Winter Stories of the Clay
Join Caoimhe Keohane of Wild Anam for a guided winter woodland walk through the ancient trails above Loch Ness, beneath the Iron Age hillfort of Dun Scriben, with lovely views toward the mountain Mealfuarvonie.
This immersive walk weaves together Highland ecology, folklore, and cultural heritage, exploring the intricate relationships between landscape, language, and myth. Participants will encounter native flora and fauna through both ecological insight and their traditional Gaelic plant names, deepening understanding of how environment and culture are entwined.
Through story and reflection, we’ll explore the presence of the great winter goddess, the Cailleach, an ancient deity who shapes weather, land, and life across the Highlands. This is a contemplative and enriching experience for adults with an interest in natural history, mythology, and the living heritage of the highlands winter landscapes.
The walk will finish with a hot drink and cake by the fire in the cosy Loch Ness Clay Works and Pottery. (Included in the ticket price)
Important information
Please park at the Mealfuarvonie car park before the road into the Loch Ness Clay works and pottery - Then walk to the pottery and we will meet inside.
A storytelling tent with a fire pit will be set up incase of very wet weather :)
Duration: 2 hours approx (allow time afterwards for tea and cake at pottery)
Fitness Level: Moderate: Grade 2 on Walk Highlands website. This walk will be suitable for experienced walkers.
Terrain: Partially Great Glen Way and then leading on to local woodland footpaths, uneven and rocky trails at times.
What to bring: Please bring plenty of water and wear appropriate outdoor clothing, shoes, waterproof and warm layers.
Hullo, I’m Caoimhe Keohane, founder of Wild Anam.
The word anam has roots in Old Gaelic, emerging in texts as early as the 7th and 8th centuries. It originates from the Proto-Celtic anaman, which itself stems from even older Proto-Indo-European roots meaning “breath” or “soul.”
Through Wild Anam, I offer a range of experiences: yoga classes, retreats, folklore walks, fireside gatherings, seasonal rituals aligned with the Gaelic wheel all based around re-connecting to nature and our own inner wild.
These offerings invite us back to our wild roots, to our relationship with the earth, and to the indigenous stories that have arose and flowed from the waters and the clay.
