RUNNERS ABOUT OT DEPART ON THE NEWMILL TO BUCKIE FISHWIVES WALK. HELEN CARSON [LEFT] AND JUNE LAING IN OLD GARB.
SEE HAZEL
CARRYING fully-laden creels of fish weighing up to 40lb, once the Buckie fishwives made round trips of
26 miles in a day. In all weathers they would trek from Buckie harbour to Keith in order to sell the catches, then travel all the way back home again. The last Buckie fishwife, Mary Milne, walked the route until the mid-1950s when she finally retired at the age of 73. However, the undoubted toughness and indomitable spirit of Mary and all the other women is now being celebrated in modern times. Participants are being called to come forward for the Fishwives’ Walk, which is taking place on Sunday, September 15. Starting at Newmill Hall at 10am, walkers will follow the 11-mile historic trail as it leads them to Buckie and District Heritage Centre.
Dave Carson is from the Rotary Club of Keith which is sponsoring the event. He said: “You can run or walk it, take the family, including the dog. It’s great exercise and you’ll be helping to raise money to support some good local causes. “So come and join in.” Online registration is available at http://www. fishwiveswalk.org.uk The Fishwives’ Walk was officially reopened on July 9, 2013 by the then first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond. Behind the project to return the walk to its former glory were Buckie Area Forum’s Economic Regeneration Group. Prior to this project, large sections of the route lay overgrown.