London 2012 Olympic Torch: 138 miles, 128 people, 12 hours, one wrong turn

Thousands turned out to cheer on proud torchbearers taking the Olympic flame on its journey from the south-west coast yesterday.

From Hollywood film stars through to charity workers, no fewer than 128 people bore the flame as it wound its way north from Stranraer to Glasgow, a trip of 138 miles, over the course of more than 12 hours.

The torch’s journey began amid inauspicious weather forecasts, with heavy rain having lashed much of Scotland overnight. The people of Stranraer, however, were undeterred. Around 3,000 turned out in the port to enjoy bagpipe music and a procession of flags from each of the 200 countries taking part in the London Games.

At about 6am, the first torchbearer, Ross McClelland, set off from the Castle of St John. The Ayr-born soldier, from A Company 2 Scots, recently returned from a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. During his time in Lashkar Gah, he had to treat a comrade whose leg was blown off when he stepped on a bomb.

Cheers went up as he carried the flame through streets packed with crowds standing three or four deep.

Speaking afterwards, the 20-year-old said: “I’m still on a high right now. My big sister nominated me when I was in Afghanistan. I do a lot of running in the army and she thought it would be right up my street.”

His mother, Dianne, was in the crowd, holding up a banner that read “Ross Our Olympic Hero”. She said: “I can’t tell you how proud I am. He deserves today. We all deserve it because it was such a relief getting him home.”

The soldier passed the torch to Doreen Bowie, 62, the principal of Stranraer’s Wallace School of Dance. She was flanked by a group of children from the school, each bearing their own impressive hand-made torches.

It was the second time Ms Bowie had got her hands on the Olympic flame – she was picked to carry it off the ferry from Northern Ireland and on to Scottish soil on Thursday night.

After leaving Stranraer, the torch was carried on by the likes of sports coaches and charity workers to Cairnryan, Ballantrae, Girvan and Turnberry, the colourful scenes continuing in the streets of the rural communities.

En route from the fishing village of Maidens to Kirkoswald, there was a moment of drama when the procession took a wrong turn and started going down the incorrect road. The convoy quickly realised their mistake, however, and got back on track within minutes. One police outrider slipped and fell as the group turned around, but was uninjured.

As the flame made its way through Ayrshire, there were vibrant scenes in Alloway as crowds gathered to watch it being handed over at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Kirsty Kane, 17, from Saltcoats, carried it through the town. She was nominated due to her courage and determination in dealing with cerebral palsy.

In front of the museum, she passed the flame to Olympian Suzanne Otterson, 38, from Ayr, who represented Great Britain in figure skating at the Albertville Winter Olympics in 1992.

On the torch went, each new bearer beaming with delight as they held it aloft in Ayr, Kilmarnock, Lochwinnoch and Port Glasgow.

As the afternoon wore on, the flame neared Glasgow as it entered Rutherglen. Rain began to fall, but while it was heavy for a time, it dried up as the relay entered the city centre.

Actor James McAvoy and Olympic curler Rhona Martin were among those who carried the flame towards George Square, along with urban cyclist Danny MacAskill, who performed a wheelie as he passed Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The crowd in George Square grew steadily after the gates opened at 2pm, where festivities included music from Eliza Doolittle, Emeli Sandé and General Fiasco. The torch arrived at about 7:30pm.

Onlookers were treated to dance performances from Scottish Ballet and Gaelic community groups, interspersed with countdowns to the torch’s arrival. It is thought some 16,000 people attended the event.

Sandé, who grew up in Alford, Aberdeenshire, spoke of her joy at being back in the city where she was a student.

“It feels really exciting being back in Scotland,” the 25-year-old said. “I studied here for about five years, so it’s so nice to come back to Glasgow. And I can feel the excitement here.”

The torch is touring Scotland for the next seven days, taking in some of the UK’s farthest-flung places, including Orkney and Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides. A total of 8,000 people will carry the flame during its 8,000 mile, 70-day journey around Britain and on to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London on 27 July.

For more information on where and when these will occur, visit bankofscotlandlondon2012.co.uk/In-your-community.

Olympic Torch Relay - Blazing a trail across Scotland

June 9, Day 22: Glasgow, Bearsden, Clydebank, Dumbarton, Luss, Tarbet, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Glencoe, North Ballachulish, Fort William, Spean Bridge, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston, Lewiston, Drumnadrochit, Inverness

June 10, Day 23: Kirkwall, Lerwick

June 11, Day 24: Stornoway, Inverness, Aviemore, Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Tomintoul, Crathie, Ballater, Dinnet, Aboyne, Kincardine O’Neil, Banchory, Drumoak, Peterculter, Bieldside, Cults, Aberdeen

June 12, Day 25: Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Marykirk, Hillside, Montrose, Brechin, Forfar, Meigle, Coupar Angus, Woodside, Burrelton, Balbeggie, Scone, Scone Palace, Perth, Abernethy, Newburgh, Cupar, Dairsie, Guardbridge, Leuchars, Dundee

June 13, Day 26: St Andrews, Milnathort, Kinross, Crook of Devon, Alloa, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Stirling, Cumbernauld, Larbert, Camelon, Falkirk, Skinflats, Cairneyhill, Crossford, Dunfermline, Hopetoun House, Broxburn, Edinburgh

June 14, Day 27: Edinburgh, Duddingston, Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Lasswade, Loanhead, Bilston, Milton Bridge, Penicuik, Eddleston, Peebles, Innerleithen, Walkerburn, Selkirk, Galashiels, Earlston, Gordon, Greenlaw, Duns, Chirnside, Foulden, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Bamburgh, Alnwick