Ythan Valley Rotarian EDOARDO walks for Scotland

Ythan Valley Rotarian EDOARDO walks for Scotland

Edoardo makes it to Arran !

GO EDOARDO - GO !!

Ythan Valley Rotary and Rotary Clubs all over Scotland get behind this Italian - who is striving to save the nation's history

Two weeks into his mammoth '500 mile' walk across Scotland, EdoardoBedin is today on the isle of Arran, shining a light on Brodick Castle, one of many closed historic properties across Scotland.

One of the most significant parts of his 5 week journey so far has been the people he has met. 

He has been bowled over by the generosity and support of the Scottish people he has encountered along the way. 

"What amazing people the Scots are!" he says. 

As he has passed by, with his bunting & lantern hanging from his rucksack, and with his NTS umbrella in hand, businesses have fed him pizza for lunch, cake for afternoon tea, cookies for snacks, and lasagna for supper!

Taxi drivers have given him free lifts to his start points, people have invited him into their gardens to rest as he walked past, he's been rescued from torrential rainstorms and some people have even done his laundry! Builders & cyclists have given him directions and donated to the cause, and construction workers near Airdrie offered him beer and brought joy to his day when they followed the Facebook page. Others have hosted welcome parties for him at the properties he is walking to. His arrivals at these closed historic properties have been cause for celebration as staff & volunteers alike delight in welcoming him, since they are unable to welcome the public due to the COVID crisis. 

This Italian born, Aberdeen resident, has been marching out across Scotland to raise awareness of the jeopardy of the country's heritage resulting from closures due to the COVID crisis, and he's raising money along the way to try to open doors sooner. Edoardo is a trained archaeologist, a passionate historian and is currently a furloughed employee of The National Trust for Scotland. He and hundreds of his colleagues will find out if they are being made redundant in the next few weeks. With the properties closed there is no income to pay them to work at these precious places.

He is visiting 23 closed heritage properties on his road-pounding trip, to draw attention to their closure and to raise money to help reopen them. He has walked to 11 properties so far.     As he says, "History explains where we've been, and it guides where we are going."

Supporters have hosted him overnight in anything from a summer house, to a tent in their garden, and even hotels have offered him complimentary hospitality. The network of Rotary clubs across the country have really stepped up to help their fellow Rotarian and have provided very generous support & overnight stays for over half the trip so far, with more to come along the way in the later legs of the journey.

He was even interviewed at length, on the roadside for the TV, whilst enroute from Carnoustie to Dundee!

This Hitting The Road for the Love of Scotland epic challenge started two weeks ago and he has clocked up 360km so far of his 800km total.

Not a practiced hiker Edoardo has found his fitness has improved, and around Day 7 or 8 of his constant long distance walking he was pleased to announce he no longer had pains in his legs when he stopped for a quick break and that the 4-5 hour recovery time for his legs each evening was lessening as he got fitter.  Now two weeks in, he is tired at the end of each day but he is bouncing along the road.

Edoardo adds, "When I take off my heavy backpack I feel as though I could fly!"

Having walked through so many miles of Scotland's beautiful countryside from Aberdeenshire to Edinburgh, Glasgow and over to Arran, he said en route, "The beauty of Scotland's scenery is immense. I'm loving all of this - the geography, the views, the people ... this is a country worth this walk

Meeting people and having them walk with him for a while is a real morale booster for Edoardo, so if you see him, join him! 

So many encouraging heroes have joined Edoardo along the way, from Day 1 when the first person to come across this intrepid trekker and to Hit the Road with him was Mark from near Banchory, who kindly pointed out a shortcut too!  Furloughed National Trust for Scotland staff, NTS Volunteers and Rotarians have all strode out alongside him. A couple on a coastal path in Fife taught him Swahili! Families have joined him, senior citizens too, and Danny, who walks with crutches, joined Edoardo just west of Paisley with his dog Misty. There have been many more besides, all very delighted to meet Edoardo, to hear about what he is doing and to keep him company for a while, and this is only Day 14 of Edoardo's 34 day challenge. 

His next walking companion is Caroline Borwick. She is one of the trustees on the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Scotland, and being a walker herself, she is looking forward to joining Edoardo for a few miles to support his endeavours, when he heads back to Glasgow.

Edoardo is walking for hundreds of his colleagues, all in the same position as him, all at risk of redundancy, as well as for all those NTS employees who never stopped working during this pandemic, all of them striving to save the NTS and our heritage, and for the volunteers who just want to get back into the buildings and share what they love about them with the public again.

He is spurred on by his mission to highlight the beauty and importance of what the NTS has to offer and what it has to protect. Edoardo's passion for heritage and its value, now and in the future, is his driving force, helping him to put one foot in front of the other.

After returning to the mainland tomorrow he'll be walking to Glasgow and the central belt to highlight three more closed properties and then make his way back north again to Aberdeenshire, visiting the remaining eight precious sites before his Homecoming at Haddo House on Sunday 30th August.

You can follow Edoardo's journey on Facebook at Hitting The Road for the Love of Scotland

https://www.facebook.com/HittingTheRoadForTheLoveOfScotland

And on instagram @HittingTheRoad4LoveOfScotland

Contact Edoardo Bedin about this page:

(ALL fields required)

(If you are a Rotarian, please name your club.)

