A former Royal Navy commander who is walking the entire length of the British coast has spoken warmly of her time in Aberdeen.
Jane Allen decided to recognise the contribution made by naval women in the last century with the 5,500 mile trek to raise money for charity.
Before retiring last year, Mrs Allen served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
She arrived in the Granite City last week after battling low visibility with the haar rolling in from the sea at Montrose.
She said: “I’d always wanted to visit Aberdeen as I’d heard so much about it. I felt I was walking into a vibrant working city and port – to see ships of all kinds so close to the city centre was an experience.
“And of course the lovely granite buildings didn’t disappoint either.”
During her trip to the city, Mrs Allen met with two north-east sea cadet groups, TS Scylla and TS Bon Accord, to give a presentation about the 1,600 miles she had covered so far.
The young sailors and the work of their instructors impressed the former commander.
“I found all of them to be polite, smart and enthusiastic,” she said.
“As always, the volunteer staff who give up so much of their spare time must take much of the credit. They give the young cadets the opportunities and experiences they would otherwise never get.
“The group we met were clearly proud of being cadets and were very attentive when we spoke to them.”
After leaving Aberdeen, Mrs Allen walked through the coastal village of Newburgh and was lucky to see hundreds of seals on the outskirts of the coastal village.
The former commander will walk north to John O’Groats before starting her return trip to the HMS Victory in Portsmouth by the end of this year. The vast distance she has travelled has already provided some unforgettable experiences.
Mrs Allen said: “One of my highlights was crossing the Firth of Forth – this is where I felt my walk around Scotland really began.
“I’ve experienced so much genuine kindness along the way.
“The quaint village of Johnshaven in Aberdeenshire is somewhere I’ll remember – the people there were so helpful.”
She is raising money through her adventures for The Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC)
To support the Victory Walk go to Virginmoneygiving.com/ victorywalk17-18
