Pensioners walked 500 miles to dream Moray home

A gruelling 500 mile walk took Elaine and Tom Summerscales from Cumbria to their dream Moray home

A RETIRED couple have completed an incredible 500-mile walk to flit from their former Cheshire home to set up a new life amidst Moray’s breathtaking scenery.

Dairy farmer Tom Summerscales (65) and his wife Elaine (62) risked life and limb to cross raging torrents and tackle the toughest of terrain between the Pennines and the Highlands.

The keen outdoor enthusiasts longed for a life north of the border after countless holidays to visit their daughter and grandchildren in Moray.

And when they found a perfect home near Forres on the market, overlooking fabulous views across Findhorn Bay and the Moray Firth, their minds were made up.

But to their family’s amazement, the hardy pensioners decided to make the marathon journey on foot. Equipped only with their backpacks, they braved the elements over 40 days and nights before wearily reaching their Moray destination last week.

“We realised this was a wonderful place to come and retire to, and with our daughter being up here we decided to go for it,” Mr Summerscales said.

“I remember my wife telling me how we didn’t want to be sitting on a park bench in 10 years’ time saying we wished we’d gone to Scotland.”

Relaxing at his new home in Easter Lawrenceton, near Rafford, he recalled the lowest point of their challenge when his wife was almost swept away by a swollen stream as they battled horrendous weather near Braemar.

Get the Northern Scot on Friday for full story.

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