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Aberdeens Archie Foundation receive 50 beautifully crafted dolls. A huge thank you to the dedicated knitting team of Doreen, Lil, Liz, Jacqueline and Margaret from the Cruden Craft Group for taking the time to make the dolls and then distribute them.

more  
A busy year for clothing Ted!

Our Clothing Bank is Two Years Old

more  

On the 22nd February 2020 a sleepover was held in Neil Ross Square, Ellon to raise funds for the ShelterBox Charity. See the article on the website indicating ShelterBox success !

more  

Ythanbank Ladies respond to COVID 19

more  

Saturday 24th September 2022, 10:00 to 12:00 - Come and collect shoeboxes to fill and spread a little happiness. Raffle tickets are available to support Charlie House.

more  

Ythan Valley raise funds for Heaters and Cookers in Kharkiv

more  

The members of Ythan Valley succesfully held a Christmas Wreath making session in the Beaton Hall raising funds for charities supported by Rotary

more  

Ellon Academy and Interact

more  

Methlicks first conversation cafe opened to great success in the Beaton Hall, Methlick.

more  

Ythan Valley Rotary along with Inverurie Rotary participated in a Ukraine & Scotland Event held in Inverurie High School

more  

High Viz Vests sourced for Ythan Valley Rotary in the Community

more  

The Ythan Valley Rotary continues to grow and as attracted three new members in January 2020

more  

Ythan Valley Easter Bunny fundrraiser

more  

A celebration in Methlick with our friends from Ukraine

more  

Archie Foundation - Knitters required!

more  

Rotarians from throughout the North East and Kharkiv in Ukraine celebrate in the Beaton Hall, Methlick

more  

A sunny and successful fundraising day in Ythanbank was enjoyed by Rotarians and visitors prior to our scheduled meeting in the Ythanbank Community Hall. Thanks to all for the donations and purchases.

more  

Rotarians Carol Wallace and Jacqueline Hill today received a cheque for £300 for the clothing bank from the members of the Methlick Cycle Challenge committee. Many thanks to all for this substantial donation towards the running of the clothing bank.

more  

Ythan Valley donate chest freezer to the Ellon Foodbank

more  

Ythan Valley Rotary hosted SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) for a presentation by Beth and Louise on "An Introduction to Suicide Prevention".

more  

Ythan Valley Rotary along with Inverurie Rotary participated in a Ukraine & Scotland Event held in Inverurie High School

more  

Ythan Valley members seek loose change for WaterAid

more  

A view and a flavour of the Philippines was presented by our member Maria Lim-Pittendreich. The presentation about the Philippines was followed by a meal of typical snacks and flavours of the Philippines.

more  
The Clothing Bank in operation.

YVR members give the storage facility a makeover

more  

On the 14th August our President Jacquiline Hill and the President of Kharkiv International Rotary Erik Avetisov signed a declaration twinning both of our clubs. Erik and other families from Ukraine have recently settled in the Ythan Valley area.

more  

YVR work with other Rotary Clubs to raise funds for First Steps Himalaya

more  

After walking 500 miles for the National Trust for Scotland Edoardo returns home

more  

The bicycles will be distributed by YVR members to needy recipients through-out the North east with a Geographic spread from MacDuff to St Cyrus. This has been a co-ordinated effort between YVR, Ellon Cycles and Cycling UK.

more  

Members of the Ythan Valley Rotary have been busy during April stripping, preparing and painting a local property in preparation of the arrival of a Ukrainian Family as a result of the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine.

more  

Cyclists participating in BP’s Coast 2 Coast adventure will be helping provide 12,000 laptops for Ukrainian children. The challenge involves cycling more than 250 miles across Scotland from Gairloch to Aberdeen from May 25 to 28.

more  

Sunday the 12th June saw the Presidential handover take place at the Ythanbank Village hall. After a great year Hilary Gordon handed over the Presidential Role to our 2022-23 President Jacqueline Hill.

more  
ShelterBox tent in Neil Ross Sq.

A successful ShelterBox night in Ellon

more  
Methlick Primary

Ythan Valley Rotary donate to Methlick Primary School

more  

Saturday 1st October 2022, from 10:00 to 12:00

more  

Rotary's Global Goals in a simple format - This is us!

more  

A view and a flavour of the Philippines

more  
Clothing Bank open for business

The Ythan Valley Rotary Clothing Bank has opened with effect from the 20th January 2020

more  

Ythan Valley Rotary present past President Eleanor Macalister with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award in recognition of her continuous commitment to the community and Rotary, the award was made by fellow Rotarian Hilary Gordon

more  

Crocus Planting by Ellon Academy

more  
Edoardo makes it to Arran !

Ythan Valley Rotarian EDOARDO walks for Scotland

more  

At the Ythan Valley Rotary meeting of the 9th October the members met with Keith from the New Arc Charity. The charity rescues , rehabilitates and releases wildlife. After his tallk Keith was presented with Blankets and £423 raised by members.

more  
YVR members clean the gutters at the Ythanbank Community Hall

Gutter Cleaning at the Ythanbank Community Hall

more  
Carol singing and bell ringing

Sunday 15th December Ythanbank Community Hall

more  
Charter Celebrations

Charter of the Ythan Valley Rotary Club

more  
Ian Dow, past District Governor with school pupils

International Presidential Citation

more