A retired couple who walked nearly 500 miles to their ancestral home have described the north-east as a “beautiful” end to their journey.
Janet and Mike Higgins spent 58 days trekking through some of Britain’s most inspiring scenery on their adventure from their Shrewsbury home to the fishing village of Inverallochy, near Fraserburgh.
Mrs Higgins – whose maiden name was May – can trace her family’s roots back to the village and the pair made the long pilgrimage to her late father’s house in Mid Street.
Their mission was the result of a conversation with Mrs Higgins’s brother, who suggested they apply their love of “strolling” to the mammoth task.
Retired accountant and teacher Mrs Higgins, 69, said: “My father was born here and we came up all my life.
“Although I’ve been raised in England I’ve had a Scottish upbringing.
“When my father died we didn’t sell his house – we kept it for the family.
“Four years ago we walked to Italy when I was using a step counter. When I realised how far we could walk, we just decided to do it.
“One of the highlights – which wasn’t marked on the map – was the coastal path into Aberdeen. It was beautiful. The seabirds were great and it was a fantastic way to walk into Aberdeen.”
She added: “We used the Formartine and Buchan Way and our Aberdeenshire part of the journey has been lovely. We knew we were getting near home.”
Mr Higgins – a 65-year-old former IT worker – said the couple only got hit by wet weather on four of their 58 walking days.
They have spent the past few days enjoying a well deserved rest at their family home in Inverallochy.
