Champions go the extra mile for the Kintyre Way

Six Friends of the Kintyre Way have been congratulated for going that extra mile for the route.

Bob Chicken, on behalf of the trustee group, met the 2022 Kintyre Way Champions in Tarbert to thank them for their voluntary contribution in helping to ensure that the 100 miles of the Kintyre Way, one of Scotland’s Great Trails, remains wild and beautiful.

The six champions are members of the Friends of the Kintyre Way, a group of volunteers who help keep the path clear and the route well signposted to allow local and visiting walkers, runners and cyclists to enjoy their time on the Kintyre Way.

Mark Cosgrove, Marc Ward, Shelagh Oakes, Lorna Holden and Rob Reid cut back massively overgrown bushes and vegetation at the Oakwood car park, planted spring bulbs and prepared the site for a new picnic table and benches, as well as repairing the existing bench and installing in a new finger signpost.

Liz Ness, meanwhile, has been helping with beach cleans, path clearing and walking on the route with a jar of Kintyre Way paint to brighten up the mile markers. She always has her secateurs to clear the path for others and keeps busy with her pyrography, with extra signs on stiles and wooden gates.

Alan Milstead, convener of the Kintyre Way, said: “We are delighted to have launched our Champions Award. This will be an annual event. In September, we will be looking for nominations for this year’s champions.

“As a charity, we depend on the local communities to help us maintain and market the Kintyre Way, allowing it to continue as a local resource and a visitor destination.

“We are delighted so many local people from Tarbert to Southend and all the communities along the way, have joined the Friends of the Kintyre Way, getting involved in work parties and walks along the route.”

Alan gave a special thanks to all the businesses along the route who provided a contribution to the goody bags which were presented to the six champions: The Gather, Skipness Stores, Clachan Filling Station, Tayinloan Stores, Blackbird Tearoom, Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, Glen Scotia Distillery, Fresh Connection, The Larder and Muneroy.

If you would like to get involved as a Friend or Supporter, visit the website for further information: www.thekintyreway.com.

Kintyre Way trustee Bob Chicken, back left, with Mark Cosgrove and Rob Reid, back, and Rob’s wife Isla Reid and Shelagh Oakes, front. Missing from the photograph are Marc Ward and Lorna Holden.

Liz Ness is a pro with a paintbrush, not only sprucing up the route’s way markers but also making her own ‘Mrs Nessie’ mini signposts.