Big Training Walk

Training Walk: Leith to Cammo, the Airport, River Almond and Corstorphine Hill

As part of my training for the Cateran Yomp, I recently set out on one of my longer walks yet, starting from Leith and making my way across Edinburgh towards Cammo Estate, before looping round the airport, dropping down to the River Almond, and eventually heading home via Corstorphine Hill.

It was the kind of route that reminds you just how varied Edinburgh can be when you move through it on foot. I started in the familiar streets of Leith, gradually leaving the city behind as the route opened up towards the west. From there, I made my way out to Cammo Estate, a beautiful and slightly wilder pocket of the city, with its old estate paths, open ground and quiet corners.

After Cammo, the walk took on a very different feel as I looped round the airport. It was not exactly the most glamorous section of the route, but it was a good reminder that training for the Cateran Yomp is not just about scenic hills and beautiful views. It is also about getting the miles into your legs, staying focused, and keeping going when the surroundings are less inspiring.

From there, I dropped down towards the River Almond, which gave the walk a real lift. Following the river brought a bit of calm back into the day, with the sound of the water, woodland paths and the feeling of being somewhere much further from the city than I really was.

The final stretch brought me back towards home via Corstorphine Hill. By that point, the miles were definitely starting to make themselves known, but climbing up through the trees and getting that final bit of elevation felt like a fitting way to end the walk. It was a tough route, but a really rewarding one.

This was all part of my preparation for the Cateran Yomp, a 54-mile challenge through the Perthshire hills in support of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The event is going to be a serious physical and mental test, so walks like this are an important part of building up the stamina and resilience I’ll need on the day.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity does incredible work supporting soldiers, veterans and their families, and that is what will be keeping me going when the miles start to feel heavy.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. Every donation, message and bit of encouragement makes a real difference.

If you are able to donate, I would be hugely grateful. Your support will help motivate me through the training and, more importantly, help ABF The Soldiers’ Charity continue its vital work.