Written In Stone

The book’s pages feature multi-aspects of the remarkable journey, the practical side of it as well as the spiritual and physical elements of it and offers up an insight into her craft. It also shares the historical precedent of footprints in stone. The earliest kings of Scotland were inaugurated in footprints carved in stone, there being one not far from here in Kilmartin, and there are tales of Roman travellers stepping in stone footprints asking the gods of the road for save travel and return. Beatrice carried on that ancient practice by inviting people she met on her path to step inside the footprints.

Book Week organiser on Luing Mary Whitmore from the island’s Community Trust said: "It’s going to be an unusual talk. It’s great fun hearing people’s stories when they’ve done something unusual. You can’t get much more unusual than dragging a slab of stone carved with footprints on a wheely trolly nicknamed Marianne for 500 miles can you?

"When I first heard Beatrice’s story and how the stone was her guiding light, it just resonated with me. It’s such an inspiring story, she made such a huge physical and emotional commitment doing what she achieved. We just had to get her here. 

"I hope the opportunity to hear her talk about her book will bring all sorts of people to the afternoon, perhaps people who would not usually go to a book event but who have an interest in stone and in pilgrimage journeys.

"This year’s Book Week theme is hope. Stone was Beatrice’s guiding light. Here on Luing, it is the island’s slate that holds our hope for a sustainable future. We are hoping the regeneration of our slate quarry, although on a smaller scale than its heyday, will bring new jobs and draw much-needed young families to come and live here. Slate from the quarry is also being used to shore up the beach and help protect our eroding coastline at Cullipool."

Beatrice will also be officially opening Luing’s new Book Bank upstairs at the Atlantic Islands Centre where people can sit and browse donated hardback books while taking in the view across to Fladda lighthouse and into the blue beyond. The area also has a rummage box of paperbacks for people to take away or add to.

Luing has received funding for Book Week events since 2018. This year the island was also successful in bidding for extra funds to help make the event more accessible to people off-island. There is  money in a pot to pay for some ferry tickets. Anyone want to apply for tickets should email mary@iselofluing.org in advance.

Beatrice’s talk starts at 1.30pm, there will be book signing and rockcakes, of course. The centre will open at 11am with lunches, snacks, Luing Bakers cakes also available.

As part of this year’s Book Week celebration, rocks and slate decorated with islanders’ messages of hope, made at a successful Rock, Paper, Chisels cultural and heritage festival in September, will also be on display.