Daily programme updated

The daily programme for the walk has been modified slightly. You can download it as a PDF file from HERE

Getting on their bikes for Dr Bob

Edinburgh’s Dunedin Chapter of the Harley Davidson owner’s group will be joining Dr Bob Grant on the home straight of Bob’s Walk 2013.
Around 40 to 50 bikers will ride from Maggie’s Edinburgh to Maggie’s Dundee to join Kirkcaldy GP Dr Bob and the other walkers on the last day of their 108 mile trek taking in Maggie’s Fife in Kirkcaldy, Crail, Kingsbarns and Tayport.

Motorcycle club member Brian Johnson said: “Everybody taking part in the ride is well aware of the tremendous support Maggie’s provide to people with cancer as well as their friends and families and many know Dr Bob personally.

“It is a huge privilege to be able to ride out and show our support for the walk and his extraordinary achievements.”

Dr Bob, who was first diagnosed with cancer as a teenager and who lost his leg to cancer as an adult, has previously organised two sponsored walks for Maggie’s in 2007 and 2009.

Having survived cancer and lived for years with the late effects of radiotherapy Dr Bob has succeeded in becoming a national influence on the Scottish cancer scene, drawing on the health problems he himself encountered from his school days onwards into a strong personal motivation to improve patient care.

In September 2012 he took on the chair of the new Associate Fundraising Board for Maggie’s Fife.

He will set out on Saturday August 3 from Maggie’s Edinburgh finishing at Maggie’s Dundee on the 11th, covering 108 miles in just nine days along the Fife Coastal Path.

Joining Dr Bob along the way will be a number of walkers, including Fife Free Press editor Allan Crow, as they take in the route from North Queensferry to Inverkeithing, Burntisland, Kinghorn and then on to Wemyss and north-east Fife

Recently Dr Bob has been undertaking a number of events to raise awareness of the event including a visit to the Kingsgate Shopping Centre in Dunfermline and the foyer of Rothes Hall, Glenrothes.

Every penny raised by Dr Bob and other walkers will be going to Maggie’s Fife.

Bikers

Members of the Dunedin Harley Davidson Chapter from Edinburgh, from left, Sid Brand, Sandy Bayne, Richie Balfour and Brian Johnson.
Photograph courtesy of the Fife Free Press.

Allan Crow’s latest online blog

Allan Crow (the Editor of the Fife Free Press and the Glenrothes Gazette) is in training to walk the Coastal Path  next month as one of the core group of walkers on Bob’s Walk.  Here’s his latest blog:-

 

When Bob’s Walk starts next week we’ll be doing up to 15 miles a day, so I figured I’d better see just how far I could walk before I hit the coastal path equivalent of ‘‘the wall.’’ Turns out that’s about 18km – or, Kirkcaldy to Aberdour…

I did harbour a notion of going even further, but as I headed up through the car park at Silver Sands I had all the movement of a zombie with a very sore back. Every muscle seized, every bone just groaned. The station seemed a mighty long way away as I inched up the hill!

Again, another glorious sunny day – perfect walking conditions, and the path was busy with walkers and cyclists.

I’d done Kirkcaldy to Kinghorn before – it now seems like a wee stroll! – but pushed on down to the harbour, past the lifeboat station and back up through the side streets to pick up the path on the main road leading to Burntisland.

The route along the main road is fairly dull – the statue to Alexander III is about the only landmark of note, although you are compensated with some stunning views across the Forth, and you also realise just how big Pettycur Bay Caravan Park is!

On through the High Street in Burntisland and up past Rossend Castle, and a left turn and we were edging back into countryside.

The path follows the railway line and the further you go from Burntisland, the greener it gets.

From Burntisland to Aberdour is probably one of my favourite parts so far – waterfalls are always a source of fascination, and plenty of folk were busy filming and taking pictures at Starley Burn Falls.

