Mark Beaumont champions adventure in Argyll in epic Wild About Argyllchallenge and launches new footpath map
Cyclist Mark Beaumont has been cycling, running, canoeing, sailing, fell running and riding across Argyll in a bid to promote the potential the area has for adventure pursuits.
Accompanied by local hotel proprietor, Niall Colquhoun, Beaumont also helped launch Helensburgh and District Access Trust's (HADAT) new footpath map, which features 14 local walks.
Ensuring good-quality maps and information on local walks is available in printed format is a high priority
“The map was financed by OUR park, a visitor giving scheme operated by the conservation charity, the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs," said John Urquhart of HADAT.
"Niall Colquhoun of the Lodge at Loch Lomond and the Inn on Loch Lomond hotels, and ourselves at Balmillig B&B here in Helensburgh, are both long term supporters of OUR Park and our guests are major contributors to the scheme."
Colquhoun accompanied Beaumont from Arrochar to Helensburgh cycling along the Three Lochs Way, the popular long distance walking and mountain biking route between Balloch and Inveruglas which has been developed by the Helensburgh based trust with OUR Park support over the last five years.
Chair of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, James Fraser, said: ''Ensuring good-quality maps and information on local walks is available in printed format is a high priority for the Friends and with the help of local businesses and their guests we were pleased to provide HADAT with the funding to print 5,000 copies of this latest map, which I am sure will be popular with local residents and visitors."
The map is on sale for £1 at a number of local outlets and all proceeds will be used to help maintain and improve local paths.
Mark's Wild About Argyll adventure has been set out on exploreargyll.co.uk where a day to day blog from Mark is being uploaded with images of each day's adventures and the tracker is setting out his journey. He has also been chatting online on @mrmarkbeaumont and using #wildaboutargyll.
