clearly, busy trunk roads are best avoided. In the west, particularly, it can be tempting to use red or green A roads when the map suggests few other options. An example here would be the A830 eastwards from Lochailort, where other possibilities can seem fairly challenging. Similarly, for Challengers starting in Oban, the A85 from Taynuilt to Dalmally looks an inviting way of rapidly heading east; however, it is very dangerous on foot (and sometimes by car!), and your Vetter will almost certainly reject this as a sensible route choice. The other road that often features is the A82 from Corran to Fort William (or the other way round), which is again a dangerous, heavily trafficked road and will be rejected by the Vetters.
Minor roads are much better and can be welcome as an easy finish after a tough day. Light traffic and a firm surface can be a good combination, but can become tedious after a while. It’s worth mentioning that on your final day, perhaps the final two, it may be impossible to avoid the roads. So make sure you select quiet ones (shown in yellow on the map). Most Challengers regard this final section as a necessary trudge and few would see it as a highlight of their crossing.