The Book That Captured Chris Townsend`s Imagination

In the March issue of TGO (The Great Outdoors) magazine, you will find an excellent article by Chris Townsend, in which he tells that whilst browsing in a bookshop he came across a new book that `looked intriguing`, and goes on to say that he found it `quite thrilling`.
He picks up on the originality in my defining the Watershed for the very first time, and on the rationalle used to do so - a geographic rationalle.
His main interest in Ribbon of Wildness though, is in the potential that it holds for inspiring The Watershed of Scotland as an entirely new long distance route for walkers and backpackers - with no waymaring, he stresses. So whether someone wanted to tackle the whole 1,200km, or simple get a lot of pleasure from walking shorter sections of it, Chris is clear that it has much to offer.
Finally, he focusses in on the environmental and landscape content of Ribbon of Wildness, and finds the argument about its` distinctive wildness entirely convincing.
So this article by Chris Townsend has come at an excellent time, not only in raising awareness about the book, but in highlighting much that it has to offer `lovers of wild places`.

Talks, Sales and Events

Since its` publication last September, Ribbon of Wildness has met with a great respone - some excellent reviews and comments (see www.ribbonofwildness.co.uk); it has indeed been well received.
Sales are good, and it is to be found in many local bookshops, Waterstones, Blackwells, and on-line. Still to crack thogh are the books sections of key outdoor shops. Some 400 copies have been sold, to date.
I`ve given a number of talks and taken part in a variety of events. With some form of display as backdrop, I find that there is no shortage of people who are keen to find out more, and discuss it. 2011 look like being the `Year of Talks` though, with about 25 already confirmed or well on the way to being so. Book and walking festivals, learned societies, local interest organisations, schools and colleges, local bookshops - the variety of interest and demand is seemingly endless. All very encouraging, with plenty of scope for more, and in 2011 I won`t be chargeing any fee!

Two favourite quotes from the reviews are:
`No other journey through Scotland can give so sublime a sense of unity - a feeling of how the Nation`s various different landscapes link together to form a coherent whole`. The Scotsman
And `Peter Wright has done lovers of wild places a great service in providing the first comprehensive description of the Watershed`. TGO

First Review and more

You might like to visit The Scotsman newspaper online - there you`ll find the first review of Ribbon of Wildness, in last Saturday`s issue. See what you think - I`m well pleased with it.
Then there will be STV this coming Wednesday from 5.00 - 6.00.
And Glasgow members group of Scottish Wildlife Trust on the same evening.
Waterstone`s now has it on the shelves, and of course Amazon is doing a roaring trade.
Murrayfield Rotary has me to look forward to.
The Scottish conference of The Duke of Edinburgh`s Award will be seeing a bit of me as book sales person.

So you see, I`m ready and willing!

The Grand Linear Launch - 5th September

With the book appearing from the printer on Friday 3rd, the scene was set for the big launch on Sunday 5th September.
Over 70 people gathered at lunchtime in the very grand setting of the City of Edinburgh Council`s main Council Chamber. Erin had produced a very professional Powerpoint to illustrate what was happening, and who was involved. Dave was chairing the event. Twelve small groups of people - friends, family and supporters, were at the ready, on the tops of hills spread the entire length of Scotland from the English Border to Duncansby Head.
Robin Harper MSP, who has written the foreward to the book, welcomed everyone, and gave a short appealing introduction.
Over the next hour or so the phonelink to those who were on the hill tops was activated, the Powerpoint took the audience on a visual journey along the Watershed, I gave a series of short readings from the book,and this was interspersed with question and comment.
Ribbon of Wildness - Discovering the Watershed of Scotland, was duly launched amid rousing applause, to what is hoped will be an inquisitive and receptive public.
Some 80 copies were sold and signed there in the City Chambers.

Edinburgh Internatioanl Book Festival

It was a sellout!
On 25th August, the Peppers Theatre in the Book Festival in Charlotte Square was packed with people ready to hear more about both my Ribbon of Wildness, and Emma Wood`s Plague Peatbogs and Potatoes. Both of us presented an outline of our books, then the proceedings were thrown open to questions. There were no awkward silences!
All in all, and excellent public introduction to Ribbon of Wildness - it augeres well for the future.

