Friends of the North Highland Way 1

The North Highland Way is well in hand, and now we truly join with Spain through the European World Trails network, focussing on the areas we know best, Chichlana de la Frontera, Andalucia and Asturias. We had a great meeting last Friday, and now as Treasurer of the European Trail Network as well as the World Trail Network, we look at trails outwith the Caminos and further to the south.. In Eye on Spain in fact. We hope this is OK with everyone. If not, just say and I will remove.

The North Highland Way has gone from nothing, not even maps, to a World Trail in 20 years. We may well celebrate in 2025 with another Caithness and Sutherland Walking Festival, so hope some of the Pilgrims will join us. We have task teams for education and tourism, and are looking forward to the next stage and putting the route on the map with Northern Ireland and Lincolnshire. The Way runs through the Geopark which is now a UNESCO site, and we look at the effects of the Sutherland Space Hub and the bridges which are difficult to traverse.

Would you like to become part of our new Travel Club. Individual businesses can send me their discount offers to me at tinadawnmarshall780@gmail.com

We have not only twinned with Spain through Ivar's hard work, but now we have twinned with the South West Path in England, thanks to World Trails. We are getting three bridges sorted out so there is more off road walking, cycling and horse riding. With this and our baggage handlers being more prominent, the north of Scotland is on a roll. Now, perhaps for the east coast. It is very dangerous to walk on the road there, so take care if walkers are coming our way.

What sort of food do the pilgrimage folk eat? Do they stop off at little bars and restaurants, or do they snacks and picnics? Do they eat healthily enough to sustain their walks. We are comparing what folk eat on our sister site in Scotland, and what differences there might be.

We are working away in the background on trying to get an integrated transport system with taxis, trains, buses, flights and ferries. It is not easy, as Ivar knows, with so many operators. At least we have a bag transfer system now, and soon we hope to have lockers at the some of the stations on the north coast of Scotland. However, not many of them even have buildings so difficult. We will keep you updated, and once you have done the Caminos, come and join us in the north...

We planned a pilgrimage to some of the churches in 2019 but never got round to writing them up. Churches and cathedrals visited were Kirkwall, Armagh, Lincoln and we even found one in Spain but not on the Caminos. I promise I will look it up and post here. We will be going to Lincoln in April, June and again in October, and no doubt will visit Lincoln again, if not walk some of the route.

British Pilgrims routes

Some years ago, we floated the idea of the "Camino of St. Brian" and St. Brian Arrowsmith. It is no doubt accurate that he was not a pilgrim as we know them, but he has been accepted here, so we are delighted.

Scotland and Spain are culturally linked, and those links get stronger with the forthcoming International Womens Day on 8th March 2024 Global Climate Change week from 14-18 October 2024. We continue our research on the route of the Spanish Armada, and have found links in Aberdeenshire and Fife. Of course, the route did go round Chichlana de la Frontera and we hope they will join us in our endeavours.

In February 2024, the North Highland Way achieved recognition from VisitScotland as a multi use route, so it is very high profile now. The Friends were delighted, and the developer is over the moon.