David Hine with one of the packcrafts on his back. Photo: David Lintern

Two outdoor enthusiasts plan to cross Scotland and summit its nine highest peaks, while lugging boats with them on the journey.

David Lintern and David Hine will paddle part of the route and then pack away their inflatable boats as they walk up the 4,000ft mountains on their coast-to-coast route.

The pair will set off from Ardnamurchan Point, the westernmost point of the mainland, and head for Spey Bay in Moray, to raise cash for the John Muir Award. They plan to use portable, inflatable boats – packrafts – and will take winter equipment for the mountains.

Their chosen charity is a scheme that connects thousands of people every year with the outdoors. Both are members of the John Muir Trust, which runs the scheme to encourage people to enjoy nature and wild places, and take direct action to care for the environment.

David Lintern said: “The award is a real inspiration to both of us. It’s a great introduction to the outdoors for people regardless of age or background, it’s free to use and most importantly it works.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have achieved an award, and their volunteering on conservation projects is worth millions of pounds. It’s a positive and empowering means of change.

“It also fits with the ethos of the award to attempt something that pushes our personal boundaries in our own backyard. Our experiences in Scotland’s wild places have been key to our personal development.

“This isn’t a big challenge by TV standards, and bears no comparison to John Muir’s adventures, but it’ll be a big journey of discovery for us.”

David Lintern will also tackle the nine highest mountains in Scotland. Photo: David Lintern

The men plan to set off on 9 May make their way eastwards. On their way they plan to summit Ben Nevis, Aonach Mòr, Càrn Mòr Dearg and Aonach Beag before moving on to the Cairngorms, with Ben MacDui, Cairn Gorm, Breariach, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine in their sights.

When not walking on the route, which they have dubbed the C2C4K, they will paddle on lochs and rivers and camp on islands. Among stop-off sites is the CIC Hut in the shadow of Ben Nevis’s North Face. David Hine is a member of the British Mountaineering Council and David Lintern is in the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.

The pair are hoping outdoor enthusiasts will sponsor them to help them reach their £1,500 target through their donations site on Givey.