If you love the hills and you need a challenge try these for size. . . The Big Daddies 1. West Highland Way Race ~ 95 miles with 12,000 feet of ascent following the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William. 2. Islands Peaks Race ~ A team of sailors and runners sail from Oban to Troon via Mull, Jura and Arran....

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Letting the other CAACers disappear ahead of me, I took the first four and a half miles at a gentle pace. Then, after crossing a bridge, there was a steep climb. Feeling strong, I kept a steady jog up the hill and took satisfaction in overtaking several people walking including David Law. On a narrow path near the top there was a dramatic...

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How do I use a tent to sleep for free?Wild camping (also called 'free camping' or 'stealth camping') is sleeping in a tent outside of organised campsites (where you have to pay). For walkers, climbers, kayakers and cyclists, wild camping is often inevitable, liberating and highly enjoyable. I have a lightweight 2 man tent which I find perfect for walking and cycling. If...

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We had our spanish friends Dafne and Josep round for dinner, beers, and a game of cards. Dafne taught us a game called Quadrado. It is a game for 4 people and you play in pairs with each pair sitting opposite one another. Before the game begins, each pair must think of a secret signal (for example scratching your nose or touching your...

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We were dropped off by the coach at the Cluanie Inn and I thought I would soon be running up the steep slope I had descended with Alastair a couple of weeks ago. No sooner had we got out of the coach than a marshal herded us into a minibus and we were off again to the real start. Alex and I competed...

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Luib Chonnal Bothy in a lonely spot at the head of Glen RoyIn a new series of articles on this blog called SLEEP CHEAP I am going to try all the different ways to sleep for free or cheaply I can think of. In Scotland, sleeping in a bothy is a great choice.What is a bothy?Bothies are unlocked shelters generally in remote and...

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The Hungry Cyclist in RioOn the hottest day I have ever known in Scotland, I opted out of looking at Inverary Castle with the others and instead ran up Beinn Bhuidhe. I started out along the track in Glen Fyne and took the left fork through Merk Park and up to a col where Merk Burn begins. From there I climbed up north...

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