WALKING enthusiasts in Moray can find out more about Burghead’s rich Pictish past and help bring clean water and sanitation to communities in Malawi at the same time.
A final call has gone out for people to support international charity WaterAid’s ‘Coast Along’ event on Saturday.
Sarah Canniford from WaterAid said: "It’s not too late to sign up to take part in Coast Along. As walking is Scotland’s most popular coastal activity, we are hoping Scots will be inspired to combine their favourite day out with doing something for charity by striding out on the country’s beautiful coastal paths."
The event aims to get teams of walkers on over 240 sections of coastal path around the UK, covering over 2,000 miles of coastline.
Highlights of the Moray walk will include the sand dunes around Burghead, part of the largest dune system in Britain.
They will also explore Burghead’s Pictish history and examine the harbour warehouses designed by famous engineer Thomas Telford. Walkers will also get the chance to see if the Moray Firth’s bottlenose dolphins are out and about.
The event is part of the charity’s Big Dig Appeal, raising funds for WaterAid’s work to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in some of the poorest communities in rural Malawi. Every pound of sponsorship will be matched by the UK Government from the aid budget, helping the charity reach twice as many people.
Malawi is among the world’s poorest countries, with 20% of the population living without clean water supply, and 44% of people having to cope without adequate sanitation.
Sarah Canniford added: "It’s easy for us to take clean water for granted when it comes at the turn of a tap, but for too many women and children across Africa finding water is a daily struggle and they walk for hours just to meet this basic need. The distance walked by teams will be similar to the daily routine for many in Malawi.
To sign up to take part email coastalong@wateraid.org or call 020 7793 2232.
The Coast Along sections of the Moray Coast Path are:
•Forres to Burghead (11.5 miles).
•Burghead to Lossiemouth (13.2 miles).
•Lossiemouth to Spey Bay (8 miles).
Spey Bay to Cullen Bay (14 miles).
Participants are welcome to do a part of any of these sections.