While cyclists negotiated the narrow and stony path, I was quite happy to saunter along at a more sedate pace until Aberdour’s famous beach came into view.

It seemed to take forever to actually get there though as I followed the path right down to the waterfront and followed it for several miles before emerging at the far corner of the beach.

As a kid I spent many summer days in Aberdour – I had my first shot at driving my mum’s car in the car park – and can still remember the miniature railway which kept us amused in between playing on the beach or buying ice cream.

For all times have changed, the beach has not, and it remains a magnet for families while the grassy fields are great for football and games.

At the top a shinty match was taking place, but by then my legs were all but exhausted! The walk to the station was slow – very slow – and I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful to see a Scotrail train bearing the destination ‘Kirkcaldy’!

Counting down to Bob’s Walk 2013  –  August 3-11, 108-mile charity fundraiser along Fife Coastal Path for Maggie’s Fife

To donate online please visit   fundraise.maggiescentres.org/bobswalk

Bob’s Walk 2013 daily programme

The daily walking programme is available to download as a PDF file below

Daily Programme

 

Fife Free Press poster for Bob’s Walk

bobswalkposter

Allan Crow’s blog #2

ALLAN CROW is in training to walk the Coastal Path before joining Bob’s Walk next month. Here’s his second blog …
Follow him on Twitter using the hashtag #bobswalk

First rule of walking Fife Coastal Path – always head in the right direction.

I guess it comes under the ‘‘stating the obvious’’ but alighting in North Queensferry on a sun-kissed Saturday I meandered down to the start point, saw the familiar, re-assuring sight of the blue coastal path badge on a lamppost and followed the arrow.

My destination was Dalgety Bay and then Aberdour, and, as I chugged up the hill out of the village I suddenly realised I was heading towards to Forth Bridge. Deploying that most basic of sat-navs – called ‘common sense’ – I guessed I was going east rather than west. Or was it south rather than north? Directions aren’t my strong point …

Either way, Aberdour wasn’t on the end of this road, although there was a fair chance I’d encounter places like Rosyth if I kept going!

One u-turn and directions from the local postie later – and a pause to discuss the merits of Bruce Springsteen’s recent Glasgow gig after he clocked my t-shirt (the first of three such chats over the course of the day; cultured folk on the path, I tell you – they know their music!) – and I found the entry point back into the Kingdom.

The walk along towards St David’s Harbour is fabulous.

The views looking up towards the rail bridge take your breath away, while the surrounding countryside is rich in colour and wildlife.

The noise from terns nesting on what is left of the old pier shattered the Saturday silence – must have been hundreds of birds out there! – but elsewhere all was tranquil as small boats sailed up the Forth, and folk were out taking advantage of the magnificent weather.

And round the next corner … a scrap metal yard on the outskirts of Inverkeithing as nature gave way to industry and the path wound its way round to Ferryhills Road before delivering my first stop for a welcome cuppa at a café in Inverkeithing High street.

Revived and refreshed it was on to St David’s Harbour with its wonderful waterfront apartments – how magnificent are those river views? – and a small beach which kept kids enthralled all afternoon, and on to Dalgety Bay where I became slightly lost in perfectly manicured suburbia.

One minute I was making way for a kid on horseback – a muckle big horse it was too! – and the next I was trying to find my route back on to the path after losing count of how many perfect gardens and glorious borders I’d seen.

Out of nowhere the re-assuring sight of a coastal path market steered me back on track – judging by the official guide I think I missed a bit! – to take in St Bridget’s Kirk which dates back some 900 years. I felt about as old as the ruin! (probably looked as craggy too!).

My destination, Aberdour, was just two miles away, and the final stretch really was a delight to stroll along – green, sun-baked and with only the occasional pounding of feet of a jogger or whirr of a cyclist’s wheels to disturb the near silence.

