JOHN MUIR WAY: INTRODUCTION.

 

Monday 21 April.

On the Scottish news this morning there was information about the opening today of a long distance walking trail from Helensburgh on the Clyde to Dunbar on the east coast. It was called the ‘Jim Muir Way’ and named after a pioneer of trails in American National Parks. He was a Scot and associated with Helensburgh and Dunbar before leaving for the States. Moira checked it out on the internet and ordered the guide book from Amazon. The first stage is from Helensburgh to Balloch, 15km, and we thought about tackling that part tomorrow. We will park the car at Balloch, get the bus to the start in Helensburgh and walk back. It should be a good day if the weather continues to hold up.

THE STORY OF THE JOHN MUIR WAY

            

In 2010, the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) agreed to create a new long distance route named after John Muir. This was the vision of its Chairman Keith Geddes, who proposed extending the original John Muir Way in East Lothian westwards across Central Scotland. The route was planned for completion in 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of John Muir’s death, Homecoming Scotland and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. SNH led the work with assistance from the 9 local authorities, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and other key bodies. The route symbolically links Dunbar (John Muir’s Birthplace) with Scotland’s first national park (Loch Lomond and the Trossachs) and with Helensburgh in the west, forming a coast to coast route. It provides an accessible and varied route, linking together the finest landscapes, countryside and places of interest, for anyone to use. The route links together core paths, other promoted routes, trails and cycleways, including the original John Muir Way in East Lothian. It can be cycled from end to end, and there are some opportunities for horse-riding. Its development will encourage many people to become more active, through doing the route either as a single journey, or in stages or sampled by day trips, improving their health, wellbeing and enjoyment of nature, and raising their awareness of John Muir whilst giving local economies a boost through visitor spend. This is one of CSGN's flagship projects demonstrating what can be achieved by effective partnership working.