Book Festival Sellout

Yes, the Edinburgh International Book Festival event on 25th August involving Ribbon of Wildness was a sellout - a few folk were unable to get in. The feedback received has been very positive, with many `congratulations`, some talk of `enthusiasm coming across, loud and clear`, the observation of having `whetted the appetite, your book will get into many homes`, and even `a remarkable journey, by a remarkable man`. So all in all Ribbon of Wildness got a good first airing (even if it wasn`t actually in print at the time).
Simultaneously, www.ribbonofwildness.co.uk went live. This graphically illustrated website presents more information about the book, the watershed, the epic walk, and the proposed Ribbon of Wildness Trust. A visit would be well worthwhile.
And Sunday 5Th September will see upwards of 70 people in the very grand City Chambers in Edinburgh at lunchtime, taking part in a highly original event. For they Will be joined by phone link with 12 small groups of passionate supporters on strategic tops running the entire length of Scotland. Places are still available - email Pam.Waugh@theawardinedinburgh.org - immediately. And its free!
So Ribbon of Wildness - Discovering the Watershed of Scotland is receiving a big start in life, as the book which may transform the way we see, understand, and experience much of the landscape of Scotland.

Countdown

The final proofreading is taking place today - maps have been produced, design options for the cover done, and choices made. So it should all go off to the printers by close of business today. The new Ribbon of Wildness website is well on its way to going live too - later this week or early next.

There are still a few spaces left in the Linear Launch for Ribbon of Wildness on Sunday 5th Sept in the very grand City Chambers in Edinburgh. Drop me an email (see last blog) if you and your pals would like an invitation.

The Longest Linear Launch in Living Memory

Invitations are now being sent out for the big Launch event. If you would like to be there, help launch the book - and take part in an unusual happening, please email Peter.Wright@ribbonofwildness.co.uk.

Linear Launch - Help Wanted

Plans for the grant Linear Launch on 5th September are coming along well. Lunchtime in the City Chambers, Edinburgh, with up to 15 groups of supporters out there on the hills, ready to do their bit to help launch Ribbon of Wildness.
Now I`m getting down to the nitty gritty! Urgently looking for someone to help with the technical side of things. So I`m on the hunt for for an eager volunteer who has plenty of savvy about phone systems, who can also source (scrounge) the necessary equipment. The system will need to be able to recieve and hold more than one mobile call at a time, and then be linked up to some form of P.A system in the hall.
I`ll also need someone with good telephonist/call centre skills to opperate the system.
Not asking for much, eh!
Anyone out there who can help?
I`d love to hear from you.

The Great Linear Launch on 5th Sept

I`m still looking for some small groups to take part in a few of the remaining locations:
Ben Tee in the Great Glen
Ben Attow (or Fhadda)
Ben Hee in the far North West
Duncansby Head
Around 1.00p.m on Sunday 5th September.

Any takers?

The other 11 locations are now pretty much spoken for.

contact: wright.pete@hotmail.co.uk

No crowds on Ettrick Pen

Yes, I spent about 6 hours up on the southern part of `the Ettrick Horshoe` on Monday. Good views - The Cheviot, Lakeland Fells, Solway, Criffel, Galloway Hills, and so on right round to The Eildons and Tweed valley. Good dry walking with hardly a bog in sight. Now remember, this was on Bank Holiday Monday, and the weather was fine - so imagine my surprise that I saw not a single soul until I got back down to the read. Where have all the walkers gone?

Off to the hill with two names.

Forecast for Sunday and Monday in the Border Hills is good. Its the holiday weekend. I`m desperate to pick up where I left off last year, at Ettrickhead. So come Sunday I`ll be off to Over Phawhope Bothy for the night, then up on to `The Pen of Eskdalemuir`, now more commonly known as Ettrick Pen. Brilliant.

