TGO Challenge 2021: DAY 11: To Clova Hotel

Today we're taking on Jock's Road, a lovely walk over to Glen Clova in great weather, which is helpful. It's by no means the most difficult route out of Lochcallater Lodge, but it's not a route to be complacent about as it rises to over 3000ft for quite a distance and so is very exposed in poor weather. Amazingly we leave without a hangover, which is highly unusual! 

Oddly, Lindsay & I are not the last away this morning and we're soon strolling alongside Loch Callater in warm sunshine, on our way to Jock's Road. Before too long some younger and fitter types (Jess springs to mind here) flew past us as we make our way past the huge bowl of Coire Loch Kander and around and into the morraines at the head of Glen Callater. 

A decent rest is taken, with plenty of rehydration and the water bottles filled to the brim. This next section is always hard work and today will be tougher than normal because of the heat. Over the years I must have been this way three or four times and have invariably missed the crossing point of the burn to collect the zig-zags up the grassy headwall. It's the same today but it's just a matter of heading up the centre of the grass until you hit either a zig or zag, so that you can continue with decent footholds on the very steep path. 

THE START OF COIRE LOCH KANDER

LOOKING BACK FROM THE MORRAINES DOWN GLEN CALLATER 

LOOKING BACK TO THE CAIRNGORMS 

I tell myself that it's important to take plenty of rests as this is the grunty bit of the day and it's best to get to the top without blowing a gasket. It's an opportunity to take some snaps whilst your heart tries to burst out of your chest cavity. Lindsay's very patient and together we make our way to the break of slope, which seems to take considerably longer than it used to. 

But make it I do and the girl kindly takes a rare snap of me before we head off up the moor to find the old fenceline that steers us to Crow Craigies. As it hoves into view we spot the three Challengers who had passed us on the way up disappear over the horizon, not to be seen again until the hotel in the evening..

VIDEO FROM OUR LUNCHSPOT ON CROW CRAIGIES 

It's an airy amble from Crow Craigies with the occasional steep descent where care is taken, but the sense of space and freedom is all consuming. From their cries, crows, buzzards and larks seem to fill the sky yet few are seen. This is glorious hill country. We meet quite a few walkers coming the other way, one a Challenger from a few years ago. One such meeting that has stuck in my mind was a father and young son heading up at a cracking pace. The boy was all smiles and Dad was trying gamely to keep up. 

The next stop was Davey's Bourach - the emergency shelter that has recently undergone a major renovation - and I was glad of the shade. The interior must now be three times the size of the original shelter. It's constructed from hefty timbers that support the metal cladding roof that is in turn covered by peaty soils and heather, to blend in to the surroundings. 

INTERIOR OF THE ENLARGED EMERGENCY SHELTER 

ENTRANCE TO THE EMERGENCY SHELTER 

It's now a direct line that slices diagonally down the hillside, crossing a refreshing splash beneath a waterfall. This is a great descent but it can be very slippery in the rain and we're soon at the entrance to the planted forest. There's not much can be said of the forest - it's a traditional planting, with little light filtering down to the floor. The track is softened by the pine needles but it's straight, with occasional boggy and rocky sections to slow any racers. 

VIEW DOWN TO GLEN DOLL

SOFTNESS IN THE HARD FORESTRY

We make the car park and picnic area and head straight for a bench for our last stop before the seemingly endless trudge down the road to the hotel. The sunshine is still warm and we spend an age luxuriating in not walking. Neither Lindsay nor I make any attempt to get up and get it done. 

Eventually one of us cracks and we find ourselves easing back into walking mode. Any views are off to the right across the valley as to the left we have a scree fest with sour grasses. It could all do with a bit of a tidy up if I'm honest. Eventually the hotel arrives and we dive into reception, with lots of Covid precautions all over the shop. 

Before too long I'm in my room and waste no time trashing the place and washing away a couple of days of trail grime. There's no phone signal, so I email Challenge Control to tell them all's well. 

Then it's back downstairs to be organised into socially distanced dining. I know all this is necessary, but I hate it. 

HOME FOR THE NIGHT 

The Dining Room, it's fair to say, is mostly made up of TGO Challengers in varying hues of 'au de armpit' amplified perhaps by my own wonderful freshness. Of course everyone wants to eat together, which is anathema to an organised kitchen, but by dint of a miracle and everyone ordering similar food it sort of happens. 

I'm not the greatest company as I am well and truly shagged after what for me in my present condition has been a big day. It's as much as I can manage to agree a time for breakfast with Lindsay before I head back up to sleep like a baby. 

I owe Lindsay a great deal. I have been walking with Lord Elpus on the Challenge for over twenty years, and we know each other well enough to be able to tell when the other is not firing on all four and we each make allowances and cajole, bother, and beast each other as required. Lindsay, bless her, has looked after me at nowhere near my best and has done so with good humour, kindness and the occasional boot up the backside. 

Cheers, Missy!