A SCOTTISH girl has become the youngest to finish Scotland's Great Trails aged 10.
Eve Alderman walked more than 2000 miles in a variety of weathers with her dad Ian to help raise awareness of autism and raise funds for charity Scottish Autism.
The 29 trails cover a distance of around 1900 miles and Eve is now the youngest person to have walked all of Scotland’s Great Trails.
“Officially, all of the trails added [together] are 1952 miles. When walking them, by the time we completed them between things like diversions or resupplies, one thing in another, we have done 700 miles more," said Ian.
“It’s quite far.
“We did them all in one continuous journey back to back without stopping."
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Their ambition to walk trails started in 2019 right before Covid-19 when walking a trail for charity.
“We were on the West Highland Way when Boris Johnson announced the first Covid lockdown,” said Ian.
“We had to get off the West Highland Way, come back home, and sit for the lockdown at home.”
In January 2022, Eve and her dad set off to walk the length of the UK, from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in Scotland.
Walking Scotland's Great Trails
When they finished walking the length of the UK, Eve did not want to stop walking, explained Ian.
“She just walked 1300 miles, the length of the UK, she wasn’t done and wanted to do something bigger, longer, and harder," he said.
After multiple ideas for their next walking journey, Eve decided to complete Scotland’s Great Trails.
“We originally formulated a plan to walk Scotland's Great Trails or the length of Ireland, which is ironically the same length as the United Kingdom," Ian added.
Ian said that everybody usually asks about the weather, and the weight carried while walking but "it is almost irrelevant, it is all about logistic, logistic, logistic".
“Completing all 29 trails in one near continuous 'thru-hike’ is less of a hiking challenge and more of a logistic and planning challenge. People never see what goes on behind the scenes to make it all happen," he said.
Eve and her dad continued walking through winter 2023 and were wild camping as much as they could but they also received help from people on the way sleeping in sheds, barns, or Airbnb that were opened just for them.
“It’s an outstanding [experience], at the end of the day, there is no greater education at Eve’s age, especially with autism than doing something like what we did.”
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Ian said that this experience “fundamentally changed” Eve helping her with life’s challenges.
When she was born, Ian and Sarah, Eve’s parents, were told she had a tumor growing in her back.
Following different events, they decided to give Eve a different childhood and home-schooled her to give her "experiences that the education system cannot".
“She’s never been to school because when she was younger she had a tumor," said Ian.
“So we decided that we're going to have a slightly different kind of life, prioritise time.”
“Being home-educated allows us the time, the space, and the scope to do that. We were continuing her home education as we were on the trails.”
“Eve is such an inspiration,” said Bridget Jones, NatureScot’s recreation and paths manager.
“Walking 1900 miles to complete all of Scotland’s Great Trails is a remarkable accomplishment for anyone – but at the age of 10, it’s absolutely phenomenal.
“I know she and her dad, Ian, had many wonderful times on these beautiful trails and now have memories that will last a lifetime, while also raising greater public awareness of autism,” she continued.
“We hope Eve’s story will inspire everyone to get out and about and enjoy the wildlife and beautiful scenery on Scotland’s Great Trails.”
They do not know yet what the future holds for their walking journey but Eve’s already coming up with ideas, such as walking up Mount Everest in the future.
You can follow Eve and her dad's adventures on their blog Our Spectrum Adventures, and make donations to support Scottish Autism via Eve and Ian's JustGiving page.
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