This year is the 10th aniversary of the John Muir Award, and this is something really special for a number of reasons. Firstly, I played a part in helping to get the Award established, and have been involved both professionaly and voluntarily ever since. And secondly, because my watershedepic and its Ribbon of Wildness theme has recently been acknowledged by the John Muir Trust with a special certificate of recognition. So both the Trust and the Award are very dear to me.
The stories of his great journeys are one of John Muir's most inspiring legacies, so what better way to celebrate this 10th aniversary than to have a Journey for the Wild here in the UK, which will involve hundereds of people who are passionate about wild places. You can find out all about this tremendous celebration by visiting www.jmt.org/programmes
I'm very honoured to been asked to be trustee for the East Journey – 20th July to 26th August; North Sea (off Aberdeen) to Ben Nevis. There are still a number of legs on this journey that have places availiable, and I'd be glad of some company on walking much of the route (whilst others paddle, sail or cycle). When it all gets underway, and the South journey starts on 22nd May, progress will be logged on the JMT website.
As a continuous ribbon of wildness meandering and evolving along the entire length of Scotland, the Watershed of Scotland is of immense value; it is almost unique.
The Watershed of Scotland is a line that separates east from west; that divides those river catchment areas which drain towards the North Sea on the one hand, and those which flow west into the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It’s a line that meanders from Peel Fell on the English border all the way to the top at Duncansby Head, near John O` Groats – over twelve hundred kilometers, through almost every kind of terrain; hill and mountain, field, bog and forest. The Watershed follows the high ground, and offers wide vistas down almost every major river valley, across moor and loch, towards towns and communities, into the heartlands of Scotland. Read more...