'The Long Walk to Freedom' passes through Caithness

A series of "independence" walks are taking place across Scotland paying homage to the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath and promoting a Digital Covenant set up last year.

Planned in accordance with current Covid restrictions, The Long Walk to Freedom has seen numerous core walkers and support teams spread their message throughout the country with the routes taking them through every town and city of Scotland.

Yesterday, Wick was on the itinerary for two of the walkers, Iain Leckenby and Ever Uan Beag, who were met in the town's riverside car park by a team of supporters.

Iain said: "The ideology behind this [walk] is to promote the Digital Covenant. There are two main walks taking place across Scotland just now – a 1320 [mile] route to commemorate the Declaration of Arbroath and there's a 500 [mile] walk that reaches out to the Yes communities and getting to grassroots campaigners locally."

He said that the idea is to "spread the appetite for independence" and get a second campaign going in support of that. The Digital Covenant 2019 claims to be a legal document that seeks reform in the constitution of the country "to secure good government" in accordance with Scottish traditions and "to promote the social and economic welfare" of the nation.

It also states: "We affirm that the desire for such reform is both deep and widespread through the whole community, transcending all political differences and sectional interests, and we undertake to continue united in purpose for its achievement."

Iain and Ever are just two of many taking to the roads to spread the message and "make people aware" of this digital document they can sign.

Ever said: "This is actually the third walk I've done. I did a 500-mile one in 2018 and that was again promoting the Digital Covenant.

"I also did one down to Westminster and I'm doing this one now which covers 1320 miles and commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.

"We're telling anyone who cares to listen about the Digital Covenant and how they can look at the website and sign the document in support of an independent Scotland."

Ever said they had set off from Eilean Donan castle on September 18 and claims that although she supports Scottish independence she is not a SNP supporter.

Iain said the walk was not about party politics. "We have not walked with a single politician on this walk so far and we've got 75 days to go," he said. "If the politicians want to get out of party politics and speak to the people on the ground, they're welcome to join us any time."

Some of the local supporters who turned up at the car park to welcome the two also stressed that the theme was about independence and not politics.

Ever and Iain set off today towards Dunbeath and intend to finish up in the Scottish Borders at the end of November on St Andrew's Day.

For more information on The Long Walk to Freedom visit longwalktofreedom.theroundtable.scot/

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