Walking on the John Muir Way above Loch Lomond. Photo: Becky Duncan
Walkers are being invited to pull on their boots to mark the second anniversary of a long-distance trail.
Organisers of the celebrations for the John Muir Way said people could walk just a mile or the whole 134-mile route.
Events for the anniversary kick off on Saturday, with festivities continuing throughout the week in the Central Belt. The proceedings will honour the Scottish-American national park pioneer and his namesake trail.
Ian Ross, Scottish Natural Heritage chairman, said: “Many people have enjoyed walking and cycling the John Muir Way since it opened in 2014, with over 60,000 visitors a year.
“It’s a wonderful resource for people of any ability or fitness. You can walk a mile along the route near where you live, or walk the entire 134 miles. The route is an easy and enjoyable way for the 3 million people who live in the Central Belt to enjoy the outdoors.”
John Muir was born in Dunbar in 1838, before emigrating to the United States in 1849. He helped save the Yosemite Valley in California, was a co-founder of the Sierra Club – one of the most influential grassroots environmental organisations in the USA – and successfully campaigned for national parks in America.
The waymarked John Muir Way boasts coastal scenery, sweeping landscapes, wildlife sites and historic visitor attractions across Scotland’s heartland. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can enjoy the rocky coasts of East Lothian where Muir played as a child, the dramatic Blackness Castle on the Forth, historic Linlithgow Palace, Roman hill forts on Antonine Wall, and the unique Falkirk Wheel boat lift, among other highlights.
The route includes coastal scenery such as this at Dunbar. Photo: Becky Duncan
The anniversary festivities include a number across run by the charity Buglife. There will be a bumblebee walk in a wildflower meadow at Balloch Castle and Country Park in Dunbartonshire, bug walks at Lauderdale Park in Dunbar, a wildflower meadow discovery day at Kinneil Foreshore at Bo’ness, as well as other events in Helensburgh, Strathblane and the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens. Also on the schedule is a 12-mile walk along the John Muir Way, led by the Friends of Kinneil charity, from Kinneil House in Bo’ness to Blackness Castle on 16 April.
The John Muir Coast Festival from 22-24 April in East Lothian boasts the first-ever night golf event, an ultra-marathon, a free bike hire day and a wakeboarding competition, among other activities.
North Light arts are holding a workshop with the John Muir artist in residence, Kathy Beckett, on 23 April in Dunbar.
Following the week of festivities, John Muir himself, portrayed by Lee Stetson, will be walking the entire 134-mile route. Along the way, he will perform at a variety of venues, relating stories of his earliest years in Dunbar, his boyhood in the wilderness of Wisconsin, his adventures in the American West, and of his heroic battles to preserve wild lands.
Keith Geddes, chair of the Central Scotland Green Network Trust, developed the vision behind the route. He said: “The vision for the John Muir Way was to ‘bring John Muir home’ by honouring the Scots-born environmentalist and protecting his legacy for future generations.
Blackness Castle. Photo: Becky Duncan
“Two years on, it’s tremendous to see the route continuing to go from strength to strength, with thousands of people enjoying the outdoors and the recent opening of the new upland section linking the route at the Kilpatrick Hills.”
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, added: “The John Muir Way is a fantastic way to savour the Central Belt’s magnificent views, taking in some of the best of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.
“This exciting programme of events looks set to celebrate the second anniversary of the walking route in style with performances from John Muir himself, portrayed by Lee Stetson, sure to be a real highlight.”
More details are on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.
