The Great Outdoors Challenge, also known as the TGO Challenge, is a fantastic opportunity to trek across the beautiful Scottish Highlands. However, the 200-mile journey is no small feat, so ensuring that you’re as prepared as possible is essential for your success. This is especially the case with the food you pack, as you’ll need to strike the right balance between weight, calories, nutrition, and practicality.
In our guide below, we cover our best food recommendations for the TGO Challenge and our top tips to ensure your expedition is well-planned and enjoyable so that you get the most out of it.
What Is the TGO Challenge?
The Great Outdoors Challenge is a backpacking event that takes participants 200 miles across the Scottish Highlands, from the west coast to the east, every May.
The challenge is non-competitive, with the only goal being to walk across Scotland and enjoy the sights you’ll see and experiences you’ll have with others. The overall ethos is to be friendly, helpful, and respectful to all, and you can take as long as you feel you need, up to a maximum of 15 days.
Unlike some other similar challenges, there is no fixed route with the TGO Challenge, and you’ll instead entirely devise your own. You’ll have 14 westerly start points to choose from, from Torridon in the north to the newest start point, Portavadie, in the south.
There are no fixed finishing points, and you can finish your route in the east, anywhere between Fraserburgh and Arbroath. You’ll then need to head to Montrose by 5pm on the final day for the crossing to be valid and to sign out, receive your T-shirt and celebrate your achievement.
As a result of the challenge’s nature, no two routes are the same. You may opt for lower-level routes through glens and villages or, alternatively, may take on more demanding mountain terrain through the Highlands. It’s entirely up to you!
What Food Is Best to Take On the TGO Challenge?
To provide you with all the energy you need to keep you powering through your expedition, it’s vital to prepare the right food. If you intend to rely more on B&Bs on your trip, you may not need to pack as much. However, those who are wild camping will need to properly plan their meals that they’ll carry with them.
Keeping your backpack weight to a minimum is key to avoiding being burdened on your expedition, which is even more important with the trip being relatively long. This is why choosing freeze-dried meals is the most practical choice.
Freeze-dried food is ideal for the TGO Challenge, as it's incredibly lightweight, quick and easy to prepare, and delicious. The freeze-drying process removes the moisture (and therefore the majority of the weight) from the food while keeping the quality and structure of the ingredients intact. To prepare them, all these meals need is some hot water to once again hydrate them, meaning that they can be easily prepared no matter where you are on your route.
As well as main meals, you’ll also need to take with you some high-energy snacks and hydration products, which we’ll go into more detail about in our TGO Challenge food list below.
Our TGO Challenge Food List
When packing food for the TGO Challenge, you should prioritise bringing high-calorie and nutrient-dense foods that are also lightweight. This way, you can provide all the energy your body needs to complete the journey while keeping your backpack as light as it needs to be. Therefore, we recommend the following foods to take with you:
Breakfast
For breakfast, you’ll want something filling that provides slow-release energy for long climbs and full days on the trail, such as:
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Porridge
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Granola
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Muesli
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Teas, coffee, or hot chocolate sachets
Specifically, we recommend choosing options from our camping breakfast range, including our all-day breakfasts, museli, porridges, and more – all lightweight and full of flavour.
Lunch and snacks
During the day, while covering your distance, it’s important to prioritise convenience when considering lunch options. As such, you’ll likely be eating while walking, so having energy snacks that are easy to access, lightweight, and packed with energy is essential. We recommend the following:
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Trail mix
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Jerky or cured meats (such as our Raging Bull snacks)
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Cheese wraps or tortillas
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Dried fruit
Our energy snacks, such as our energy bars, sweets, and gels, are designed to give you that extra boost when you need it, in a convenient, on-the-go format.
