Highland March 10

Can you believe that the Highland March is in its tenth year? We can’t that’s for sure.

After failing to complete to tough course last year from Inverness to Hamilton the Highland Marchers are more than confident of completing the course in this tenth event.

The planned route is approximately 161 miles with a good 75% of it being off road and a good eight days in which to complete the course.

We set off from St Mirren after the game on Sat 5^th (around 5 pm) and we intend to be on the outskirts of Inverness by Friday 11^th leaving the last few miles to the Stadium until Saturday morning when folk could join in along the route through the streets and city centre via the Innes Bar in Innes Street.

Basic Route details:-

Sat 5^th

St Mirren FC – Paisley – Crookston – Cardonald – Clyde Pedestrian Tunnel – Anniesland – Milngavie – West Highland Way [WHW] to Easter Carbeth. (Approx’ 15 miles)

Sun 6^th

Easter Carbeth – WHW as far as Upper Gartness – Gartacharn – Garadhban Forest – Cycle Route 7 to Aberfoyle – Dukes Pass and cutting through the QE Forest to Brig o’ Turk. (Approx’ 23 miles)

Mon 7^th

Brig o’ Turk – Glen Finglas Res’ – Ballimore – Balquhidder – Kirkton Glen – Old Railway to Killin. (Approx’ 22 miles)

Tue 8th

Kilin – Duncroisk – Lairig Breisleich – Bridge of Balgie – Lairig a Mhuic – Rannoch Forest (edge of) – Camghouran to Rannoch Lodge. (Approx’ 24 miles)

Wed 9^th

Rannoch Lodge – Caochan nam Meeann – Loch Ericht – Benalder Cottage – Loch a Bhealaich Bheithe – Culra Lodge – Loch Pattack to Kinloch Laggan. (Approx’ 27 miles)

Thu 10^th

Kinloch Laggan – Glen Shirra – Spey Dam – Glen Markie – Loch a Choire – Chalybeate Spring – Stronelairg Lodge – Loch Killin to Whitebridge. (Approx’ 23 miles)

Fri 11^th

Whitebridge – South Loch Ness Trail to Torbeck – Holm Park / Essich roundabout. (Approx’ 22 miles)

Sat 12^th

Holm Park / Essich roundabout – Stratherrick Road – Drummond Crescent – Island Bank Road – Haugh Road – View Place – (Storm the Castle and raise the HM Standard!) – Castle Street – High Street – Falcon Square – Academy Street – Innes Bar to Stadium. (Approx’ 5 miles)

Our journey can be followed on this thread (subject to suitable connections) and we also hope to be Tweeting @HighlandMarch and updating our Highalnd March Facebook page throughout the event.

The HM10 Troops

BA

CapitalCaley

Carbon Footprint (Support)

Dunco (from Tuesday)

Gringo

Gringo Jnr

Martinskye

Yompa

Magnificent effort by everyone on board this years Highland March.

Never before have we encountered so many logistical nightmares and overcome each and every one of them.

We've added around 10 miles (if not more) to the initial route due to the weather, climbed hills peaking at over 2,500ft, fallen into bogs, climbed over trees, trenched through marsh-land and rivers, encountered all 4-seasons during the week, and still made it to Inverness by this afternoon! Even I'm amazed!

Many many thanks to everyone who showed us support and best wishes. It really does help us on the road.

Remember though, we're not finished yet!!!

Essich Roundabout to the Stadium is the final leg - 5 miles. We'll leave Essich roundabout around 1030 and make our way to town via the castle and falcon square. We'll make our way to the Innes bar for a light refreshment and then, along with a few members of the CLAN, we'll leave the Innes at 1pm to make our way to the stadium for 2pm...

Where exactly do you sleep at the Essich roundabout? Just got visions of several tents pitched in the middle of it! Or is it a cheeky night at the Lochardil House Hotel? :-p

That would have been a great idea.

The Highland Marchers will set off from the Essich Roundabout at approx 1030 this morning and walk into the city via the castle. We'll regroup at Falcon Square before ambling down to the stadium via the Innes. We have to be at the stadium for 1400 though. It would be great if some of you could join us or pop along to Falcon Sq to say hello. ETA Falcon Sq is 1145.

There is also a vintage car display going round the town around the same time, could be busy chaps. Well done for the fantastic effort from all of you.

There is also a vintage car display going round the town around the same time, could be busy chaps. Well done for the fantastic effort from all of you.

I bet they can walk faster than some of their drivers

Well done gentlemen. Another epic performance. Good to see you in the Innes. PT

Cheers PT. Was great to see yourself after so long too. The win will make your trip back south a more pleasurable one I am sure!

I've just calculated the route once more using gmap pedometer.

The initial milage was plotted as being 160 miles and was as close to 'as the crow flies' as you can get. So much so that the route didnt deviate from that line by any more than 2-miles either side of it.

Unfortunately we had to change our course on more than one occasion, all due to weather circumstances.

Our total milage therefore has come out as being 172.1 miles - the first time, we think, that we have added to our planned milage, rather than reduce it.

Once again, many thanks to everyone for their support. Some pictures are on our facebook page. If anyone has any photos/video's of the Highland March from this year or others, please PM me as it'd be great to see them. cheers

Aye, the win was good. It was almost like watching football...

Looking forward to more pictures and stories on the website.

Congrats again on a tenth end to end. I guess someone will be 60 next year. What awaits?

Thanks for all the support, Weather was bad but it looks like it will be even worse this coming week so it could have been worse! Good reception from St Mirrren and Caley Thistle as well. Very sore today but happy to be relaxing!

Unfortunately, PT, although it was the tenth event, it is only the 9th completed end-to-end.

The logistics last year of making Hamilton in 3.5 days ended that record. Even so, I'm personally delighted to have completed every 'possible' one, as well as bring back the fun of Highland Marching.

I can't wait to see the fixture calender for next season so I can book time off work for next year's event!!!

As usual, there'll be a diary. Unsure when this'll be online, but like I said, pictures are already emerging on the HM FB page.