Drummer takes a trip on the wild side
A BROADCASTER and member of Scottish band Deacon Blue visited Kintyre last week.
A FOUNDER member of Deacon Blue, a sports journalist and an adventure photographer laced up their boots to spend four days on the Kintyre Way.
The group are working on a review of the 100-mile route.
Dougie Vipond, who has presented the BBC’s Adventure
Show and is a founding member of the band Deacon Blue, along with Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, teamed up with Andy McCandlish, perhaps best known for his Skye Ridge images of cyclist Danny Macaskill, and writer Sean McFarlane from Outdoor Fitness magazine. The three men took their families for four days’ exploring last week as part of their forthcoming review of the Kintyre Way.
Andrea MacShannon, PR and marketing manager for the long distance trail said: ‘The group ran and cycled the route for a number of articles to be published in highprofile sports magazines, enjoying some of the great accommodation and catering that’s available along the route.
‘Now in its 10th year, The Kintyre Way is a tourist attraction which is growing in popularity, last year drawing more than 3,500 people into the area.
‘With recent upgrades and improvements it offers a serious 100-mile course for keen runners and cyclists, and we’re delighted that Sean, Andy and Dougie had the opportunity to experience what the route and Kintyre itself has to offer.’
As well as accommodation at the Royal Hotel, the group was welcomed by Andrew and Monica Gemmel of Ifferdale Farm.
Ifferdale’s bunkhouse and self-catering cottages, near Saddell, include practical features such as bike storage. laundry and drying facilities.