Charity walker Jake thrilled by generous Scottish hospitality

Amazing response to man’s plea on social media

Kind-hearted folk rushed to the aid of a charity walker after he appealed for shelter from the Perthshire elements.

Jake Tyler feared his tent would not give him adequate protection as temperatures began to drop below freezing overnight.

The 31-year-old has already walked from Brighton to John o’ Groats and is currently on the return journey.

He began his epic journey after beginning to suffer depression and anxiety and realising that walking lifted his mood.

Jake has been recording his trip on social media, where he put out a plea for accommodation and was inundated with offers.

He said: “I can’t believe it. I put the feelers out on social media and I am very lucky that there are some amazing people that follow me who shared it and people got in touch to offer me room.

“Since I’ve come to Scotland I have really noticed an increase in nice people.”

After spending Wednesday night in a house in Stanley, he has further beds lined up in Perth and then Kinross. He intends to travel to Edinburgh but is still attempting to find another bed for the night en-route.

Jake, who is raising money for the Mental Health Foundation, said his experiences have inspired him to make a career change after he finishes his journey.

He said: “I had a whole career planned out in hospitality – I was running a bar in Colchester in Essex and then I took over a place in east London and the plan was to work my way up and become a manager and an owner.

“I don’t think I’ll go back to it. I’ve really fallen in love with the mental health world – the charities I’ve been working with – and I’ve started to feel I want to get actively involved in that as a job.

“I feel like helping people is helping me.”

Jake Tyler has been inundated with offers of help.