11 Days in the Cairngorms: a Tribute to Head for the Hills - Part 2

Part 2 of my 275 km / 171 mi hike through the Cairngorms in Scotland!
27-04-2022 - 01-05-2022
Part 1: • 11 Days in the Cairngo...
Part 3: • 11 Days in the Cairngo...
A few words to explain why I did what I did.
In 2017, I decided I wanted to go hiking. Started off in Germany with 3 days in the Black Forest, followed by a couple of weeks in Tasmania and later on I walked some multi-day long distances in the Canary Islands. To keep my condition up between hikes, I spent a lot of time on the crosstrainer, working out and watching Netflix, until I discovered that watching hiking vlogs on KZbin gave me the best motivation to keep going a little longer.
And so I stumbled upon the likes of Walk with Wallace, Scots Wildcamper, Hounds of Howgate, Browse&Edit (check out his excellent 1450 km-series!), The Cool Dudes Walking Club, and of course Andy Lafferty's channel, Head for the Hills. I watched the whole thing, all 194 videos, and loved his style with all my heart - his brutal honesty, his complete dedication, and obviously his undercooled humour, that had me nearly fall off my work-out device a few times. Only after watching hours upon hours of his videos, I found out he'd sadly passed away.
I had grown so fond of Andy that I was truly heartbroken, and felt like I'd lost a dear friend. So, I decided my next hike had to be in Scotland, and it had to be the Cape Wrath Trail, and it had to be done in Andy's honour. Arrangements were made and I was all ready to go.
Then, in 2020, I fell off my bike and broke my foot in 12 places. A 2-year period of rehabilitation started, again spending hundreds of hours on the crosstrainer to get my stupid foot going again, and I watched Andy's entire channel another time. And then another.
In April 2022 I was finally ready to go hiking again. But the partly trackless CWT was probably still going to be too hard for me - my foot works but gets very sore after a few miles - so the Cairngorms it would be, and I prepared my backpack (and an orange plastic bag, of course) for an 11-day, 171-mile route, up and down between Aviemore, Braemar, Kingussie and Ballater, visiting lots of places Andy loved and/or had camped at on his many trips in the area.
These two videos are the result of my hike. If I would make it, I did not know. But I would give it my best shot.
For Andy.
To all who hold him dear - it felt like an honour to be walking in Andy's footsteps. I will never, ever forget it.
King Clumsy, the Netherlands

[@globetrotter1977]

That was another fantastic video in Andy’s Footsteps. The scenery is outstanding. Your right Andy did makes us all laugh. He’s well missed and will always be remembered. The Breakfast looked really good and made me hungry. Think I will need to make myself a big breakfast now 😂 Irn Bru isn’t quite the same anymore they changed the recipe in it but I believe Irn Bru Xtra is more or less the same as the old recipe will need to try it. Nice tribute to Andy. He loved his Kronenbourg 1664 just like myself. Most other beers like Heineken etc too as they are 5% nothing lower than 5% 😂. Once again that was absolutely brilliant video of your lovely walk and Thank you so much for sharing. Going to watch some more of your great videos 👍

[@hikingsolo]

It really means a lot to me that you've enjoyed these videos. You and Andrew were both in my mind the entire time. Hope to do a lot more walking in Scotland in the future - and thanks to Head for the Hills these walks will be extra special. Take care Jason! KC

[@globetrotter1977]

Means a lot to me too KC, how you put so much effort into making these wonderful videos with so much detail. Love how you lifted the rucksack up in the exact same way Andy did. That made me laugh. I really need to start doing these walks again. I haven’t really done any since Andy past away. Just think to myself it wouldn’t be the same no more plus Covid came but I will definitely try and get back into it as I have all the equipment 😊

[@hikingsolo]

@@globetrotter1977 We could walk a couple of stages of the CWT together next year if you'd be up for that. I think we'd get along 😃 Email me if you want! Address is in the about section.

[@globetrotter1977]

That sounds like a great plan KC, I am definitely up for that. We definitely would get a long. Just a matter of me getting the same time off work which shouldn’t be a problem. Will look your email up 👍

[@carolashine582]

Bravo Sir. Beautifully done. Fantastic achievement for yourself. Cheers 🥝 Carol NZ💚

[@hikingsolo]

Thank you Carol! Hope to hike in NZ one day too 🇳🇿

[@fraserconnell21]

New subscriber here. Good job and thank you 😊 🙏 👏

[@craigadamson9679]

Absolutely superb. A great tribute to a great man. I unfortunately never had the chance to meet Andrew but I feel as though I knew him as I have basically watched his videos on repeat for the past 5 or 6 years. He was and continues to be a great inspiration for me. "Lovely" video.

[@hikingsolo]

Thank you sir. And same here - I've watched his videos so many times, it felt like I'd already been to the Cairngorms at least twice before! Cheers, KC

[@Kev_Russ]

Some amount of ground covered in the Gorms like. 👏Andy would be proud. Seemingly that Lindsay guy has had a run in with alot of folk. He's not really the bothy manager. The estate are happy that he looks after it but I think MBA arnae happy. Well done on your 1st Munro. 1st o many I hope. 😉 Geldie Lodge is a fine place to camp. We had a wee party in the wee shack a few years ago when we did the Munros. On one of Robin's vids... Walking chicken. Love it 😁

[@hikingsolo]

That Lindsay dude sure was an odd fellow. Didn't let the truth get in the way of a good story, ha. And walking chicken - sang it many times on the CWT as well. It's a great one to shout out loud when the wind tries to blow you off the path! :)

[@fraserconnell21]

P.s. Think you've hit on something here... H2H pilgrimage walks.🤔. There's his cairngorm shenanigans and multi W.H.W. walks too. Sainsburys poly bag is optional. Thanks for your video it's made our day 👍🙏😁

[@hikingsolo]

So glad you liked the videos! They were a joy and honour to make. I'm going to try and walk the CWT and WHW back-to-back this may, and the Sainsbury's bag is coming with. Luvly.

[@TeddyZlegg]

I think Lindsay probably meant that you Dutch guys are usually well in excess of 6' tall, so you can cross deep water easily!

[@hikingsolo]

Lol, you may be right :)