Dinner
After a full day in the Highlands, hot food becomes a huge morale boost and what you’ll look forward to after a long day. The following options are our most recommended:
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Pasta meals, rice-based meals, and curry-style camping meals
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Soup sachets, such as our freeze-dried soup
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Instant noodles with added protein
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Instant mash with tuna or sausage
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Couscous packets
Our range of freeze-dried meals offers a wide variety of delicious, high-energy, lightweight options ideal for the challenge, featuring quality brands such as our TentMeals, Real Turmat, and Adventure Nutrition. Our collection also includes many options for different dietary requirements to ensure everyone in your party is catered for, including gluten-free camping food, vegan camping food, vegetarian camping food, and lactose-free meals.
Hydration
Preparing your meals, of course, goes hand in hand with ensuring that you’re fully hydrated for your expedition. This is especially important for hiking in warmer weather or for any particularly demanding sections of your route.
You’ll be able to enjoy the natural water sources in the Scottish Highlands to stay quenched, but we still recommend using a camping water filter to ensure safe drinking.
To optimise your hydration, we also recommend using electrolyte tablets, which help restore vital minerals lost through sweat as you continue your journey. By adding these to your drinks, you can help your cells absorb water more effectively, keep your nerves and muscles functioning properly, and prevent cramps and fatigue.
TGO Challenge Equipment List
To keep you prepared, we’ve put together a TGO Challenge essentials list for your expedition. You may need to bring additional items depending on your individual needs or the specific route you take. However, all participants should generally consider the following items:
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Lightweight tent or shelter
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Waterproof jacket and trousers
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Walking clothing and spare socks
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Hiking boots or trail shoes
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Lightweight camping stove, fuel, and basic outdoor cooking equipment
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Map, compass (such as our SOL Map Compass), and GPS/phone
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Power bank and headtorch (such as our BioLite Charge 100 Max Portable Charger)
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Trekking poles (optional, but popular)
TGO Challenge FAQs
Can Anyone Enter the TGO Challenge?
The TGO Challenge is a demanding event that requires a certain level of hiking skill and experience to be eligible. The event requires that all people in your party:
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Are at least 18 years old by the start of the event.
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Can navigate across pathless rugged terrain using a digital or analogue map and compass and not be solely reliant on GPS.
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Can carry personal and camping equipment and a minimum of 3 days' provisions.
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Have previous experience of backpacking, including 'Leave No Trace' camping in a wild environment with no facilities. One of these trips needs to be in the last few years, at least 3 nights long, and involve walking at least 20km (this can be shorter if over rough ground or with significant ascent) between camps whilst carrying a full pack.
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Have the capacity to be self-sufficient in remote areas where help may not be easily accessible, including suitable first aid skills.
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Can assess and deal with adverse weather (wind, rain, and occasionally snow and excessive heat)
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Can assess and, when appropriate, safely cross unbridged rivers and burns in spate.
How Far Is the TGO Challenge?
As the TGO Challenge requires planning your own unique route, there is no specific length. Generally, most routes cover between 180 and 200 miles (290–320 km) from the west coast to the east coast. However, some longer routes can reach up to 250 miles (400km). You should plan the length of your route according to your ability and personal preference.
How Difficult Is the TGO Challenge?
The TGO Challenge is physically and mentally demanding, with the far distance covered over a long duration, the unpredictable Scottish weather, and the need to carry your own equipment for multiple days. However, the freedom to choose your own route means you can adjust the challenge's difficulty to suit your experience level and fitness.
How Can I Make Carrying Supplies for the TGO Challenge Easier?
It’s convenient to have everything you need to hand during the TGO Challenge; however, this isn’t always strictly necessary. If you plan your route accordingly, you can visit shops to pick up essentials and post supplies to pre-arranged points to take with you as you travel. In fact, you can place various orders on the Base Camp Food site for different delivery addresses along your route for your convenience.
Ideal TGO Challenge Food and Equipment at Base Camp Food
With all of our TGO Challenge tips above, you now know everything you need to stay prepared for your big expedition!
At Base Camp Food, we offer a convenient range of lightweight freeze-dried meals and outdoor equipment designed to minimise backpack weight and space while providing everything you need to make your trip as simple as possible. We wish you the best of luck with the challenge and hope you enjoy!
If you have any questions about our products or would like some support or guidance with your nutritional plans for the challenge, please get in touch.