I've been rebuilding my blog and website because it was recently hacked and I rediscovered some old posts that some Challengers may find helpful

Aberdeen to Ballater: an illustrated guide to the Deeside Way This is a downloadable booklet with lots of pictures.

Scottish delicacies A guide to some Scottish foods you may like to try (or avoid!)

Places to finish the Challenge between Aberdeen and Nether Warbuton If you aren't familiar with the east coast of Scotland, I've included some information and pictures about places where you can finish the Challenge. My favourite is Stonehaven.

If you are wondering about traversing the north shore of Loch Mullardoch, I've written a wee bit about my 2018 experience. There are horror stories about this but I didn't find it too bad in the sunshine.

Loch Mullardoch

Hi Ian , Many thanks for your review of Loch Mullardoch .I very much enjoyed reading your, what must be an understated view , account . I opted for an escape down Glen Affric on the 2012 Challenge out of Dornie having planned Mullardoch north shore . Best wishes bill h.

Nice stuff Ian.
Regarding the Deeside Way and extending to Braemar, or Braemar to Ballater in TGOC terms, I see on the Aberdeenshire Council Planning website, the Council Infrastructure people are pushing to get the planning conditions sorted out quickly to get work stated on repairing Polhollick Bridge. If the bridge does get fixed by May I urge folks to use it to get from the South Deeside road into Ballater, the walk from the North side of the bridge using the old tramway from Bridge of Gairn is far preferable to using the B976 from Bridge of Muick towards Ballater. Parts of that quite busy road are pretty dangerous for pedestrians in my opinion, with blind bends and no verge/pavement. I've always liked doing the seven bridges walk around Ballater, but not that particular bit.
As I have mentioned on other posts, there are also some good wild camping spots between Polhollick Bridge and the confluence of the Dee & the Gairn.
Kick off from the S Deeside Road for the bridge at NO 334955. I'll keep folks updated on whether the bridge has been repaired.

Thanks Brian,

I'm glad to see that there are plans afoot the repair the bridge.

I have heard that it isn't too hard to get across the bridge by climbing over the barriers at each end and that it doesn't seem to be that unsafe. But, of course, I would never do anything like that.

Hi Ian,

thanks for these resources!

Having ended last year's Challenge in Muchalls, I am fully with you when you write "Muchalls is magnifcent!"
The Stack is a good restaurant, maybe a little bit too posh for us Challengers.

But why do you think that tarmac pounding is needed to get to Muchalls?
On the contrary: I have never had such a tarmac-free last day!
Durris Forest, windturbines, Hill of Allochie and Muchalls Castle: a perfect ending route, straight to coast.

If this is not enough Muchalls promotion, in 2019 the Muchalls Peace Memorial "Peace 1919" celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is one of the few Peace memorials, as opposed to the countless war memorials.
How about ending your 2019 Challenge there?

Bart Horeman

Thanks Bart,

I'd never really thought of that route. I will check it out on one of my day walks. I wonder if the route of the AWPR will interfere with it?

While there are many lovely places to finish your challenge, I can wholeheartedly NOT recommend Balmedie as a finish point unless:

1. you don't want a pub, restaurant or village, then its your place
2. you want to walk about a mile from the place they call Balmedie to the coast
3. when you do the mile walk, you find their sewer plant, that smells like - yes, you guessed it - a sewer plant
4. and, finally, you want your first experience of the east coast to be a fine view of oil rigs and the non-stop sound of helicopters taking crew out to them

Now, if all this has tempted to you to still finish at Balmedie, then you can't say you weren't warned :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

p.s. I did walk the Deeside Way (aka the Cappuccino Route) one year on the way to Stonehaven and really enjoyed it (perhaps it was the company? or the 4 hour pub/lunch stop?). But sometimes its nice not to have to navigate by compass the whole way across.....

Hi Ian,

yes the AWPR was a nuisance last May, but they have created a tunnel at NO872918, so you can cross easily. It is on the latest OS Maps.

After the tunnel I crossed a field to reach the farm at NO874918, in stead of a detour of 800 meters.

Cheers,

BART

Thanks Bart for posting this. I've planned my route to finish in Muchalls using your suggestions.