Purple Kelpies for John Muir Way

In the week that follows, events will take place across the Central Belt to honour the famous Scottish American environmentalist’s birthday and his namesake trail.

Ian Ross, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) chairman, said: “We have a great deal to celebrate after the successful first year of the John Muir Way. The trail was built so that people of any ability or fitness can enjoy it. You can walk a mile along the route near where you live – or walk the entire 134 miles. The route is an easy and enjoyable way for the 3 million people who live in the Central Belt to enjoy the outdoors every day by foot, bicycle, and even by horseback in some places. So why not let all the first anniversary events inspire you to get outdoors and get fit in 2015? It’s a wonderful way to get healthy and spend some time with your family and friends.”

The festivities include all kinds of activities, including a historic walk in Mugdock Park; an open day at Corstorphine Hill Tower, and open days at Shepherd House and Glenarn gardens, all taking place between April 18 to 26.

John Muir’s birthplace of Dunbar is a central spot for the celebrations, with events including a street art trail, a puppet animation festival, a John Muir for the wee ones event at John Muir’s Birthplace, and a fun event to explore the rockpools at Dunbar East Beach.

Falkirk is also a busy area for the celebrations, with a badger watch at Muiravonside Country Park; Toddling O’Clock, an event for toddlers, at Callendar House; a guided walk from Carriden Parish Church to Bo’ness; an open weekend at historic Kinneil House; and a Falkirk ranger-led, 11-mile walk along the John Muir Way from Banknock to Polmont with a stop at The Falkirk Wheel.

As well, Chance, an American ensemble celebrating John Muir through music, is bringing their narrative concert performance, John Muir - University of the Wilderness, to Scotland. They will be at Findhorn on April 18th; Musselburgh on the 19^th; Portree, Skye on the 21^st; Boat of Garten on the 23^rd and at the Tradfest in Edinburgh on May 2^nd. For more information, see www.chanceworld.com/scotland_tour .

Coinciding with The Kelpies one-year anniversary, on the 21^st of April an exhibition on local schools kids artwork celebrating The Kelpies and The John Muir Way will be unveiled by Kelpie artist Andy Scott. The artwork will be on display inside The Kelpies for three weeks afterwards for tour guests to admire. For more information, see www.thehelix.co.uk

For more information on the community events in each area, see http://bit.ly/1x024vr

The official website, www.johnmuirway.org, shows how popular the trail has been in its first year. People from all over the world – from the UK, the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia, and Sweden, to name a few – have spent time on the site. The website has had over 35,000 unique visitors spending about five minutes on each session.

One cyclist, who wrote to SNH after finishing the Way over two days, summed up the path well: “There’s so much variety on the ride: loved the West Highland Way part and also the area around South Queensferry. What a wonderful path and a great way to see so much of Scotland.”

The John Muir Way boasts some of the most beautiful coastal scenery, sweeping landscapes, wildlife sites and historic visitor attractions across Scotland’s heartland. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders can enjoy the rocky coasts of East Lothian where Muir played as a child, the dramatic Blackness Castle on the Forth, historic Linlithgow Palace, Roman hill forts on Antonine’s Wall, and the unique Falkirk Wheel boat lift, among other highlights.

The route is way-marked with John Muir Way signs, and a website (johnmuirway.org), book, leaflets and map will give people all the information they need to complete all or part of the trail.

John Muir was born in Dunbar in 1838, before emigrating to the United States in 1849. He helped save the Yosemite Valley in California, was a co-founder of The Sierra Club – one of the most influential grassroots environmental organisations in the USA – and successfully campaigned for national parks in America.

The John Muir Way was developed by SNH and was the concept of the Central Scotland Green Network Partnership Board. It’s designed to give people in the central belt the opportunity to engage with nature and gain a better understanding of Muir the man and his legacy.

ENDS