Total distance walked? A guesstimate of around 11 miles. Time taken? Something like three and a half hours, but in the searing heat, it felt twice as long …

One very welcome baguette at McTaggart’s deli in Aberdour and I was fit for nothing more than a train journey back to Kirkcaldy.

The road sign saying ‘‘Burntisland, two miles’’ was just one step too far!

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Fife Coastal Path, North Queensferry, beneath the Forth Rail Bridge – photograph courtesy of The Fife Free Press

 

Allan Crow’s blog

Allan Crow (the Editor of the Fife Free Press and the Glenrothes Gazette) is in training to walk the Coastal Path before joining Bob’s Walk next month. Follow him on Twitter using the hashtag #bobswalk

 

SO, I’ve signed up to walk 108 miles – much to the mirth and disbelief of friends and relatives.

Immediately, they start trying to work out the last time I did any physical exercise of any sort, and quickly come to the conclusion I did play a round of golf circa 1996, but, beyond that they were stumped.

I guess their incredulity wasn’t helped by the fact my plan to start training in January was put on hold by the snow.

January then became February, and as the frozen conditions remained in situ, so did I. On my sofa.

February became March. See above.

With April already filed as ‘history’ I did think I ought to get started, but it was a bit wet and windy out there, so I banked on May being a belter. It wasn’t, and so, in June, I figured if I didn’t get started I’d have to do this off the cuff by turning up on day one with my trainers in my rucksack, no waterproof gear and no idea of what lay in store.

So, walk number one was a genteel stroll to Seafield Tower and back. Hardly ‘‘one giant step for mankind’’ and all that but the first piece of coastal path turf now held my footprint. Or boot print …

Job done, I rewarded myself with a beer in Society and figured this walking lark was a dawdle … so I ventured back out, this time to Kinghorn and back.

Discovered a fab wee café in Kinghorn too – Nicola’s Cupcake Café! – figuring man cannot live off Mars Bars and water while he tramps this earth!

I then went in the opposite direction to Ravenscraig Park, through Dysart and on to West Wemyss.

Once you get beyond Frances Colliery and inch towards the sea, the route into the Wemyss is wonderful – I love the artworks on the old stone walls just as you hit the village.

I’ve since done the route a couple of times, although I must admit I cheated last time round – well, the bus was parked outside the Walk Inn (great sandwiches there!) and it seemed to say ‘‘c’mon, hop on!’’

I was back in Kirkcaldy in around 15 minutes … could have sworn it had taken me hours to get there!

Kinda put my distance into perspective!

Still a lot of ‘the path’ to cover …

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 Fife Coastal Path at Seafield, Kirkcaldy – photograph courtesy of The Fife Free Press

Follow Bob’s Walk on Twitter

You can follow Bob’s Walk on Twitter using the hashtag   #bobswalk

 

Fundraising at the Kingdom Centre

The countdown to Bob’s Walk 2013 got underway with a fundraising afternoon in the Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes.
The 108-mile walk along Fife Coastal Path in aid of Maggie’s Fife is being led by Dr Bob Grant from Markinch.
On Friday he was at the shopping centre to raise awareness of the event, and net new sponsors.
It will be the fourth Bob’s Walk to help raise funds for Maggie’s Fife, with the core team of walkers – which includes Gazette editor, Allan Crow, and Linda Palmer from Buckhaven – making the trek from Maggie’s Edinburgh to Maggie’s Dundee via the coastal path.

Read the full story on the Fife Today website

 

Dr Bob fundraising in Glenrothes – Friday 5th July

Dr Bob will be in the Kingdom Centre in Glenrothes today from 11am to 2.30pm trying to raise sponsorship for his 108 mile walk. He will also be accepting donations for Maggie’s Centre. If you are passing, remember to say hello.

Bob’s Walk is now on Facebook

Bob’s Walk is on Facebook so please ‘Like’ us

New Website Design

Welcome to the new website.

This will be updated regularly with information about Dr Bob’s next walk and there will be daily updates as the walk progresses from August 3rd to 11th