A BAFTA award-winning actor has included his saunter through Sanquhar in the next series of a popular BBC programme which explores the country’s most beautiful walks.

River City star Ian Robertson will pass through the village while on a 215-mile coast-to-coast jaunt of the Southern Upland Way in the first episode of Ian Robertson Rambles, airing next week.

Joined by ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant and Holby City actor, Joe McFadden, Ian sets out their plan to trek from the Irish Sea at Portpatrick, up through Galloway Forrest Park, past Sanquhar, over the Dalveen Pass and up by Traquair and Melrose to complete the 215-mile walk to Cockburnspath by the North Sea.

In a preview clip, the soapstar, who is best known for playing Stevie O’Hara, tells viewers: “Joe and I are offsky out of Portpatrick and we’ve got 13.6 miles ahead of us... and hopefully when we get to Castle Kennedy, we get a look at the gardens there which are supposed to be beautiful.

“Isn’t Portpatrick bonnie?”

Stumbling across the Ailsa Craig, Ian said: “That’s gorgeous, that. I honestly wasn’t expecting so early in the walk to come down to something like this.”

“Long may it continue”, Joe adds.

Residents got to rub shoulders with Ian the adventurer while on his travels, including those at Nith Valley Embroidery who met him after he popped in to pick up some essentials. At the time, one employee told the Chronicle: “He bought a couple of t-shirts and told us he was doing the Southern Upland Way and wanted some spare ones.

“He then bought a Sanquhar pattern face mask which is made in store by Carrottopdesign.”

Tune in at 8.30pm on Thursday, January 6.