Ribbon of Wildness - the Long (linear) Launch

1. Edinburgh International Book Festival - Wednesday 25th August at 11.00. The first appearance of Ribbon of Wildness.
2. Sunday 5th September around noon - the formal big long launch.
Central event in Edinburgh (venue to be decided) - all welcome.
Groups of supporters and well wishers at 15 locations spread the entire length of the Watershed - mobile phones at the ready. As follows, from south to north:
Peel Fell (602m) on the Border
Ettrick Pen (692m) Southern Uplands - Jono Ellis and the Borders Exploration Group.
Craigengar (519m)south Pentlands - Penny Radway and family(s) plus Green Team party.
Carleatheran (480m) Campsies - Elric Honore and party
Ben Lomond (974m) western side of Loch Lomond
Stob Ghabhar (1,090m) Black Mount - Kate Dix and Venture Scotland party.
Ben Alder (1,131m) Central Highlands
Ben Tee (901m) Great Glen
Ben Attow (1,032m) Kintail
Sgurr Choinich (999m) West Monar - James Wright and MBA party.
Sgur Mor (1,110m) The Fannichs
Seana Bhraigh (927m) or Conival (949m) - Kenneth Wright and party.
Ben Hee (873m) west of Crask
Carn an Feidh (730m) s.w end of Ben Klibreck - Jim Shedden and party.
Duncansby Head (63m) overlooking `the strait of the land of the Picts.

So, 7 locations covered as of 9th April - 8 still to be bagged!
Contact: wright.pete@hotmail.co.uk

Your chance to take part in one of the more innovative book launches in recent years, and to help convey `Message from the Wild` (thats the current working title).

Of a clear coast, and a set stage.

Following on from the very positive meeting with the Luath Press team, the coast is now clear, and the stage is set, to get down to organising the fairly innovative `linear launch` of Ribbon of Wildness on 5th September. Now that may seem like its a long way off, but the plan is certainly ambitious and will involve a fair number of people. So it needs to be good - it needs to work!

So. . . .

Watch this space. Keep the date clear (please), be prepared to get your boots ready for action, and have some fuel for your stove to hand. Oh, and you might need some for your car too.

Jings! Things are all of a sudden much more real - its moved on from being an idea, a bit of research, and hours spent on the computer, to something tangible at last. The draft Information Sheet has been sent to me by the publisher. And. . . It includes the first draft of the book cover. Amazing.
Just about to set off for a meeting with the publisher. Brilliant.

Watch this space.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival

Here`s a date for your diary - Wednesday 25th August @ 11.00 in the Peppers Theatre. Thats when and where Ribbon of Wildness will have its first airing. So I guess I`ll have about 25 minutes to say a bit, read a bit, and enthuse a bit. The co-presenter will be Emma Wood, with her `Peatbogs, Plague and Potatoes`.

So get ready to book your seat(s) at this auspicious event! The Book Festival programme wil be out in due course, and booking arrangements advertised. A full-house would be very encouraging.

And then there wil be the formal launch in early September . . .

Final Edit!

Getting nearer, but not quite there yet!
Yes, I spent 3 days last week, refining, checking, reviewing, corretcting and even editing, but its not quite done yet. I`m pretty pleased with all that I`ve written -currently standing at about 86,000 words. The notion that `more is better` does not hold true here, so just adding more words to expand a point, or develop something new, would seem to be a bad idea. So I resolved to add no more.
Now I`m down to the finer points of punctiuation. This will make quite a difference to the flow and sense of it, so it will be worth the time and effort.
Guess what I`ll be doing this weekend?

About to embark on (what I hope will be) the final edit of the text - have set aside a few days, which I will spend in rural seclusion. Log cabin, wood-burning stove, laptop, pot of coffee and no distractions. Its almost as daunting as the day I set off on the long walk in January 2005. This time the thoughts are less about the unknown of what lies ahead: more about whether I`ve got this right. And the occasional thought of what the buying public, if there are any/many, will make of it. Too late now for any major changes. Each time I read the text, I`m pleasantly surprised with what I have written; thats a good indicator. So enough of this pondering - time to look out for typos, missing commas, mis-spellings of all those gaelic mountain names, and any contradictions or repatitions. Down to business on monday.