A former soldier is undertaking a four-year walking trip round the entire UK coastline in aid of an armed forces charity.
Daniel McNeill set off from his home near Dalbeattie on March 15 last year and has completed most of the islands on the west coast of Scotland.
And while he was in the Orkney Islands last November, the 26-year-old met girlfriend Charlotte Brook who decided to go on the epic journey with him.
The couple are now walking 15-20 miles each day making their way down the east coast of Scotland, towards Inverness.
Daniel, who served with the Royal Artillery Regiment, took on the challenge to raise £100,000 for SSAFA - Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - after returning to civilian life.
Suffering from chronic pain, depressing and anxiety, he was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that affected his back and later was left with no job and routine during the coronavirus pandemic.
Struggling mentally, he decided to sell everything he owned and take up a new mission.
He said: “I had a eureka moment that I want to walk the entire UK coastline.”
Now Daniel wants to return all the help and support he was given by SSAFA during the lowest time in his
life.
The charity provides practical, financial and emotional support for service personnel, veterans and their families.
He has so far raised £6,400 and is amazed by the generosity of local communities who not only donate money, but offer to transport the backpacks from one destination to another, provide food and accommodation through the Facebook page Daniel set up.
Daniel said: “I never had any kind of faith in humanity before I started. I always felt that the world was doom and gloom but the experience I had changed my views on it.”
The coastal walk will take another three years and Charlotte, 24, wants to continue and support Daniel on his journey.
She said: “I think 80 per cent of it is mentally difficult. We never know what is going to happen or where we will end up sleeping.. We have to take anything that comes and deal with it at the time.
“We are grateful for the donations to SSAFA and for the words of encouragement, it all goes a long way.
“We think the main objective of this walk is to inspire others to pursue a more healthy lifestyle and help others.”
