Brian and Daniel McMenemy, 17, set out on foot on June 17 from Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow and walked to Fort William, incorporating the West Highland Way. They then continued on to Inverness via the Great Glen Way following on from there to Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey, Keith and Huntly and then made their way back to home to Torphins on June 27.

Their chosen charities were CLAN 123 and Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) and fundraising to date is £4,000 - already £1,000 more than they had anticipated.

They chose the charities as Brian has lost his father, John, and cousin Linda to cancer.

"It was very hard," said Brian, 44. "For four-and-a-half days it rained non-stop - three days of the West Highland Way, which is 96 miles in total, and for the first 20 miles of the Great Glen Way, then the sun came out.

"We were was very sore and we both had complications. Daniel's knee locked and I had tendonitis in my leg. At one point, I had six blisters on one foot and five on the other, but nothing that paracetamol and ibuprofen couldn't sort out! Daniel just got one blister on his toe the whole time.

"We just wanted to complete the walk though, so we just got up each day and did it. Both our chosen charities are extremely good causes and so we carried on for them."

The duo walked between 23 and 36 miles per day - which meant being on the go for 12 hours a day - and slept under canvas each evening.
"We met up with quite a few people on our way, including a very old man who had walked with his Alsatian dog all the way from Derby," said Brian, a filtration engineer for Cetco oilfield services in Portlethen. "He had been walking for 11 weeks and was camping. He was a bit like Forrest Gump and didn't know where he was going to end up!
"My mum Helen, who's 74, joined us for 11 miles between Aviemore and the edge of Nethybridge, in the 27 degree heat, which she managed in three hours."

Brian thanked everyone who had helped them reach - and beat - their fundraising total.

"It's absolutely brilliant - just fantastic how much we've raised," said Brian. "We were looking to raise £3,000 and have just over £4,000. Two people I need to thank are Graham Stevenson and Tony Hamson, who were our support drivers and kept us supplied with water and sugary refreshments. They also deflated and erected the tents each morning and evening for us. Gordon Mitchell also supplied the vehicle, which we couldn't have done without."

Brian said they cooked breakfast on the stove each day but ate out each evening to ensure they were taking on enough food to sustain them for the next day's walking.

"I did manage to lose a bit of weight," said Brian. "I weighed 15.5 stone when I began and 14 stone 13lbs when I came back. I also got a good suntan!

"We both enjoyed it and it was an outstanding achievement, although we were glad to get back to our family and friends who came to welcome us back at the Station Garage in Torphins.

"Now the pain is past, it was well worth it! Our next plan is perhaps doing the Inca Trail or something around Kilimanjaro, but whatever we decide, we'll do it together!"

CHAS fundraising manager Margo Shearer-Smith said: "The duo has experienced many highs and lows, aches and pains during their walk; we at CHAS are extremely proud of their efforts."

"The determination of Brian and Daniel to undertake this immense challenge and raise money at the same time is inspirational. Every pound they raise will help CHAS to fund our vital hospice services for children and young people who have life limiting conditions throughout Scotland."

Brian's fundraising website is still open for donations at: www.justgiving.com/300milestogo