Back to work

Back to work today, albeit just for a couple of hours.

The Formartine & Buchan Way, is a multi-use off road recreational path used by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders which crosses through the agricultural heartland of Aberdeenshire. The 53 mile route is formed on the base of the former railway track which was closed as part of the Beeching cuts.

The Buchan Countryside Group began the process of converting the former track to pathway back in the late 1970's and last year the final section of the route was completed, creating an entirely traffic free route from Aberdeen in the south to Fraserburgh in the north and Peterhead in the east.

Promotion and publicity of the route was part of my job and before heading off on maternity leave back at Easter time I had been working with my colleague to arrange a series of launch events for the route. Today was the official ribbon cutting and start of various activities and I was invited along to join in.

The Provost in all her jewels cut the red ribbon on the line at Maud station, where the sidings and platforms are still intact and where the excellent Maud Railway Museum is open one weekend a month, staffed by enthusiastic volunteers.

It was lovely to see folks again, to hear how everything is going, to eat the fancy pieces, to show off my newest addition, to help dismantle the gazebo and pack away the posters, but even more lovely to head home and forget about it all again for another few months.