Couple walking full UK coastline pass through South Ayrshire

A couple who are walking round the entire UK mainland coastline for charity took to the shores of South Ayrshire last week attracting the support of locals.

Martin and Maureen Shipley are raising money for Thrombosis UK by trekking around coastal routes .

Their daughter Dawn died in 2011 of Thrombosis aged 37 leaving behind three girls .

Starting on February 14 from Robin Hoods Bay in Yorkshire, Martin has already covered the full East and North West coasts of Scotland with his leg making up the final stages of their Scotland tour.

The determined retired couple from Derby clocked up 82,600 steps over 41.3 miles over four days.

On Thursday, day 78 of 254, they left from Irvine to Ayr passing through Troon and Prestwick on the way .

Then on Friday they covered Ayr to Culzean Castle followed by walks to Girvan and then on Ballantrae over the weekend.

In Troon, they were greeted by a supportive crowd with some holding up signs saying ‘welcome to Troon Martin and Maureen.

They were also by one local who brought them a packed lunch to keep them going on the way as they journeyed on.

A Prestwick woman then offered them a bed at hers for the night after their hotel room cancelled in Girvan on Saturday.

Martin told how the woman drove them back to Prestwick and then back out to Girvan to start their next leg of the tour.

He added:” It’s been great we’ve met lots of wonderful people who have been kind hearted and helped us out. There’s been some great beaches along the way too. And Martin has encouraged locals to follow in their footsteps by exploring their coastline.

He added: “I would encourage anybody to walk down the Ayrshire coast because its just a lovely experience. There’s so much you don’t see when you’re passing by in a car, you see a lot of what you don’t realise is there.”

Article posted on Ayr Advertiser website.