Click here to see the full set of 84 photographs

Sponsorship money pledged as of 11^th June
 is over Heather's target of £1000.

Click here for:
Coast to Coast 2007 Walking for Bells

The end of May saw the return of Heather Thomas-Smith, the LoPRA Secretary, after successfully completing the TGO (The Great Outdoors Magazine) backpacking challenge across Scotland.

Heather planned her own route and undertook her challenge solo which covered 205 miles and 35,500’ of ascent - including five munros, two other 3000’ tops and a Corbett - over a period of two weeks with wind, hail, snow, sun and rain throughout (did someone say it was the wettest May on record since the twenties?!).  At the outset, with tent, stove, food et al her backpack weighed in at a hefty 26.5kg; an over generous allowance of muesli was blamed although restocking with food every five days meant that the pack never lightened that much.  Her route started in Mallaig before heading into the Knoydart hills then via Loch Quoich and forests tracks and bogs galore to Invergarry.  Then it was over the Corrieyairack Pass in a Gale where a speedy descent resulted in a sprained ankle and 134 miles to go, so - with bandage, gritted teeth, pain killers and the odd beer at suitable watering holes en route - Heather headed through the Cairngorms via Glen Feshie and the Geldie Burn to Braemar and over a snow-topped Lochnagar.  She finally headed eastwards via Tarfside (an excellent place to catch up with other challengers and have a ‘sing-song’) and the River Esk with final completion on the beach near St Cyrus, where husband Stu and daughter Carmen met her for wet-footing in the North Sea! 

Although a ‘personal challenge’ Heather has managed to raise over £1000 (plus some £270 in Gift Aid) through sponsorship towards buying much needed Gymnastic equipment for Long Preston Primary School.  Heather would like to give a big thank you to both those who sponsored her,  and to her family for their support.  She hopes that she will be able to undertake the challenge with a new route in future, but with a much lighter pack!!!!

Click on the thumbnail maps opposite,
to see larger versions.

On the maps a grey walker symbol shows the planned overnight stops for the previous days.

Click on thumbnails
to see larger maps

Full route

Days 1 to 4


Days 4 to 7


Days 8 to 10

Days 10 to 13

Days 13 & 14

Click here to see the full set of 84 photographs

Click on the pictures below to see larger high resolution versions

Heather finishes on the beach near St Cyrus May 25^th 2006

Beautiful beginnings at Loch Hourn!

  
Views West and NE from Ladhar Bheinn

  
Campsites at Loch Quoich and near Loch Garry

         
Waterfalls in woods south of River Garry – Heather sets off from Invergarry on a bright sunny morning – that night it changed into a full flung Gale!

  
Leaving Loch Oich for Glen Buck and en route to Glen Feshie via Ruthven Barracks

Heather atop Lochnagar on 22^nd May – Scottish Weather!!