Teen breaks world record to support SCAA

Rory Downie has broken the world record for the most castles visited in a single week by bike, smashing the current record by nine. The 16-year-old spent six days cycling about 480 miles across the north-east.

Rory was aiming for more than just a world record, also hoping to highlight Aberdeenshire’s rich history, promote cycling as a sport and raise money for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance. Donations on Rory’s fundraising page combined with those he has been given along the way have taken him over his £5,000 target.

Starting from Braemar on Monday, he pedalled between the region’s most iconic and lesser known castles. He visited a total of 76 castles, with his dad James a consistent 16ft behind him as per Guinness World Record regulations. Castle owners welcomed them along the way and were encouraging of their mission, with many waving them off with more donations in hand. Brodie Castle in Moray was the final castle to be checked off on Saturday afternoon, then it was straight to granny’s nearby for a well-earned dinner and bed.

Speaking about the amount he has raised, he said: “It feels amazing, it really does."

“We met SCAA and it was amazing to see how such a small team does so much for the community, not even just locally either but all the way up to Orkney.”

Mr Downie said he was “very proud” of his son for completing the feat.

“I’m really chuffed, I’m delighted,” he said. “I followed Rory for all of the trip, it’s a long distance to go and there were times he probably wasn’t feeling 100%, but with a bit of resilience and determination he pulled through.”

If you'd like to do something amazing to support SCAA, just click here.