IT was billed as the Great Scottish Walk, but as the participants passed the finishing line, they could be forgiven for renaming it the Great Scottish Soak.
Biting winds and driving rain left thousands of walkers sodden and shivering at the end of the 12-mile trek in Edinburgh.
Twelve did not make it, and were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary showing early signs of hypothermia. Their body temperature had dropped significantly, resulting in violent shivering and disorientation.
An ambulance spokeswoman said: ''We were lucky that from over 2000 people we only dealt with 12 such cases.''
The 12 had recovered sufficiently to be discharged by last night. A further 19 walkers had to be treated for chillblains at the finishing line at Murrayfield Stadium.
A spokeswoman for Fife, Lothian and Borders Ambulance, said the majority of the 2000 participants were simply ill prepared. ''The cold and wet weather was just so unexpected. If it was two weeks ago, they would have enjoyed a nice leisurely stroll in the sun from Holyrood Park to the stadium.
''But as it was, they were caught unawares and we even had to taxi some of the wet walkers back home in our patient transport vehicles as they hadn't brought a change of clothing.''
The major charity event for the Marie Curie Cancer Research Foundation and Alzheimer's Scotland was organised by the Daily Record and Kwik Fit. While the cold snap may have dampened training shoes as well as spirits, the organisers said they were delighted with the turn-out of more than 2000 people.
Winds had reached 18 knots at the start of the walk and temperatures plummeted to 34F.
One of the participants, Edinburgh Lord Provost Eric Milligan, said: ''A hot bath and a wee bowl of soup certainly did the trick. I can honestly say that it could not have been a worse day in terms of the weather.''
Mr Milligan added: ''I salute the people who completed the walk but this is one I could not have changed.
''A lot of people enter politics because they think they are God, but I think this proves we cannot control everything, least of all the Scottish weather.''
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