Echoing Heath - Guided Walk Exploring History and Lore, from Kingussie

Echoing Heath - Guided Walk Exploring History and Lore, from Kingussie

Join us on a ca 2.5-3-hour guided walk in Kingussie to explore the history and lore of Echoing Heath!

27 followers
By Landscape Lore
27 followers
179 events hosted 📈

Select date and time

Tue, 6 May 2025 10:00 - 13:00 BST

Location

Kingussie

Kingussie PH21 United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

About this event

‘Rise, winds of autumn, rise; blow upon the dark heath! Streams of the mountains, roar!’

Event Description: Join a circular walk from Kingussie to explore stories and folklore from the Highlands. We will talk about the importance of the oral tradition, share stories of witches, fairies, clan-chiefs and all sorts of other historical and fantastical characters and learn how everything is connected to our landscapes.

Experience bardic tales in their natural environment, while looking at the scenery that surrounded the storytellers and characters. 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.


There will be ample opportunities for photography as well of course.

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 (If this poses a problem for you, please get in touch, so we can arrange for a dog-free walk).

Meeting Point: Kingussie, Ardvonie Car Park

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.


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.


In case of severe weather conditions, we reserve the right to change the route of the walk or cancel the event.


What to bring: Please bring waterproof clothing, as well as sturdy shoes, and be aware that sections of the path can be rather boggy. We 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.


For more walks and bespoke tours, please visit the Landscape Lore website: www.landscapelore.com or get in touch.

Tags

Organised by

Landscape Lore
27 followers
179 events hosted

Aila Schafer, who runs Landscape Lore, is a researcher and historian based in the Highlands. Having grown up and worked in various countries, she then studied European Literatures at Marburg and Durham Universities, before completing her MRes on ‘Landscape’s Constitutive Agency in Macpherson’s Ossianic Collections: The Liminal Sublime in Ossian’s Landscape’ at UHI. Subsequently, she became the curator of a small independent museum, where she embraced the museum space as a place for learning, curiosity and creativity. There, she developed a special exhibition on agentic nature in connection with the Ossianic Collections, and she created a cultural programme centred around oral and regional traditions.

Through her museum work, she started dealing with counter narratives and marginalised voices in exhibitions. Encouraged by this, as well as her continuing research on oral stories that have been kept alive by marginalised cultures, and her own heritage, she started Landscape Lore, offering tours and talks that embrace storytelling and its connection to the natural environment.