A Perthshire schoolboy is spending his spring holiday completing the last section of the fabled pilgrim route, the Camino de Santiago to raise money for SCAA.

Tom Grant (13), a final year pupil at Ardverck School in Crieff, is about to set off on the final stage of a 740km journey across northern Spain.

He spent his early years living in the remote community of Glen Lyon, where the flying medics of SCAA have regularly provided a lifeline to residents.

“SCAA provides a crucial service for rural communities in the Scottish Highlands,” commented Tom.

“I’ve always been really impressed by their dedication and have seen their helicopter in our area on a number of occasions.”

Tom, who stays in Aberfeldy, started walking the Camino de Santiago in sections from 2017 with his parents. In this time he has walked through the Pyrenees, Navarra, La Rioja and Castille and Leon.

He is walking the final 180km section through Galicia during the holidays and will finish in the city of Santiago de Compostela.

The Camino de Santiago - or ‘Way of Saint James’ - is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great.

Many follow it for spiritual reasons but it is also popular with hikers and cyclists looking to complete an epic journey across the Iberian Peninsula.

“Although I am not religious, I’m really excited about finally making it to the shrine of Saint James the Great in Santiago de Compostela,” explained Tom.

“It has already been an incredible journey with lots of adventures along the way.

“I’ve been caught out in hail storms, met a Knight Templar at the top of a mountain and walked as much as 35km in a single day.”

So far Tom has raised more than one third of his target of £1000.

You can support Tom’s Camino for SCAA by making a donation to his JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/toms-camino.