Plans to stage a pilgrimage from the heart of France to a Moray monastery have taken a step forward with the appointment of an armed forces luminary to oversee the project.
The monks who reside at Pluscarden Abbey, outside Elgin, hope the epic journey will raise at least £1million towards restoration work which started 70 years ago at their historic home.
The abbey was founded in 1230 after monks trekked 1,300 miles to the region from Burgundy in France.
And the venue’s current keepers plan to recreate that pilgrimage almost 800 years on next summer, to amass the funds required to rebuild the Grade A venue’s south range.
The project received a boost yesterday, when it was confirmed a former Royal Marine with experience in organising charity walks would spearhead the plans.
Marty Wilkin, who helped organise a 1,000-mile trek across the UK for wounded veterans last year, will take up the post as operations manager in July.
Mr Wilkin served in Cyprus, the Falklands, America and Afghanistan during his military career.
And he worked as a team coach during the Invictus Games, an international Paralympic-style multi-sport event, in London in 2014 and Orlando earlier this year.
He was chosen for the position by Pluscarden Abbey’s South Range development director, retired Gordon Highlander, Lieutenant Colonel David Broadfoot MBE.
The latter was inspired by Mr Wilkin’s Walking with the Wounded event last year to create the upcoming 1230 Pluscarden Pilgrimage.
He said: “I attended the start of that walk at Glenlivet, and was so enthused that I travelled to London to accompany the group on the final stretch from Admiralty Arch along the Mall to Buckingham Palace.”
Lt Col Broadfoot said that only after soliciting Mr Wilkin’s advice did the 1230 Pluscarden Pilgrimage become “an exciting reality”.
The journey will take place between June and September next year, and organisers hope the chosen route could become a frequently used pilgrimage trail.
It will cover approximately 1,230 miles – broken down into 13 legs.
Each leg will be covered by a different group of pilgrims, with a maximum of 20 on each.
They will walk from Monday to Saturday, with Sunday being reserved as a day of rest and worship.
Last month, HRH Princess Michael of Kent was named as royal patron for the pilgrimage.