Edoardo the Haddo Hero returns home

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



Edoardo, the Haddo House  Heritage Hero, marches home!

After 5 weeks on the road, walking 500 miles and visiting 23 closed historic properties, the arrival at his final destination of Haddo House on Sunday 30th August, the nation's Heritage Hero, Edoardo Bedin completed his journey.

He was greeted at Haddo by a piper to salute the hero along with colleagues from the National Trust for Scotland as well as members and friends from the Rotary Club of Ythan Valley. Edoardo has been a member of the Rotary Club of Ythan Valley since the beginning of 2020.

Over the course of the last month and more, Edoardo has been showered with hospitality, goodwill and support as he crossed the country from Aberdeen to Angus, Fife, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Arran, Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Stirlingshire, Dundee, Kindcardineshire and back to Aberdeenshire again, taking a different route in each direction. 

He has been featured in lots of local newspapers up and down the country, interviewed on TV & radio, and the BBC are coming to film his return. 

People have gathered to cheer him on in villages and towns as he passed through, he has been guest of honour at many welcome parties, he has been gifted meals and nightly hospitality by generous Scots people, businesses and Rotary Clubs along the route, and he has seen a side of this country that he calls home, from a very different angle, a very uplifting one.

Even the makers of his footwear are supporting him by promoting what he is doing. They are sending him new walking boots because he has worn the tread flat, having walked 800km on this epic journey.

His mission from the outset was to shine a light on the closed heritage properties looked after by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) across the nation; the future of these precious places hanging in the balance whilst the doors are closed, resulting from the COVID crisis.

Everyone is admiring of Edoardo's passion, his drive and his commitment, including the chief executive of the NTS who he met and had talks with at Hill of Tarvit near Cupar. 

During the course of his long walk Edoardo's own job with the National Trust for Scotland  was made redundant, and one morning, last week, just before he hit the road for the day, he was interviewed by video call for a newly created role within the NTS. It has been an emotional and tiring 5 week expedition, but at the same time inspiring and revelationary.

He says, "I feel as though I have been on a strenuous pilgrimage. I return to Aberdeen a changed man, a better one. I have learnt a lot about myself, about the organisation I work(ed) for and about the people with whom I want to share what I have been privileged to help preserve for them."

"Scotland's heritage is a very important part of the country and its people, they have shown me that as I have walked. I just hope I can continue to be a part of it."

During the course of his walk, with the help of the Scottish Government and a re-think on the part of the NTS, seven of the properties he visited are due to reopen again very soon. So the nation now has its fingers crossed that there is hope for the others too.

The Haddo House Homecoming has to be a very small, private celebration, due to COVID restrictions for outdoor occasions, but Edoardo humbly asks that if you would like to celebrate with him, for achieving this mammoth marathon (19 marathons actually!) you can offer your support on his JustGiving page - Hitting the Road for the Love of Scotland.  All the money raised will go to help Scotland's historic properties reopen. 

"That would be the best form of celebration I can imagine" he says, "for the total to continue to rise, enabling doors to be unlocked and for people to walk back in"

Contact Edoardo Bedin about this page:

(ALL fields required)

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

'What We Do' Main Pages:

A celebration in Methlick with our friends from Ukraine

more  

Ythan Valley Easter Bunny fundrraiser

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  

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  

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  

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  

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  
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