The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

NEWS

West Highland Way

gets a new start

WALKERS EMBARKING on
Scotland’s most popular
multi-day trail will in
future be seen off in style,
following the installation
of a unique public artwork
at the start of the West
Highland Way.
The irst oficially
designated long-distance
path in Scotland, the West
Highland Way runs for
96 miles (154 km) from
the town of Milngavie in
East Dumbartonshire
to Fort William in the
Scottish Highlands.
Walkers from around
the world converge on
Milngavie to embark on
the Way every year, but
until now a tarmac ramp
and blank gable, leading
through a service yard,
made for an inauspicious
start to the walk.

The new installation

marking the beginning of

the route was designed

by architects Page \ Park,

and commissioned by

community group 

Milngavie Business

Improvement District.

Architect David Wyllie

from Page \ Park told The

Great Outdoors: “Landmarks

populating the route have

been cut from Corten

Steel panels, and are

interspersed with 96

timber posts, one for each

mile of the walk.

“A large welcome panel

with two walkers pointing

the way offers a photo

opportunity for people

setting off on the Way.”

The landmarks

pictured in the panels are

Dumgoyne, Conic Hill, the

ospreys at Inchcailloch, Ben

Lomond, Rob Roy’s Cave,

the West Highland Railway,

Bridge of Orchy, Buachaille

Etive Mor, the Devil’s

Staircase and Ben Nevis.

The artwork was

installed in December and

will be oficially launched

with a welcome event for

the local community on

27 April. David Wyllie said:

“This community project

has had tremendous

support from the local

authorities, businesses

and residents.”

Public artwork will be

oicially unveiled in April

Concept sketch from the project's

architects Page \ Park

Walkers check out the

new panels in Milngavie

Spring 2019 The Great Outdoors 17