Thanks Vanessa, we've a lovely route planned and we're very excited! I'll re-cross everything for you (and a few others) on the stand by list and hopefully meet you somewhere in May. Good luck and take care x

Vanessa,

I did not get in in 2013, deep disappointment at the time. I was so far down the standby list that it was not going to happen barring a plague.

Looking around for alternatives, the Pennine Way was my first idea. The lack of freedom to wild camp eventually put me off. I know wild camping can be discrete but my bright red tent is difficult to hide.

I eventually decided on the CWT.

This turned out to be not a consolation as I first thought. If anything, dare I say it on this forum, better than, perhaps different, is a more acceptable description, than the TGOC.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trek, the scenery was absolutely stunning and the remoteness just added to the adventure.

Having said all that, I am looking forward to next years TGOC.

All the best.

Many thanks to all who messaged me here or privately to offer commiserations. It was kind and I appreciate it.

I now know where I am on the standby list and am neither optimistic nor pessimistic. Firstly because there is no point stressing about something I can do nothing about (and which relies on someone else's misfortune) and secondly because, as Sandy suggests, the CWT is not a consolation, but a brilliant walk in its own right.

I am fortunate enough to have the northern part of the CWT as my backyard. It's the first part, Glenfinnan to Kinlochewe, that contains relatively unknown territory to me, but I look forward, at some point to putting it all together.

Jupiter was bright in the Eastern sky last night and there was ice on the roof windows this morning. Happy winter walking to all!

Vanessa

Commiserations. No news in Aberdeen yet. Injury withdrawal last year so was hoping for a re-match. Tick tock, tick tock.