The Great Outdoors Challenge returned to Scotland’s mountains and glens this spring. We hear from the organisers and the Challenger Class of ’23 about the highs and lows of this year’s coast-to-coast adventure
What is challenging about the TGO Challenge?
Who better to explain it than the organisers themselves...
ON ONE LEVEL, the answer is simple: walking across Scotland on a route you’ve designed yourself requires a fair bit of effort, patience, determination – not to mention good wet-weather gear! To complete a crossing you just need to be reasonably 昀椀t and have decent wild camping and navigation skills, as well as a degree of organisational ability – nothing too remarkable.
So, what makes it so special? For many, at least part of the answer is that The TGO Challenge is not a race. No prize, no medal, no kudos for beating a personal best. Without a winner or time to aim for the challenges become both nebulous and personal.
For some, the challenge was clear: for example, Pierre de Greef’s amazing achievement of crossing in constant pain following a life-changing climbing accident; and Caburn Chamberlain’s serious injury followed by his remarkable comeback, along with the challenges Arie and Yael faced when effecting his rescue. Both Caburn and Pierre usually plan ambitious high-level, lonely walks but found unexpected pleasures in their glen routes – not least the support and company of other Challengers. Matt Berry’s challenge was to conceal and keep safe a very precious, small cargo. He succeeded and surpr
