Unmapped places of the Cairngorms: stories from a living landscape

A walking workshop to collect the ‘living’ placenames of the high Cairngorms, as used by you – hill-goers, local residents, mountain enthusiasts – but which aren’t on any maps or recorded in any way. This workshop will be delivered by Sarah Hobbs. Please bring footwear and clothing suitable for a 1-2km walk.


This project will map, record and eventually share placenames used by many different folk who live or work in the hills, and the corresponding stories behind them. Aiming to highlight ongoing and varied human connections with mountain habitats in the Cairngorms, the project will create a snapshot of a point in time as the climate and land use changes.


Who it’s for: Anybody who lives, works or plays in the Cairngorm Mountains (the high hill ground), and who may have their ‘own’ names for places – from individual memories, to names made up by families or social groups.


What to expect: 2 hours max – a mix of outdoor walking (2km max, on accessible paths) and indoor mapping.


This workshop has been made possible with funding from the Cairngorms Trust and the Scottish Government in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.