Lagganlia Centre for Outdoor Learning has been part of my life for over 40 years. Throughout 2024, I plan to travel from its origins in Edinburgh to Lagganlia. Starting at the city’s Outdoor Learning Centre, Bangholm I will cross Scotland to Benmore Outdoor Learning Centre in Argyll before navigating north to Lagganlia in the Scottish Highlands. Each section will use only activities that the centres offer such as biking, walking, canoeing and sailing. As much as possible, I will avoid tarmac roads and I hope friends and family will join me for many sections.

Along the way, I will share my experiences of the journey and also reflections and stories from my 40+ years at Lagganlia, through my instagram account @roadtolagganlia.

The journey, I hope, will raise awareness of the benefits of Outdoor Learning, particularly at Lagganlia, and raise funds for ‘Friends of Lagganlia’; a charity established to support disadvantaged young people to participate in their schools residential outdoor learning experience. Without support, these children would be left behind at school and be excluded from sharing the experiences of their classmates.

The challenge will be completed in stages with the first leg due to start by bike in February.

Update 14th Feb: The first stage of the @roadtolagganlia was successfully completed at the beginning of February with a cycle from Bangholm Outdoor Centre in Edinburgh to Benmore Outdoor Centre, around 100 miles over 3 days in challenging conditions. Thank you very much to all who donated! Stage 2 will involve a canoe trip, linking Loch Eck, Loch Fyne and Loch Awe with the land gaps filled in by bike. I hope to set off early March!