Err...WOW! :scream: Thanks for the heads up, Alan!

Just treated myself to re-reading your 2012 account. Got to day 10 when I came upon the picture of you and Jane Egg and a tear crept into my eye.

Re-reading those accounts had me laughing out loud! It was an interesting day, to say the least.

On the subject of rain: let's not forget 2011 when it managed to rain on ever day of the Challenge.

Of course, when I had to miss out on last year's Challenge the weather was particularly good.

Reading Alan’s 2011 account again was both pleasurable and painful. I loved his (sometimes :wink: ) humourous account of the trials and tribulations of a Challenger. What was painful was the Wake for the Wild and a reminder of what we have lost to these apalling wind “farms”. I walked through the Stronelairg development last year and it was the worst day of my backpacking life. It was like walking through Mordor. The fact that it has been largely at the behest of a political party whose slogan is “Stronger for Scotland” beggars belief, particularly as the designations for wild land have been gerrymandered to accommodate the power companies. :rage: :rage:

I notice that nobody mentioned an umbrella...er, brolly. What are thoughts on that? Worth taking to Scotland, or not so much?

Kent

Umbrella's have been taken.
Much depends on your route, how much you want to carry and if you use poles.
I have used an Umbrella on other walks (Golite), but not in Scotland.
If up high with iffy weather it is likely to be breezy, and I wouldn't want to be holding an umbrella too. Anyway, it would spend much of it's life inside out.
There are some who do, but not for me.

I have been carrying (and using) an umbrella for years. Generally the weather on any Challenge comes from the south west-ish direction. I know it can change and I have walked into a strong chilling easterly for three days one year. But with an umbrella you can often not wear a waterproof while heavy showers blow through. For heavy persistent rain and cold winds I use Pac-lite jacket and trousers usually with some form of thermal underneath . I also carry a down jacket to up-rate my bag which is rated down to -6 and for around camp, but as Al says it can often drop below that especially if you camp high. Pack for the worst and hope for the best and you can't go wrong.

I’ve taken a lightweight collapsible umbrella on all my Challenges. I’ve rigged up a hands free system with some shockcord. Works well if it’s not too windy. There’s a picture of me using it in this post https://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/tgo-challenge-2017-day-9/