From Mountain to Sea
A new path in search of hope & healing post-Covid in Aberdeenshire
Over two years, starting in summer 2022 I walked from mountain to sea across Aberdeenshire. Meeting, walking and talking with over 200 individuals and groups to discuss what Covid had brought to them. Taking inspiration from Aberdeenshire-born community planner Patrick Geddes, I walked from the top of Scotland’s second-highest mountain, Ben Macdui, to the port of Peterhead, passing Geddes' birthplace of Ballater, and connecting with many communities along the way.
The 220 km journey from mountain to sea invited co-walkers along the way to discuss the impact Covid has had on themselves, their families and communities. At the end of each stretch, individuals and community groups came together over a cake or a meal to share their experiences of both pandemic and place with me. Along the way, I carried a pink tablecloth to initiate conversation over a fly cup and invited folks along the way to sign it. With over 200 signatures so far, these are being embroidered onto the cloth.
To complement the route I was working with two other artists. Chris Nangle produced a series of handcrafted benches along the route. Fiddler Paul Anderson created a series of tunes for the different places, views and sentiments.
For more information about this project, see Live Life Aberdeenshire or visit my blog.
Downloadable map link. Contact me for a paper map.
Click here to see full interactive OS map. What to see on Mountain to Sea. Flowers on the route.
Album of tunes by Paul Anderson. Film by Paul Campbell.
Media: BBC Scotland Radio Outdoor I Hinterlands Magazine article attached here.
A Picture a Day below.
