Hi

I have been trying to contact Gordon Menzies by email using the email address in the Challenge notes to book the Loch Ness crossing. I have tried emailing through two separate emails of mine but have no reply. I get the impression that he wants to be contacted using his btopenworld email rather the one that is on his website. Before I try and text or phone him, can I check if anyone else is having problems.

I suspect that my emails are probably going to his spam inbox, and he does not check this!

Thanks

Allan

Hi Allan

There's no need to book up with Gordon at the moment. When you're a day or so away you can text him and he'll put your name on the list for your preferred crossing. He never leaves anyone stranded. There are a couple of morning crossings on busy days and a late afternoon / early evening crossing as well.

All the best to you.

That was good to know, thanks Alan for the info. And while we're at it; do we pay him by cash before we hop on? There probably aren't any ATMs in Drumnadrochit?

You do pay cash, and I believe there is an ATM at the Co-op/Scot Mid supermarket, Drumnadrochit at the southern end of the village, housed near the take-away. There is a Post Office in the village, you may be able to get cash back there, or at other local shops, if you are making any purchases and re-stocking. I usually have a bit of cash stashed safely at this point if the crossing, in case I don't enter the village near the supermarket or I'm in a bit of a hurry.

Hi Minna.

Gordon takes cash. From memory, if there's half a dozen or more it's ten pounds each. Fewer than that and I believe the fare is split between the Challengers - around £60 or £70.

Sadly, the Bank of Scotland at the main road junction in Drumnadrochit has closed, so the cash point has gone with it. It might be possible to get cash from the Post Office (in Paterson's Grocer's Store) only a few steps away over the bridge in the village. But probably not on a Sunday. There's always the Co-Op supermarket half a mile further south. They usually do cash-back.

It's probably better to take cash with you. I always take enough to get me to the Great Glen - it weighs only the effort of earning it and those memories of work are cast aside the moment you step away from your start point on your fabulous journey eastwards.

Good luck, and Happy Walking!

:slightly_smiling_face:

I was in Drum last October and found an ATM in one of the Loch Ness gift shop complexes right off the A831/A82 junction.

Hei Minna,

last year we were only two on the boat and Gordon still only asked for 10 Pounds each.

I didn't get cash in Drumnadrochit: the ATM at the supermarket was empty, my foreign credit and banking card didn't work for cashback and the ATM at the gift shop wasn't open in the morning. Luckily there was another Challenger on the crossing who kindly borrowed me some money. It is a bit far for swimming... :sunglasses:

Hi everyone

Thanks to everyone for replying to my query. I'll just text Gordon nearer the time.

Thanks for the info Alan, I had e-mailed Gordon several times as well and hadn't heard anything back. I'm heading for an evening crossing on Monday 13th and then walking up to Alt na Goire. Do you need to book at Alt na Goire or is it just turn up on the day?

Hi Paul
The contact details for Janet at Ault na Goire are on page 8 of the Event Details and it is best to get in touch and let her know you plan to stop there.

Happy to help Paul 😊

For all those Challengers who do not seem to have read the Challenge Event Details 2021. Page 8 of the Challenge information doc. Crossing Loch Ness. Crossings will need to be pre-booked. Please do not try and contact Gordon Menzies before 1st March. There is also a new E mail address. This probably explains why Gordon is not replying to your E mails!

I'm not sure why this popped to the top of the MB, the last comment was mine, dated March 2019, then yours Peter just now. Odd.

We think it popped to the top of the board as there was a spam post added to it a couple of days ago which we took down. We imagine Peter didn't spot the dates as it's natural to assume its a recent thread when at the top of the list.

That explains it! I noticed it when it first popped up, got a bit confused when I saw my comment was last at the time 😳
Easy mistake 🙂