A group of British soldiers have completed a 340-mile canoe trip across Canada and the US, tracing the route travelled by their military ancestors who fought in two 18th-century North American wars.

Sixteen soldiers in the Royal Regiment of Scotland started their journey in Montreal on August 30, paddling south via Quebec's Richelieu River, Lake Champlain, Lake George and eventually the Hudson River, taking them to New York.

It was described by expedition leader Major Scotty Menzies as "part training exercise, part history lesson", with stops at historic sites where Scottish soldiers fought during the American revolution and the French and Indian war, part of the seven years' war.

The trip paid respect to hundreds of British soldiers along the way, including the Black Watch battalion that suffered more than 500 killed and wounded at Ticonderoga in July 1758 during the French and Indian War.

The group from the 6 Scots battalion met veterans, historians and military re-enactors and took part in commemorations around the 15th anniversary of 9/11.

The final leg of the journey saw the soldiers set off from Yonkers where they were expected to be met with a New York Police Department marine unit escort on to their finish at the USS Intrepid museum on Manhattan's west side.

A message on the group's Facebook page said: "With a strong tide we made it to the George Washington Bridge early. We took a break to take in the New York skyline in the distance as we waited for the NYPD harbour unit escort. However the escort failed to appear, likely due to another tasking, so we set off ourselves.

"After passing enormous cruise liners, making us feel insignificant, we arrived at USS Intrepid and were piped ashore at pier 84.

"After some photographs we sorted the canoes and boarded the Intrepid museum. We were then invited to attend the Remembering The Fallen unveiling ceremony onboard, to represent allied forces.

"This was the unveiling of a memorial to all service personnel killed on active duty since 9/11. We were introduced by the compere, a US Marine Lt Colonel, and were met with rapturous applause and thanks.

"The ceremony was extremely moving with several very inspirational speakers."