The written word of one of Scotland’s most iconic countryside explorers, authors and broadcasters, Tom Weir, have been brought to life by an HES apprentice stonemason.
Apprentice Lara Townsend was tasked with letter cutting a series of quotes drawn from Weir’s collection of articles, which featured in the Scots Magazine more than 50 years ago. Describing the wonders of Loch Lomond, Weir’s words were carefully marked out, cut and painted by Lara and Traditional Skills Officer Stephen Townsend onto two large, locally sourced slate slabs.
The completed slabs are now set to feature in Tom and Rhona Weir’s Mountain Garden on Loch Lomanside. This memorial garden project, named in honour of the late Tom Weir, who was best known for his red toorie hat and popular Weir’s Way television programme, is the latest addition to the Tom Weir’s Rest and Statue site.
The garden marks the completion of the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs’ £130,000 memorial project. It will be officially opened to the public on Saturday 30th April by Weir’s widow, Rhona, alongside actor, US National Park ambassador and John Muir impersonator Lee Stetson, and Scots Magazine editor Richard Wright.
The garden features a range of typical mountain plants, as well as a selection of stones and rocks collected from the nearby Highland Boundary Fault which runs through Loch Lomond.
Stephen Townsend, Traditional Skills Officer at Historic Environment Scotland, said:
“The creation of this memorial garden is a fitting tribute to Scotland’s most loved mountain man. It’s been a truly unique project for Lara and myself to be involved with from the beginning to the end. Her letter cutting work looks fantastic, and will be a wonderful permanent reminder for visitors of Weir’s love for the great Scottish outdoors.”
The project was led by the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Tom Weir Memorial Group.
Tom and Rhona’s Mountain Garden, which is located next to the Tom Weir statue overlooking Balmaha Bay, will be officially opened at 2pm on Saturday 30th April.
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- As of the 1st October 2015, Historic Scotland and RCAHMS came together to form a new lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. The new body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
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Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016
2016 is the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design (IAD). Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland's position as an "innovation nation", its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector. This is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland and supported by a variety of partners.
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