A long distance walker is braving Galloway’s snow and rain in a kilt on his way to Ireland.
But anyone offering a hot roadside cuppa to thaw his freezing limbs better make it good as Clive Brown is a self-confessed “coffee snob”.
Clive is tramping round the British Isles in support of MIND, the mental health charity.
He’s been given free meals and hot drinks along the way to keep his spirits and energy levels up.
And when Alexis Fleming spotted him coming through a blizzard near Kirkcudbright she didn’t think twice before offering him a hot brew.
Alexis, who runs the Maggie Fleming Animal Sanctuary, said: “I wondered if he’d like a coffee to warm him up.
“I called over ‘it’s freezing – would you like a coffee?’
“‘Is the coffee freshly percolated or instant?’ he said.
“‘It’s just I’m a bit of a coffee snob, you see – I don’t drink instant.’
“A simple ‘naw’ would have been preferable!”
By Tuesday evening Clive had reached the Isle of Whithorn where was enjoying samples at the Five Kingdoms Brewery.
And he said: “I’ll be catching the ferry from Cairnryan to Ireland next week.
“It’s one day at a time – since I came to Scotland the people have been amazing.
“It’s been really heartwarming – it has really invigorated me when I’m tired.”
Clive, an electrician by trade, embarked on his venture to restore his mental wellbeing and help others.
He said: “I was going to commit take my own life, I was in a really bad place.
“Then I thought of the pain that would cause to other people and I decided to do something positive.
“So I got rid of everything I owned and started walking – I had to fix myself first.”
Asked about his coffee preference, he laughed: “I carry an Italian coffee maker in my rucksack.
“It’s the one thing I look forward to in the morning.
“When I hear that plop, plop, plop of the coffee it brings me great joy.
“I have given up pretty much everything else.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at justgiving.com/fundraising/cliveslongwalkhome
He is also on Facebook and Instagram.
