'Scotland's Watersheds', Peter Wright

Scotland's Watersheds: Peter Wright

 

This week we welcomed Peter Wright who provided an interesting and illustrated talk about his solo walk along the geographic watershed of Scotland. His 64 days of solitude with nature, inspired him to promote the Ribbon of Wilderness project involving the writing of three books entitled "Ribbon of Wilderness", "Walking with Wildness" and "Nature's Peace".

 

Peter left school at the age of 14 and, following a Liberal Studies course at Newbattle Abbey College, he pursued a career in youth work. He was one of the founders of Youth in Trust within the National Trust for Scotland and was awarded the George Waterston Memorial Award for this valued contribution. For 20 years he managed the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the Edinburgh area and was awarded the MBE for this work. With environmental youth work being close to his heart he also created the award winning Green Team, of which he is now honorary patron, and played an active part in the early development of the John Muir Award. Indeed, his third book "Nature's Peace", provides a colour portrait of the landscapes of the Watershed and was published last year in recognition of the John Muir Centenary. 

 

In starting his talk Peter asked us to consider being a raindrop landing on Scotland and to contemplate our journey via bog, burn, loch and river to either the North Sea or the Atlantic Ocean depending on what side of Scotland the raindrop falls. With the aid of wonderful photography Peter transported us visually on his 1200 km journey along the Watershed from Culter Fell in the Southern Uplands via the Pentlands, Campsie Fells, Glen Etive, Ben Alder, Achnasheen and ending at  Duncansby Head in Caithness providing interesting and anecdotal accounts of his solo adventure. In support of his notion of continuous wildness and the many varied and hostile habitats encountered, Peter gave examples of the impact of man's intervention through sheep farming and our insatiable demand for wind turbines and opined that, in harmony with these activities, such natural wildness must be protected and enhanced. In closing, Peter recalled his memorable stay at Crask Inn, near Lairg, which offers a rustic refuge in the middle of nowhere. He recalled, during his brief stay, that his call to nature outside the Inn was alarmingly interrupted by the loud bark of a stag, full view of which he captured on the adjacent moonlit landscape.  

 

Andy Howard thanked Peter for his interesting talk and for sharing his wonderful photographs.