Day 22 : Montrose to Tarfside

Saturday 25th May 37km 652m ascent

This morning’s plan didn’t work, I woke too early due to he bright sunshine, so the Tesco breakfast had to be forgotten as I packed up and started the journey home.

The good weather and light morning traffic made the main road walk to Hillside, where there is a PO and general store selling useful challenger food like mars bars! Very pleasant. This was a long road day enlivened by a few meetings along the way, most very surprised to see me going the ‘wrong’ way!

A chat with someone tidying his garden at North Water Bridge was followed by an ice cream from the NWB campsite. Walking past Inglismaldie I met a couple who knew more about the Challenge than I did despite never having done it, the annual migration has obviously entered the folklore of the area.

I was passed on the long, long straight road past Edzelwoods by a couple out for a days walk and on their way to Edzel for lunch in the hotel. I was very tempted to follow them but after a battle managed to resist, ‘keep right on to the end of the road’. The ‘Blue Door Walk’ beside the river at The Burn was an excellent break from the road, better than stopping at a hotel! With beautiful trees and fascinating rock formations cut by the river.

Just when I was thinking it was getting too hot it started to rain, solving that problem, maybe someone’s looking out for me after all! At Craigoshina I had a long discussion with the elderly man there about The Challenge, frost, the growing of tatties, and the difference in the climate here compared with Tarfside where he used to live, amongst other things.
The feet were starting to get sore and the lack of Tesco’s high fat breakfast was being felt when I saw a welcome sign by the road: I hoped it wasn't closed. The Retreat served an excellent fry-up followed by delicious apple crumble and custard, just what the doctor ordered.
The camping field at Tarfside was busy, it was Saturday, but I found a spot well away from the larger groups and settled in for the night, after eating again!