#4: TGO Challenge 2008 Part 4: Braemar to Tarfside

Part 4 of my journey across Scotland. This section would prove, in some ways, my most difficult. The walk out of Braemar was the long way around on the highway to Invercould Bridge but at least I got to share much of it with another Challenger which livened things up. Even my navigation error wasn't a really awful thing in retrospect as it just sent me along a more northern route than I'd planned. But my troubles along the narrow, barely a hunter trail, path just after Gelder Shiel really bummed me out. Falling into the stream wasn't even the worst of that. It was upsetting but I felt more irked by my meandering around the holiday homes a couple miles west of Spital of Glenmuick. Being able to share the hike across the mountains around Shielin of Mark made that crossing much easier. I'm confident that I would have made it now, especially the cross-country section that leads from the bothy to the summit of Muckle Cairn which seemed easier than the stretch between the end of the path along Allt Darrarie and the cross-country stretch to Shielin of Mark bothy. The whole stretch though seems full of places you could easily fall into holes if not paying attention so I am certain I'd have made the crossing much more slowly. The walk from Muckle Cairn to Tarfside through the soaring peaks and along Loch Lee was enjoyable. Places I stayed at: During this stretch I did not expect that I would be staying under a roof. But as luck would have it I was given the chance to snag sleeping space on the floor of the conference room at the hostel in Tarfside. I'd have been happy camping out, like most everyone else, but I am not complaining either. You can get a room at the hostel for a modest fee if you book in advance with the folks at St. Drostan's Lodge. Sites of interest: You can find some of my trip journals for this trip at A Wandering Knight Blog. Other journals and much more at my main personal site. The official site of the TGO Challenge.