Over the Summer of 2022 I walked from mountain to sea, meeting, walking and talking with over 200 individuals and groups to discuss what Covid had meant to them all and hear about the impact this pandemic had in our communities. Taking inspiration from Aberdeenshire-born community planner Patrick Geddes, I walked from the top of Scotland’s second-highest mountain, Ben Macdui, to the port of Peterhead, passing Geddes' birthplace of Ballater, and connecting with many communities along the way.

The walk started early July and this 200km journey from mountain to sea was completed on 22nd August. Invited co-walkers along the way discussed their community and the impact Covid has had. At the end of each stretch, individuals and community groups came together over a cake or a meal to share their experiences of both pandemic and place with me. Along the way, I carried with me a specially printed tablecloth to initiate conversation over a fly cup and invited everyone along the way to sign it. With over 200 signatures so far, these, along with drawings people also contributed, are being embroidered onto the cloth, which we aim to exhibit once completed.

For more information about this project, see Live Life Aberdeenshire and Remembering Together.