A Millport man who went blind 12 years ago is working to establish a new charity which will offer people with sight loss subsidised holidays to the island.

Spindrift Holidays is being founded by Greg Christie, who lost his sight in 2010 due to a rare condition.

He will host visually impaired people at his own home, as well as activities and guides to make sure visitors have a tailored break to remember which caters for their needs.

He explained: “I know how devastating it can be for someone to lose their sight - one day it is sunny and the next it is black.

“We want to provide opportunities for people with sight loss to experience a wide range of activities not otherwise readily available to them.

“We will provide trained sighted guides to help visit Millport’s seasonal attractions, take part in island walks, go to art exhibitions and much more.

“Our team will offer tandem cycling, kayaking, hill walking, snorkelling, sailing and coastal walks on Millport’s sensory trails.

“There will also be in-house activities for those who prefer that to the great outdoors too, such as baking, arts and crafts and meditation. 

Greg hopes that people with visual impairments taking part in these holidays will enjoy a confidence boost after visiting.

He said: “I want to alleviate the depression which is known to affect most people with sight loss.

“While those with age-related conditions may get a boost from revisiting a lost skill.

“It is widely known that many people suffering degenerative sight loss conceal their condition due to embarrassment, leading to low self-esteem and inevitably poor mental health.

“This will be for the Millport community, which is known to have an ageing population, and people from further afield.”

Greg is hoping to transform Millport into a place with a reputation as a safe haven for the visually impaired.

He explained: “We have a long term vision of making Millport Scotland’s first visually impaired friendly town through training, mentoring and community champions.

“This will be enhanced by mobile phone apps and simple low-sight friendly signage, and in time coloured pavement lines.

“Our many visitors will be able to go into shops knowing there is a trained assistant ready and willing to deal with their requests with awareness and confidence.”

Greg is hoping to get his charity status in the coming months and work with established sight-loss charities to identify those most in need of a break.

He said: “I’m very excited at what we can achieve - it could be a wonderful thing for the island.”