Two animal puppets which are “walking” the Great Glen Way to raise funds for work with dementia sufferers proved a big hit with tourists, locals and their dogs on the Caledonian Canal towpath at the weekend.
Cat marionette Wooly and bird Henrietta had a few near misses with curious canines and, at times, groups of children tagged along behind them.
The puppets are operated by husband and wife team, Karrie Marshall and Chris King, who live in Ardross in Easter Ross. They run community interest company Creativity in Care, which delivers creative programmes in care homes throughout the Highlands. She said they decided to do the 79-mile walk with their puppets to raise funds for their work. Ms Marshall said: “We also want to raise awareness of the fact that it is possible for people with dementia to still use their creativity, imagination and humour and we find they really connect with the puppets.”
The pair set off from Fort William on Saturday and walked 3.5 miles to Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie.
Yesterday, they tackled the 7.5-mile walk between Banavie and Gairlochy and today they will embark on the 14.5-mile trek to Laggan.
They then plan to arrive in Fort Augustus tomorrow, where they will visit the Telford Centre care home on Wednesday, before setting off on the next leg to Inverness.
Care home manager, Caroline Gunn, said: “We are all really looking forward to the visit.
“Having attended Care in Creativity awareness days in the past, I was very moved by what stimulation and enjoyment can be provided by the puppets.”
The puppets will end their journey at Inverness Castle at around 2pm on Sunday. Anyone wishing to sponsor the walk can make their donation to the couple en route or online at creativityincare.org