Home is where the walk is, the Speyside Kiltwalk

So in the last few days we've had pictures of boxes and KiltWalk banners which are great and let you know what we're all up to in KiltWalkland, however today we have a piece of stunning scenery from Speyside and a great story from Chris Pinnock who is taking part in the Speyside KiltWalk event on Sunday 13th May.

John has two passions, walking and raising money for charity and when he has the time he combines them by 'walking' for charity. However he also likes a challenge which is why last year, he did 3 long distance (22~32 mile) walks along with the National 3 Peaks 24 hour Challenge and it's his eye for a challenge that caused him to find out all about the Speyside KiltWalk.

Although Chris now lives and works in Yeovil, Somerset, he was brought up in the Speyside area and went to school in Aberlour. So as he sat down to plan his 2012 challenges last Xmas, he could hardly believe his luck when he came across the Speyside KiltWalk as it ticked every box he could imagine. it satisfied his love of walking, it was raising money for not one, but four charities and best of all it was in the location he grew up in and thinks of home.

So it was quite by chance Chris tweeted us at @thekiltwalk to say he'd just completed a training walk . . . except while I'm currently walking six miles, Chris walked almost all of the Speyside route and took some fantastic pictures along the way. So we got in touch with him and asked him what brought him up here and how he got on during his walk and here's what he had to say.

"I'm up on holiday staying with family and so took the opportunity to do a long training walk using most of the Speyside Kiltwalk route.

I started on the sea front at Buckie around ten in the morning where it was overcast and 'Fresh' as the locals say due to the wind blowing off of the sea, and I reckoned I would have a good 7 hours of daylight to walk the 25+ miles to Aberlour.

I walked for 16 miles to Boat O Brig without stopping, enjoying the views and taking several photos while on the move. I then stopped for just over 10 minutes for a bit of food and to take in the view.

Then it was back on the trail for the forest section around Ben Aigan eventually catching sight of Craigellachie through the trees and knowing that it is only 2 miles to Aberlour from there.

I then followed the old railway line to Aberlour alongside the mighty River Spey arriving in Aberlour just after five.

It was a great day's walk in peaceful stunning countryside with no aches or pains and only one small blister.

I have to say I'm looking forward to the main event in May and doing it with some company this time".

Well Chris all that's left to say is that we're glad you found us and as things stand you have another 192 people walking with you, so company you'll most certainly have.