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As the start of the 2011 Challenge is now just around the corner (13th May) I thought I would get myself in the mood by looking back on last year's event, which was my 4th coast to coast walk across Scotland. I chose to start at the village of Dornie which is situated nicely beside Loch Alsh and the wonderfully restored Eilean Donan castle. Eilean Donan Castle Loch Alsh Day 1 Following night of relative luxury in the Dornie Hotel, I signed the register and set off on a deliberately planned steady first day. The route took me beside Loch Long and then straight into the country via the River Glennan and Glen Elchaig as far as Iron Lodge. I was in and out of company all day with other Challenge walkers along this popular route. A few of them branched off for the Falls of Glomach and a few more for the head of Loch Mullardoch.

Following a lunch stop at Iron Lodge I pushed on for a few km's to Loch Mhoicean where I pitched the tent for the first wild camp of the trip. Badly pitched tent at Loch Mhoicean Day 2 A restless night under canvass as is usual for my first wild camp of the trip. The loch is a windy old spot and it rained in the night. I was out of practice in mastering the art of pitching a tent, meaning that I had about 3 hours of fitful sleep all night. The main reason for camping at the loch was to put me in a good position to tackle the Mullardoch ridge which has four Munro's along it's 10km length and is one of the finest ridge walks in Scotland. The rain had fallen as snow on the tops and I was unsure that the ridge was a good option as the sky promised more snow.

I ascended to the bealach between Carn na Braebaig and Meall Shuas to assess my prospects of either a hill day or the notoriously awful trudge beside Loch Mullardoch. A few moments to consider the options.There was only ever going to be one outcome really.

Digital fashion pro 8 torrent download. I decided to do An Socach and see what conditions were like on the tops. I could always backtrack if the going was too severe. Up ahead I noticed Julie ad Daniel, two of the Challenger's that I had met yesterday and set out in earnest to catch them up. I eventually reached the top of An Socach just as the weather closed in. As I was approaching the trig point, another walker came towards it from the opposite direction. It was, of course another Challenger, Heine, who had ascended the North ridge having started out at Strathcarron the day before. There were now 4 of us up on the ridge and we stayed close together for what was quite a battle over the Munro's We had snow, hail, rain and heavy wind bursts to contend with all the way, A proper Mountain day that will live in the memory for a long time to come.

An Socach and the ridge beyond. Taking shelter on Sgurr na Lapaich I camped beside Loch a' Bhana that night and slept well. Day 3 A short day along a pleasant enough minor road to Cannich.

Stayed on the excellent camp site there and unwound in the village pub that night along with plenty of other Challenger's. Slept well, in a slightly inebriated condition and awoke with the first hangover of the trip Day 4 Another relatively easy day, quite warm with blue skies. Picked up paths to Loch Riabachain where I bumped into Julie and Daniel again, with the help of some dubious group navigation we eventually found the forest track leading to the ancient Corrimony stone circle. From there it was forest tracks all the way to the 'Nessie' village of Drumnadrochit to pick up supplies and enjoy a welcome pint before tramping along the road to Temple Pier for the boat ride across Loch Ness.