The Olympic flame arrives in Britain on Friday and is due to get to Scotland on June 8th, starting its journey around the country at Stranraer, at a very precise 6.08 am.

Over the following seven days it will travel around the country, from Scotland’s most remote islands to its busiest cities, carried by more than 500 torch-bearers - some celebrities, some overseas visitors, but mostly representatives from the local communities, who have been nominated by friends, family and colleagues, and have their own remarkable stories to tell.

Below is a guide to where the torch will travel, with a selection of profiles of some of the individuals who will carry it. All maps c/o www.london2012.com

Day 1, Friday, June 8 (day 20 of the UK route)

Stranraer to Glasgow (via Girvan, Ayr and Kilmarnock)

A torchbearer: Harry Waugh, 67, from New Luce, will carry the flame through Cairnryan.

Harry’s Olympic nomination letter: I met Harry in the local pool and although I have been a swimmer for years I had no idea that I had the potential he saw in me.

He used his expertise to help me to train for 3 years to achieve an unbelievable goal. For my 50th birthday I swam from Ailsa Craig to Girvan beach which is about 11 miles but ended up being 17.5 miles due to adverse tides, Harry was beside me the whole way in a fishing boat.

Harry stood on the beach for hours in all weathers while I trained sending me signals and encouragement. In his sea kayak he was by my side as we tackled challenging training swims. I raised over £13,000 for Alzheimer Scotland by listening to his endless ideas about fundraising to which he is no stranger. Harry is a community activist and an inspirational athlete he challenges himself and others to events and activities.

Last year he completed the 10 Tors challenge on Dartmoor as part of a team of men who were the first boys to tackle the challenge in their teens. Fearless and determined Harry inspires me to be the best and to achieve what seems out of reach. A loyal and loving friend I can't think of anyone more deserving to be part of the greatest sporting event in the world.

Day 2, Saturday, June 9 (UK day 21)

Glasgow to Inverness (via Dumbarton, Crianlarich and Fort William)

A torchbearer: Craig Jardine, 16, from Bishopbriggs, will carry the flame through Clydebank

Craig’s Olympic nomination letter: Two and a half years ago Craig suffered a traumatic experience when he severely broke his arm and elbow. He had to wait for 48 hours before the necessary intricate surgery was performed and now has 2 metal plates, 5 pins and copious metal wire in his arm to hold the bones in place again.

Devastated at being told he would probably not play sport again, Craig was determined to prove the doctors wrong and through hard work and sheer determination to succeed he has successfully returned to team rugby and golf and is able to go to the gym

His interest in sport continued to grow and through his involvement with Young Scot he is now a Commonwealth Games Youth Legacy Ambassador. His role is to encourage and promote participation in more sports leading to a healthier nation so to be part of the Olympic celebration too, by being a torch bearer, would be a fantastic and rewarding experience for him.

Day 3, Sunday, June 10 (UK day 22)

Inverness to Lerwick


 

A torchbearer: Mark Wylie, 45, from Lerwick in Shetland, will carry the flame through Lerwick

Mark’s Olympic nomination letter: Mark has been inspiring thousands of children in local sport for 27 years, first as an athletics coach then as a trampoline coach and now in gymnastics.

He has developed the sport of trampolining in the Isles from scratch and played huge part in developing gymnastics in Shetland again from scratch, both sports now boast hundreds of children participating.

During this whole period he has given up annual leave from work to take young children to the mainland for national and international competitions. He has produced two national champions from such a small island. Mark has been instrumental in bringing various Olympic gymnasts to the isles for inspirational visits including World Champion Beth Tweddle.

Mark has been busy with charity work also, leading a team of volunteers to Zambia to work in schools and introduce them to gymnastics. He was also project coordinator of a team of volunteers who raised money to travel and work in various orphanages in Romania. Mark would be an ideal representative for Shetland and the UK to carry the torch and would be very proud to do so.

Day 4, Monday, June 11 (UK day 23)

Lerwick to Aberdeen (via Stornoway and Aviemore)

A torchbearer: Colin Wooley, 19, from Ellon, will carry the flame through Aberdeen.

Colin’s Olympic nomination letter: Colin is a student of Sports and Leisure at Aberdeen College. He suffers from autism and struggled with academic subjects throughout his school career, yet he worked his hardest to gain modest results while generously respecting and celebrating the success of others.

Colin pushes himself on through hard work and determination to achieve steps many would take for granted, but to him are hard earned. He enjoys all sports especially football, swimming and going to the gym and is building the skills and knowledge that will enable him to work one day as coach or trainer for others.

Colin lives up to the Olympic ideals - the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

Day 5, Tuesday, June 12 (UK day 24)

Aberdeen to Dundee (via Stonehaven, Montrose and Forfar)

Torchbearer: George Stewart, 92, from Scone, will carry the flame through Newburgh.

George’s nomination letter: George has twice been world doubles over-85 tennis champion. To this day George (in his ninety second year) is still a keen tennis player and still goes skiing in Scotland and in the Alps. Last year he was guest of honour at the dinner of the Ski Club of Great Britain. He is a very active member of two local tennis clubs and two bridge clubs.

Day 6, Wednesday, June 13 (UK day 25)

Dundee to Edinburgh (via St Andrews, Stirling and Dunfermline)

A torchbearer: Brian Wilkie, 64, from Mayfield, carrying the flame through Broxburn

Brian’s Olympic nomination letter: My dad Brian has been a professional middle distance runner all my life. When I was 7 my parents split up and a 2 year battle began over custody. Dad made us a promise that he would win Meadowbank 1600mtrs and that if he could do that then he would also win the custody fight for us. As I child thought he was superman anyway, but later that year he was awarded custody and has proved he is our super hero every single day since.

He has gone on to win Meadowbank and other races many times. He set up a running club in our area for deprived kids, coached Scottish and British champions as well as football players. He has never been paid a penny for this, he just loves running.

Recently my Gran died very suddenly and lately Dad has seemed sad, I would just like to put that spark back in his life and make him see how much we all love and care for him. He is truly an amazing person, please consider him to carry the torch.

Day 7, Thursday, June 14 (UK day 26)

Edinburgh to Alnwick (via Peebles, Selkirk and Berwick on Tweed)

A torchbearer: Claire Tattersall from Bo’ness will carry the flame through Edinburgh

Claire’s Olympic nomination letter: Claire was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 when she was only 20. At the time she was playing hockey to an incredibly high standard for Scotland and Great Britain. That all changed when her shoulder blade was removed.

Since then Claire has had 36 operations, a lot of treatment and she lives in constant pain; she is on morphine every day. However her attitude is amazing, she has been studying sports science and is setting up her own business for sports injuries.

Claire also set up a young person group at Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, so that young people like herself would have a place to turn and support whilst living with cancer. Claire could have played at the Olympics, carrying the torch will be her chance to shine.