A path is an easy thing to take for granted. I consider myself very lucky that aside from a chronic propensity for clumsiness, I’ve never had a problem navigating the ground underneath me. In fact, my gran used to tease me that I had a “good grip of Scotland” whenever I got new school shoes, my feet were so big.
But as a teen, my big long feet and inclination towards chunky boots meant I was always ready to stomp my way through any terrain, whether it was the wild jungles of the school corridors or the woods outside my house. So when it comes to things like hikes, nature walks or general rambling across our beautiful area, I haven’t ever thought too much about the state of things underfoot. I just haven’t had to.
But last weekend, I gained a new appreciation for the wonder offered by a well-made path. My partner’s mother was visiting from down south, and naturally we wanted to show her all our favourite walks and beauty spots that Tayside has to offer. Unfortunately, as a warrior locked in a lifelong battle with , she’s not always totally steady on her feet.
Planning our adventures, I began metaphorically walking in her shoes. And suddenly everywhere I looked, staircases and slippery slopes abounded. Uneven ground, steep climbs or scrambling leaps across burns are part and parcel of most of my usual weekend adventures, but that’s out of the question for someone with mobility issues.
Seaton Cliffs, at , is one place that had been our list for a long time, but a.
