A charity fundraiser is hoping lockdown restrictions are lifted to allow him to kayak 700 miles around Scotland, including parts of the north and north east, over two weeks later in the summer.
Jack Gatacre is planning the marathon voyage which will start and finish in Pittenweem in Fife. The route would see him travel from Fort William, through the Caledonian Canal to Inverness, then along the Moray Firth coast and North Sea to Aberdeen before heading south to the finishing line.
He aims to raise money for The Fishermen’s Mission in honour of his girlfriend’s father who retired after 50 years of fishing from Pittenweem.
He is also using the trip as part of a build up to a proposed London to Istanbul expedition.
He said: “This year has been particularly difficult for fishermen financially as Covid-19 has reduced the value of their catch to such an extent that it is currently not economical to leave the harbour in their boats.
“The Fishermen’s Mission aims to help by providing financial assistance, support and life-saving during storms.”
Jack aims to kayak about 50 miles a day between dusk and dawn, sleeping in a tent at night.
Two years ago he canoed 450 miles from London to Land’s End with a friend Rafael LeCornu and raised £4,000 for the MS Society, inspired by a colleague who suffers from the condition.
