The Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club has completed the John Muir Way by boat.
The 20 rowers followed the 134 miles of the walking route from Helensburgh to Dunbar when they set out from the west coast on 17 July.
Leaving Helensburgh they rowed up the Clyde shipping lane into the Forth & Clyde Canal with its 40 locks and 16 bridges, travelled past Kirkintilloch, Auchinstarry, Bonnybridge, The Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies into the Forth near Bo’ness and then followed the coast past South Queensferry, Port Seton Aberlady, North Berwick and Dunbar.
The rowers were aged 14 to 76 and the club secretary Kenny Maule (66) who took part in the event with wife Pamela said : ”
This summer the team were looking for a row that would offer interesting challenges combined with taking in some of Scotland’s beautiful scenery along the way.
“Someone suggested that we row around the whole of Scotland and while this sounded like a wonderful idea, logistically it would have caused a few hiccups. We soon realised that we already have an abundance of beautiful coastal scenery on our doorstep so the John Muir Way became the obvious choice.
“As Dunbar locals, we pass John Muir’s birthplace every day. His legacy is an integral part of our community’s history so it was particularly special for us to select this route.”
The John Muir Way – a flagship project of the Central Scotland Green Network – takes in castles, historic towns and villages, stunning coastal scenery as well as Scotland’s first national park, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and has already attracted walkers, cyclists and now rowers from across the globe.
Keith Geddes, Chair of the Central Scotland Green Network Trust – which drives forward the delivery of the CSGN, said: “Three years on from the launch of the John Muir Way, I’m proud to see Dunbar Coastal Rowing Club challenging the norm and echoing the adventurous nature of John Muir himself.
“This also highlights the growing understanding in Scotland of Muir’s significance throughout the world and we look forward to many more people completing the 134 mile route whether by foot, bike or any other creative way they can think of.”
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