Two charity walkers taking in the river estuaries and coasts of the UK made their way through Perth recently and camped among the allotments of Moncreiffe Island overlooking the Tay.
Daniel McNeil (26) has been on the trail for over 18 months raising money for veteran’s charity SSAFA.
He plans to walk 16,000 miles over three years.
Early on in his journeying round Scotland, he met another determined walker, Charlotte Brook (25), who left her job behind and joined him on the biped adventure.
She is raising money for Women’s Aid, for women who have experienced violent trauma.
“It’s a topic that I’m very aware of and I feel it’s a hush hush topic that needs to be talked about more,” said Charlotte.
“The voices of survivors and those suffering need to be heard and not silenced any more.
“Domestic abuse affects us all. It thrives on being hidden behind closed doors. We must make it everybody’s business.”
Late in September the pair left Dundee and Errol behind them and made their way to the Fair City.
They passed the signs flagging they were entering the University City of Perth on September 25.
They pitched a tent in the Working Men’s Allotments on the island in the Tay and looked on Perth with fresh eyes.
“I started my walk around the entire UK coastline including all of its islands on March 15, 2021. My walking is for the veterans charity SSAFA,” explained Daniel.
“Just two months into my walk I was over in Strachur on the west coast of Scotland and, in a twist of fate, I met Charlotte. The rest is history.”
He is using donations to his page to help veterans with financial difficulties and break the stigma around mental health “by openly talking about the problems this society faces and the solutions we can take to create a healed, joyful, loving world”.
So far he has raised just over £9000 of a £100,000 target. His round Britain walk is expected to take him three years. Charlotte has £645 raised so far of a £10,000 target.
Daniel and his pal Charlotte accept help with accommodation or supplies, do work to finance their fodder and benefit from “the kindness of others offering us meals along the way”.
Leaving Dundee, they bumped into Gavin, Deborah and Hannah.
Daniel blogged: “Thanks for making us feel welcome in your home and treating us to fish and chips, with possibly the best curry sauce I have tried anywhere. Check out The Errol Fish Bar!”
Charlotte said that Dundee to Perth along the coastline “is a very difficult one and I now know why some coast walkers choose to take the Tay.”
She added: “We walked two miles then had to walk on the road because of the airport. Then other structures like railway tracks saw us back onto road again.
“Marshy, boggy, through fields, getting caught in some heavy showers. The coastline isn’t really a coastline down here but it’s good to experience the more inland villages and farmland.”
Daniel took up the tale of entering Perthshire : “We made it to Grange, a village just two miles off of Errol.
“We headed for breakfast the next morning and were treated with joy as The Lass O’Gowrie hosted us in their amazing cafe they have recently opened.
“An incredible menu, it was lush. Charlotte was eating the rainbow and the food tasted absolutely divine. I’m still reminiscing about how amazing it was.
“We walked full of energy to Perth, walking along the dual carriageway for six miles, the longest we’ve ever walked on a dual carriageway. Folks were beeping and sending encouragement to us.
“We made it to Perth, set up camp and spoke to an amazing woman named Louisa.
“We had insightful chats with her about how disconnected society is from nature and how people overcomplicate their lives, leading to a never-ending cycle of wanting more and never being truly happy.”
In Perth they feasted on pears, tomatoes and chard given by the local allotment growers.
They took a rest day and sussed out the city.
Daniel contrasted the scene in Perth with where the pair were recently.
He explained: “We spent four months in Shetland and life [in Perth] is so different - more trees, different animals, less wind, more people and more buildings.
“Perth is a fantastic city with beautiful scenery with the Tay flowing through it.
“Charlotte mentioned how it seems to be a lot more calm and peaceful than other cities and that is possibly due to the nature surrounding the place.
“We camped out on Friarton island and both noted how peaceful it was to be in among the trees and beside the allotments.
“A train would go by every half hour reminding us of the hustle and bustle of city life where it never sleeps. The two parallels of life together.
“ Perth was a great experience and we look forward to coming back here.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Daniel’s effort, the link is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/danwalksuk
To donate to Charlotte’s Women’s Aid collection, the link is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlottewalksuk
