The Great Outdoors Challenge taken on by John Berry to raise funds for 1st Forres Scouts

The skipper of a local youth organisation lead by example by walking 200 miles - sleeping wherever he could - to raise funds for the group.

1st Forres Scout Leader, John Berry, took on the coast to coast The Great Outdoors Challenge (TGO), completing it in 13 days, and so far raising £405 of his £500 target.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my crossing,” he said. “I saw more of Scotland and its wildlife than I ever thought possible, including wonderful views and many people.

“It’s quite the undertaking but clearly not impossible. I enjoyed the time alone with my thoughts but meeting other people made my day, especially when it all felt like it was getting too hard!”

The TGO was started in 1980 by mountaineer and writer, Hamish Brown, then a writer for ‘The Great Outdoor’ magazine. The event is still run by coordinators who check routes, abilities and offer information about the countryside and how to cross it.

It is a self supported, non-competitive backpacking adventure that sees participants walk from the west to east coast along the route they choose and have verified by the organisers.

Challengers must navigate using a map and compass - without GPS. They also have to carry their own personal and camping equipment, plus at least three days provisions.

Experience of backpacking and camping in the wild is advisable, as are first aid skills. Bad weather and crossing unbridged rivers and burns is expected.

John opted to cross from Mallaig to Kinnaber Links near Montrose.

He said: “I had just turned 65 when my son and daughter-in-law thought it would be a great idea for me to see in my retirement by going for a long walk!

“I thought I could raise a few pounds for the Forres Scout Group while doing so, where I’ve been a member for nearly 20 years.”

John experienced seeing no other people at all for days, crossing the Monadhliath mountains from Fort Augustus to Laggan, battling blisters and Scotland’s full range of weather conditions including a summer heatwave and strong winds, as well as overnight frost and snow,

However, he also saw the best of Scotland’s wildlife including sleeping beneath a nest of house martens and making friends with fellow walkers and residents in the many towns and villages he passed through.

He said: “Highlights included seeing an eagle flying over the Spey dam at Laggan, seeing Barrisdale Bay, an overnight stop at Loch Poulary, traversing the Corrieyairack pass and the route through Glen Banchor.

“Glen Feshie was impressive too - the rewilding project there is just fantastic. Jock’s Road, Loch Brandy … But most of all, meeting people from all over, who wanted nothing and were willing to share and help out.”

The event is well supported in community halls, schools, hotels, bothies, campsites and farms where the organisers offer food, drink … and sometimes showers.

“The toughest moments were road trudging,” said John. “However, I saw navigating up and over the many bealachs and passes as mini challenges so, perversely, I was happy to take them on! Whilst they were cardio workouts, they were not quite as challenging as they looked on the map.”

John was “buzzing” at the end of the challenge along the coast at Kinnaber Links to Montrose where the participants and organisers enjoyed a dinner and awards ceremony.

He finished: “There were a number of challengers on the train home. We got together, shared memories and compared war wounds.”

John’s challenge for 1st Forres Scouts can be sponsored via https://www.givey.com/johnberryscoutleader