A Stirling couple are marking their 52nd wedding anniversary in a particularly special way - cycling more than 300 kilometres across Spain and Portugal to raise funds for a local hospice.
Kevin and Linda Clarke are taking on the Camino Portuguese in aid of Strathcarron Hospice. The route sees the pair navigate roasting temperatures and approximately 3,000 metres of climbing from Porto in Portugal up to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
A fifth Camino challenge
Back in 2024, they completed a gruelling 900km cycle along the Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo in memory of their dear friend Pat Norman, raising vital funds for Strathcarron Hospice along the way.
Now the duo, both aged 74, are back for a fifth go at the Camino route.
Former University of Stirling Secretary Kevin said: “We wanted to do this physically and mentally demanding challenge to raise money for the Hospice.
“Strathcarron Hospice has provided tremendous support to several of our close friends at their time of greatest need.
“Pat had the biggest of hearts - really kind and optimistic. She was always a fantastic supporter of our crazy journeys and we missed her regular comments on this trip, but she was in our thoughts.
Return to the route
“In 2024 we cycled the Camino del Norte/Camino Primitivo and raised funds for the Hospice. Because we had turned off on to the Camino Primitivo at Oviedo we had not cycled about 400kms of the Camino del Norte, and so in September 2025 we returned to Oviedo to complete the Norte.
“The 2025 ride was hard and Linda vowed that it was her last Camino when we arrived in the Cathedral Square in Santiago. But here we are again nearing the start of our fifth Camino, the Camino Portuguese!
“It is shorter than our other journeys, but we are now 74 years old and they are definitely beginning to feel harder.
“We had initially decided simply to undertake the pilgrimage quietly, and for ourselves, when in February we received one of the regular newsletter updates from the Hospice which contained a moving account of how the Hospice had greatly helped a member of our church parish community as a family member faced a tragically early death from cancer.
“We looked at each other and agreed we had one more fundraising Camino left in us.”
Follow the journey and donate
The pair have been blogging their trials and tribulations along the way, allowing followers to share in the triumphs - and the many pastel di natas along the way.
The blog updates are available at kevinandlindatravel.wordpress.com.
You can donate to the couple’s fundraising efforts on their page at strathcarronhospice.net/fundraisers/a-way-too-much.
