COMPLETING his journey around the UK’s mainland coastline, former soldier Colin Stinson, from Holsworthy, has returned home with his vintage motorcycle and funds for his chosen charities.

Mr Stinson is a former member of the Devon and Dorset Regiment, who completed his 22 years military service back in 2005.

He previously said he was taking on the ‘Metisse Charity Rideout’ challenge in order to fulfill a promise he had made to his father.

He took on this charity challenge on his 1967 Metisse ‘Desert Racer’ (TR6 Engine) motorcycle, which he has owned for just over two years and is probably most know as being the model Steve McQueen famously tried to jump the barbed wire within The Great Escape.

His trip also helped to raise funds for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) The Soldiers’ Charity, the National Charity of the British Army.

Along the way Mr Stinson said he was impressed by the generosity of the public, he said: “I had some fantastic support from everyone I met along the way. The B&B’s I stopped off at and even the campsites were all very generous with their donations to the charity.

“I was even offered a place to stay from a few of my old Army colleagues who said ‘Feel free to come and stay with us’, it really was great to see them and receive such support, not only from my old Army friends but from the public too.”

Mr Stinson’s journey took him around the length of the UK’s coastline, stopping off in beautiful places and viewing some of the stunning coastal views Cornwall and the rest of the UK have to offer.

Among his stops, Mr Stinson visited Bude and said he was pleased with the turn out he received, he said: “I had a good reception in Bude. I had arranged for those who wanted to join me on motorcycles to meet at the lock gate at 12 o’clock.

“I was so impressed to see around 25 bikes turn out for the occasion, it was fantastic.”

On day five of his trip, Mr Stinson told the Post he had experienced an electrical fault, but that this was the only major hiccup in an otherwise enjoyable trip, he said: “My motorcycle had an electrical fault, which is a bit more complicated to work out than other minor faults. It meant that on day five I was stuck in Morecambe of all places.

“I was obviously hopefully not to expect a problem like that but it can’t be helped. Other than that the bike didn’t miss a heartbeat.”

On July 14, Mr Stinson was riding his motorcycle around Scotland before heading back on his way down to Cornwall.

Of that day’s ride he said: “Possibly one of the most beautiful bike rides of the journey along the coast line. I just kept smiling all day, and found it hard to keep riding as I just wanted to stop and enjoy it.”

Along his journey he also visited many war memorials, whish were situated along the route.

On July 26, Mr Stinson stopped off at Kingsbridge at Torcross, Slapton Beach, to see a US Sherman Tank, which took part in the D-day practice, which is displayed there.

Mr Stinson said: “This whole area was taken over my the military and all the locals had to leave their homes.

“Once again such a beautiful place now and one that played a big part in the Second World War.”

Mr Stinson’s long trek around the UK’s coastline took him to some of the most beautiful places the UK has to offer.

Along the route he kept an updated Facebook page with images from the different stages of his trip. He set off on July 2, and the entire journey lasted 28 days, finishing on July 30.

Mr Stinson said that although it was a long trip he ‘thoroughly enjoyed it’, he added: “My GPS tracker gave a reading of 4,404.1miles, which I was pleased to have covered in 28 day, I would have like to do it a bit quicker but at the same time I had really wanted to enjoy the ride, which I did.

“Some days I was riding on my motorcycle for six, eight, even up to ten hours. Some of those were long old days but I had to do that initially to make up time.

“I am amazed at the fantastic support I received along the way, not only from my support team but from members of the public. It has been a really great experience and I want to thank all those who helped donate and support me and the charities in any way.”

To view Mr Stinson’s entire journey and the progress he made over the 28 days visit the Facebook page that he updated daily at www.facebook.com/Metisse-Charity-Rideout-282127272120625

So far Mr Stinson has raised £2,507, with roughly an extra £880 raised from collections. There is still time to donate as Mr Stinson’s Virgin Money Giving page will be active until the end of the month, to donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ColinStinson