Cromarty resident Nick Ray will be tackling the infamous Three Peaks Challenge — but with a twist.

Normally competitors sail between the highest mountains of Wales, England and Scotland or drive by car in under 24 hours. Nick is choosing to travel by sea kayak, then run to the top of each mountain from the coast.

Driving him on is a £3,000 fundraising target for a cause close to his heart — and, perhaps, a hunch that he may well be the first to have tackled such a daunting challenge.

Nick sets out this week from Aberdovey in Mid Wales and hopes to be standing atop Ben Nevis 15 days later — if wind and tides go his way as hoped. Acknowledging it as "one of the greatest challenges I have ever undertaken", he aims to kayak a distance of 450 miles from Aberdovey to Loch Eil, scaling Snowdon, Scafell Pike, and Ben Nevis — the three highest peaks in Wales, England, and Scotland — en route.

It's a major variation of the popular three peaks fundraising challenge which he has already successfully completed — back in 1983!

Nick, who used to be an instructor with Outward Bound, is using the trip to raise funds for a charity he has worked with – the Wilderness Foundation UK, who work with the divided communities of Northern Ireland and with troubled youngsters in the outdoors.

Nick Ray will use a kayak for part of his Three Peaks Challenge.

He said, "I have a long-standing personal and professional connection with the Foundation. They are a small charity faced with an enormous task. Despite the monthly struggles they encounter largely due to limited funds and resources, the dedicated team of staff and volunteers of the organisation face these challenges with undaunted pragmatism."

Describing himself as a seasoned adventurer, he says sea kayaking has enriched his life for the past 15 years and pledged he would not take any unnecessary risks.

On his fundraising web page, he states, "My sea kayak challenge will take possibly 16 days if the weather is fair, though I have given myself longer to complete the journey if it is not. To the best of my knowledge, I do not think that this challenge has been undertaken before." He has also taken time to study the tides to try and ensure he is working with and not against them.

Nick has been training around the west coast, but says nothing can prepare you for the stamina needed to do this day after day. If you want to sponsor Nick or want to find out more about his trip, go to www.justgiving.com/3peaks-by-kayak

editor@rsjournal.co.uk

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