Hello Friends of the John o’ Groats Trail,
It’s hard to believe this is the fourth year of our newsletter. We have several exciting projects underway in preparation for the spring walking season. As the weather improves and the bracken is still gathering strength, April-June is usually the best time to walk the trail. Hint: If you don’t have time to read the whole newsletter, just scan the headings at the beginning of each paragraph.
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Volunteer Day: We will have a volunteer day on 25 March at 11am to build a bridge at Ousdale. We need extra hands to help carry some heavy steel beams. The more we have the easier it will be. We already have 8 volunteers for the day, but more people will make it easier and go faster. Please let me know if you can come. We will meet on the day at 11am at Badbea car park. (Note the clocks change that Sunday morning: Spring Forward!)
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Guidebook: We will be printing a guidebook for the trail in a few days. I’m attaching a couple pages as examples. This is a draft to help our spring walkers navigate the trail. It’s soft cover and staple-bound and it will be your opportunity to own one of the first copies. If you would like to order one, please send me an email by this Tuesday 13 March, we will give priority to those who pre-order. We ask for a suggested donation of £10 for the guidebook itself. You will be able to collect it from a couple places along the trail. If you would like it posted to you, it’s an extra £5 for domestic post and £10 for international post, please.
The guidebook is written for walking north, but would still be useful to anyone walking south. All proceeds will go to pay for printing and postage, with the extra accepted as donations to fund improvements to the trail. To order a copy please reply to this email as soon as possible.
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Flyer: We are also producing a free flyer which you may begin to see in various shops and B&Bs along the trail. If you would like to display some yourself, or help distribute, please email us.
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Trail Festival: We are planning a walking festival to celebrate the trail the last weekend of May, Saturday the 26th through Monday the 28th. The Sunday walk will be from Helmsdale to Berriedale and will cross the new Ousdale Bridge which should be long finished by then, and will be followed by a celebratory dinner in Berriedale. More walks will be added. If you would like to walk or volunteer to help organise, please get in touch.
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Walkers update: We made considerable progress last year with stiles and bridges, and there are only about 5 barbed wire fences that you’ll need to struggle over. The trail is about half-marked, so you will still need a map, guidebook, or GPS to follow the route in many places, mostly on the road bits in the south. The bridge at Ousdale should be in place by April; watch the web site stage status page for updates.
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Membership: We are a member organisation according to our constitution. While membership isn’t required to volunteer or walk with us, members are eligible to vote at our AGM. It’s also a way to show your support for the trail. Member dues are £10 per year. If you would like to become a member, please contact us.
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Whatever your interest in the trail — walking, volunteering, providing services to walkers, or your organisation working with ours, please get in touch on walk@jogt.org.uk
Happy Trails!
Jay