A group of Fife villagers have re-enacted a walk taken 700 years ago by their predecessors, who trudged 50 miles home to Ceres after taking part in the Battle of Bannockburn.
Members of the Ceres Highland Games committee commemorated those from the village who fought in the 1314 battle.
As a result of their successful efforts to see off the English king, Edward II, Robert the Bruce granted Ceres a charter to hold Highland Games.
And they have been held every year since, apart from during the First and Second World Wars. The walk took place at the weekend just days before this year’s games and also Bannockburn Live.
One of the walkers, Graeme Braid, said it is believed 19 Ceres men returned from the battle but there is no accurate record.
He said the journey from Stirling on foot, staying overnight at Crook of Devon, before embarking on the second leg of their trip, had been a success.
He told The Courier: “We finally got back to Ceres around 10pm on Sunday night. We covered 24 miles on Saturday in around eight hours and 34 minutes and on Sunday in 14 hours.
“We got a great reception from around 100 villagers turning out with our local young pipers to parade back to the Bannockburn monument at the Bow Butts.
“The local Scouts and parents joined us at Strathmiglo to swell the numbers and encourage us for the last few miles.”
The walkers hope sponsorship for the walk will buy a defibrillator for their village.
Mr Braid added: “Around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the UK each year. Once someone goes into cardiac arrest, their chances of survival is reduced 10% for every minute without CPR and defibrillation.
“We hope we can have a defibrillator in the village, as it could save a life.”
For ongoing donations: mydonate.bt.com.
The Ceres Highland Games take place this Saturday.
Picture by George McLuskie