Walking Scotlands coast.....
A new challenge
“I need a new challenge”, I told myself.
Having over the years walked many, if not all of Scotland’s recognised ways
as well as bagging many Munros in my younger days the arrival of retirement
in 2005 fuelled my passion for walking and afforded me both time
and opportunity to walk more of my beautiful homeland.
Now in my sixties, I decided the challenge would have to be realistic,
achievable, not limited by constraint of time and most importantly, in the
interest of domestic bliss, could be fitted in with other commitments.
Over the years I have become more and more drawn to loch/lake side and
coastal walking possibly because in general terms it tends to be much flatter,
less energy sapping and kinder on ageing muscles and bones. That aside I
justify my preference on the grounds that I find it much more interesting.
I have always particularly enjoyed walking beside the sea which most
probably stems from being born in Fife and my happy childhood memories of
spending many days out and family holidays in Burntisland, Kinghorn, Crail,
Leven and Anstruther.
The choice came easy, I would walk Scotland’s coastline, starting at Berwick on
Tweed just over the English border, walk north up the east coast to John O’Groats
then west to Cape Wrath before finally turning south down the west coast to the
English border at Gretna.
Fortunately my enthusiasm for this kind of walking is shared with three retired friends
George ,Billy and Phil (see “About us”) who expressed a keenness to join me on as
many legs of the walk as they could fit in.
It became obvious when sitting down to plan how we go about it that some “Ground
Rules” were needed and we agreed the following;
Having over the years walked many, if not all of Scotland’s recognised ways
as well as bagging many Munros in my younger days the arrival of retirement
in 2005 fuelled my passion for walking and afforded me both time
and opportunity to walk more of my beautiful homeland.
Now in my sixties, I decided the challenge would have to be realistic,
achievable, not limited by constraint of time and most importantly, in the
interest of domestic bliss, could be fitted in with other commitments.
Over the years I have become more and more drawn to loch/lake side and
coastal walking possibly because in general terms it tends to be much flatter,
less energy sapping and kinder on ageing muscles and bones. That aside I
justify my preference on the grounds that I find it much more interesting.
I have always particularly enjoyed walking beside the sea which most
probably stems from being born in Fife and my happy childhood memories of
spending many days out and family holidays in Burntisland, Kinghorn, Crail,
Leven and Anstruther.
The choice came easy, I would walk Scotland’s coastline, starting at Berwick on
Tweed just over the English border, walk north up the east coast to John O’Groats
then west to Cape Wrath before finally turning south down the west coast to the
English border at Gretna.
Fortunately my enthusiasm for this kind of walking is shared with three retired friends
George ,Billy and Phil (see “About us”) who expressed a keenness to join me on as
many legs of the walk as they could fit in.
It became obvious when sitting down to plan how we go about it that some “Ground
Rules” were needed and we agreed the following;
No set timetable, we would fit in walks when possible and when further
afield use B&B or hotel accommodation to minimise travelling.
When walking we would walk as near to the sea as we could and where possible and safe
on beaches or at the waters edge.
We would cross by the first bridge or ferry as we progressed e.g Forth Bridge, Tay Bridge,
Cromarty Ferry etc.
afield use B&B or hotel accommodation to minimise travelling.
When walking we would walk as near to the sea as we could and where possible and safe
on beaches or at the waters edge.
We would cross by the first bridge or ferry as we progressed e.g Forth Bridge, Tay Bridge,
Cromarty Ferry etc.
