‘Rise, winds of autumn, rise; blow upon the dark heath! Streams of the mountains, roar!’ A celebration of landscape and exploration of folklore and history within the scenery surrounding us.
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Join a walk to explore the importance of the oral tradition in the Highlands and learn how everything is connected to our landscapes. Experience Ossian’s bardic tales in their natural environment. Listen to history, tales, and Ossianic poetry, while looking at the scenery that surrounded the bards and storytellers. Think about the concept of Dùthchas, a feeling of belonging, understand, how the Ossianic stories generated a fascination with our Highland landscapes far beyond the Scottish borders and why all these stories still matter, today.
On this walk, you will hear stories and have a chance to share your own. You will also be encouraged to participate in a dialogue about our understanding of landscape, culture, and belonging.
There will be ample opportunities to express your understanding of the land in creative photography.
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Children: Children are very welcome to join. Please make sure, they are comfortable with the physical demands of the walk and are accompanied by an adult at all times.
Dogs: Friendly dogs are very welcome on these walks and they will likely be in the company of our Landscape Lore dogs, who usually come along on the adventure.
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Route Description and Accessibility: These walks usually cover approximately 5-7km and an ascent of 200-300m. We will walk through the foothills of the Monadhliaths and enjoy the views of hills, glens and valleys.
Please be aware that you will need sturdy footing and footwear, as the paths we take can be uneven, steep and rocky in parts.
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At an average fitness level, these walks would take about 2 hours, however, I always plan with some extra time, as we will be taking breaks to chat, take photos and share stories.
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In case of severe weather conditions, I reserve the right to change the route of the walk or cancel the event.
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What to bring: Please bring waterproof clothing, as well as sturdy shoes, and be aware that sections of the path can be rather boggy. I recommend some additional layers, as the weather in the Highlands can change very quickly and be unpredictable at times. Please also bring a protective cover for your camera, if needed and some snacks.