Hello,

This will be our first challenge and we were wondering about resupply drops that we can send on ahead of us.

We were thinking of possibly packing up spare gas, food and possibly maps with return envelopes for the used ones. What do you guys all do and if you do send supply parcels do any of you know of places we can send them in the places mentioned in the subject?

We were thinking that we would be carrying supplies for about 4 days at a time before needing re-supply and these are the locations we would be at or passing around those times. While I know we would probably be able to get some fresh supplies in Drumnadrochit and Braemar my concern is being limited to what we can get and then have to carry for the next few days and so we were going with re-supply drops to keep us going.

I fully intend to take advantage of any local food and beverage establishments as we pass through to give us a treat as we go and I'm sure we will not be able to pass a shop without at least seeing what has to offer as I know it's important to support local businesses so don't think I am trying to avoid that on our crossing!

This is our last thing to get organised now, it's feeling pretty close now :)

I've done a mix of local shopping, parcels and even pre-buried stashes in the past.

With a bit of imagination you can buy enough in villages to see your way across, and the 'make do' approach means your food is forced to be a bit more varied. Food parcels can get into a habit of containing the same food stuff every day. But it's when your route doesn't pass anywhere with a shop that it becomes more difficult.

On my 1st TGO I posted a parcel Poste Restante to Spean Bridge and when I arrived the post office attendant said they didn't store parcels and had been about to post it right back! So best to phone ahead to post offices if you use them and check they will keep them for you. On my second TGO I sent a parcel to Kinlochleven PO, and they couldn't have been more helpful.

I've also sent a parcel to Braemar Campsite who are happy to store a parcel if you're staying on the site. As it was. I needn't have posted anything.

At Tarfside I simply ate at the hostel when I got there, again that night, and for breakfast and by lunch next day I was in the café in Edzel ...so no parcel needed there. Stocked up with Pies in Edzel for the last night and next day. So I only needed to carry a day or so food after Braemar, and could have bought that there.

My routes don't tend to pass through many places, so recently I've taken to burying the odd stash if I happen to be up in Scotland a month or so before, and then supplement it when I pass a shop.

The downside with parcels....if you get ahead of yourself, or pass the odd café/pub/shop and treat yourself, you can end up carrying a load of unwanted weight in food.

p.s. Not sure what the restrictions are about posting fuel or gas canisters.

You cannot legally post gas or liquid fuel.

So I am seeing - I thought there were some couriers that would take it but I must be remembering something else ... I've certainly had them delivered to me though (recently) so I could order and have them shipped to the alternative location.

Fedex (which is who the supplier I used sent them via) do offer a service for dangerous goods but I don't think it is available to me (general public).

This is really useful, thank you John. I assumed post offices would be aware of Poste Retante and keep it for the specified amount of days, didn't even consider the service woldn't be available at some places.

With regards to sending gas via post, this isn't permitted and is on the Royal Mail prohibited list. I'd imagine if they were to scan the parcel you'd end up losing it.

We will be using gas and a larger canister will do most of the journey, and I am aware Braemar will have them for purchase when you get there from the outdoors shop.

As to parcels and Tarfside (specifically, the hostel), I remember something in the event notes about them unable to take in parcels for challengers. Perhaps this is permitted only if you are staying there, or is entirely a no, somebody more knowledgeable will need to confirm this.

Parcels at Tarfside - no.
If you want a bed at Tarfside arrive early or they'll all be gone!
Meals can be booked on arrival only, they have more than one sitting.

The Co-op in Drumnadrochit is quite small, so don't expect a huge selection. If you're staying in a B&B or hotel, they should hold a parcel for you. You should be able to buy gas in Braemar and food supplies should be better. I generally only post freeze dried main meals as other food can be sourced from local shops.

There are shops and/or supmarkets in Drumnadrochit, Aviemore, Braemar. Most B&Bs, YHA's will take in parcels sent ahead. Personally I have not needed to send prior parcels, unless it's specific dehydrated package meals, as there are plenty of opportunities to purchase supplies en route.

You can not send fuel by post.There is no place to buy fuel in Drumnachdrochit to my knowledge but you can buy it Aviemore and Braemar.

If you arrive at Tarfside late and all seats for dinner have been taken then you can order from the nice young lady from 'The Retreat" who will come around the Sportsfield and take your order. They deliver the meals back to the Sportsfield about 30/45 minutes later

The next morning you can partake of a full english breakfast at "The Retreat" which is under 2 km down the road en route to Edzell.

In Edzell everyone stops at the "Tuck Inn" for lunch and don't forget to purchase some pies from the butchers they are superb!

On the assumption you are going via North Water Bridge, there is no supplies there hence the pie purchases in Edzel.

If you do post anything, be sure to send it enough in advance that it’ll arrive before you do. And, you might want to avoid mailing things you can’t do without if you don’t get the parcel (maps that can’t be replaced locally, for example). I mailed a box to Dalwhinnie from Oban on the Thursday before the Challenge started last year. I walked to Dalwhinnie faster than the parcel traveled there. I had to wait around for the post on Friday, hoping the box would arrive. I could have replaced the maps and some food I’d dehydrated, but not the contact lenses and an inhaler I’d mailed. (Luckily, the package arrived on Friday). I’m pretty sure a box I mailed to Montrose took two weeks from Oban (getting there the day I did).

If you are heading over Lochnagar after leaving Braemar, a useful resupply point I found last year is the Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre, Birkhall, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5SU. You can get in touch with them via the Balmoral estate website. It meant I only had lunch to carry with me over Lochnagar last year and collected the final 3 day's worth of food on the other side of the mountain as I walked through the centre. They have a coffee machine there as well!

On my second Challenge (first solo) - I dutifully made up and sent 3 parcels ahead for resupplying myself. The first I was a day late collecting due to re-routing for bad weather so I was on my emergency rations by the time I collected it. The second parcel mostly went in the bin as I could not or didn't want to eat or carry what was in it. The third parcel was collected on my way home as I re-routed again and didn't get to it.

So now I do not send parcels ahead. I never pass a shop, cafe or pub without eating or stocking up. The only thing I still do is post maps home to myself when I've finished with them.

Generally I never carry more than 4 days food apart from some emergency rations which I often arrive with in Montrose.

It's a personal choice thing.