Woman and her dog walk 65 miles from Bowling in charity bid

Shona Marshall and her Kerry Blue Terrier Betty are no strangers to walking challenges with Betty being one of a small handful of dogs to have completed all 282 of Scotland’s Munros.

However, this particular adventure along the Forth and Clyde Canal was in aid of a cause close to the 59-year-old’s heart with all of the funds raised going towards the Kerry Blue Terrier Rescue (KBTR) – a volunteer-run charity which provides care for and rehomes Betty’s breed.

Betty and Shona passed through Clydebank on their latest adventure (Image: Shona Marshall)The dynamic duo walked 65 miles over the course of three days [September 29 – October 1] and have so far raised £1,475.

Shona said: “This was our first time walking along the Forth and Clyde Canal as I don’t really know the Central Belt terribly well.

“We have done three charity walks for the Kerry Rescue before but they’ve all been either up mountains or in the North so I felt this could be a chance for folk with Kerrys in the Central Belt to come along and get involved.

“Particularly at the Glasgow end of the canal, people were extremely friendly and all incredibly supportive.

“We also saw a lovely sculpture in Clydebank, I believe it was the Beardmore Sculpture, and it looked like a boat was floating in the air.

“The goal was to walk about four miles an hour which we managed as Betty just sets off on a trot and it’s a relentless pace, she’s a hard taskmaster.”

Shona and Betty at the finish line at Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh (Image: Shona Marshall)Shona rescued Betty seven years ago when she was just 16 months old and the pair are now inseparable.

The Kinloss resident explained that her plan had always been to rescue a dog after her professional sporting career came to an end.

Shona represented Scotland at three Commonwealth Games and won a silver medal for clay pigeon shooting in Delhi in 2010.

Betty at Bowling Basin (Image: Shona Marshall)She added: “I travelled all over the world with team GB and once my shooting career was finished I knew that was when I wanted to get a dog because I felt a dog would keep me active.

“Betty was eight in June and like all terriers, she has a lovely personality. Although I didn’t get her through the KBTR I did rescue her from another household where things just weren’t working out.

“She is my walking companion and you never feel alone out on the hill when you’re out with the dog.

"We’ve done some really long days 12-13 hours out on the hills and she never complains she just keeps trotting away and can often help me find the path again if it gets skewed or dark.

“She’s my first proper dog and she’s a member of the family. If Betty can’t go somewhere then I don’t go.”

Shona and Betty at the top of Arthur's Seat (Image: Shona Marshall)Following their latest adventure which finished with a climb up Arthur’s Seat Shona and Betty have surpassed their initial target of £1,250.

Those who wish to donate to Shona’s appeal or to find out more about the KBTR visit HERE.