Hi Folks,
Just plotting and planning for 2017! Have worked a half decent route but find we may be stranded with a lot of road walking between Glen Prosen and Lunan Bay. Are any sections of the disused railway line between Forfar and Friockheim walkable? Can you walk through Montreatham Forest/Moor? Have discovered a few circular walks but very little going in the right direction! Any ides? Thanks.

Doug,

Forget about the railway lines. The topic arises most years and usually results in a few mentions of short walkable sections. They are, however, very short indeed and the idea of using them as any sort of long distance route isn't tenable. You'd spend a lot of time and effort linking up dubious off-road sorties and, frankly, the quiet roads are probably more attractive in any case.

Montreathmont is different. I've used it a couple of times and found that a very pleasant route is to join the forest at Powsoddie, pass Muirton of Aldovie, then take the path south east over the moor, emerging at NO605540. It's surprisingly wild and you could pitch overnight with ease, as long as you're prepared to trust the water.

I walked over Finavon Hill from Bogindollo twenty years back and enjoyed the experience but have no idea if that would still be possible. It might be fun to try. And the paths shown over Rossie Moor do exist, as long as you don't mind some mild squeezes through gorse.

Hope that helps.

Colin

Many thanks Colin. Interesting what you say about the paths over Rossie Moor as well as Montreathmont Moor. IT does help me to visualise a possible route. Again, thank you,
Doug.

There's road walking and then there's road walking. Some of the smaller lanes are quite pleasant, just as decent as a land rover track and just as quiet and more picturesque. In 2014, I hiked thru Hill of Finavon meaning to camp at Shepherd's Seat but it was too early to stop so I camped in a private wood just shy of Rossie School NO 665 534 after traveling through the north of Montreatmont Moor. What I can remember about this was, yes, some gorse and also a curious bunch of cows chasing me as I dodged my way through the ******* shrubs....

Thanks Julie,
You seem to have followed the route line I have decided on. Love the bit about the frisky cows! They certainly can put a spring in your step! Good to know the road walking is interesting. Enjoy your Challenge,
Doug And Dorothy Brown.