Highland Walking Project Heads For New Heights

A Highland walking project has successfully secured a £200,000 grant from the Active Futures Big Lottery Fund to run an exciting health and personal development programme with groups of women aged between 16 and 25.

The “Wild Walks” is an ambitious three year project which aims to take a group of young women from the Highlands to the foothills of Mount Everest.

The young women involved will progress from local walks through to trans-Scotland expeditions and beyond, gaining confidence, learning new skills and improving their fitness as they go.

As participants step out to tackle the challenges of each walk, they will be working towards a range of qualifications and awards such as the John Muir and Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards and nationally recognised Mountain Leader and walking qualifications.

The project will be managed by a partnership consisting of White Mountain Dreams (based at Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore), The Highland Council, the Highland Award Partnership and the local Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

Project Manager, Issie Inglis, who runs White Mountain Dreams said:  “This is an exciting and inspiring project which offers unique challenges.  It will stretch participants to their limits but with training and new confidence I believe all the goals are achievable.

“We are now looking for young women from communities across Highland to become involved. We are not looking for currently active and competent outdoor enthusiasts but we want young women, who might never have considered taking a walk but who will see this as a chance to do something special and make a difference to their lives and health to apply.”

If you know of women from your community who fit the description and might be interested in such a venture please let us know by writing to Issie Inglis at WMD, Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore, PH22 1QU.

“but that a woman’s reach should exceed her grasp or what’s a heaven for?”