Lochaber Geopark has invited Dick Anderson the founder and driving force of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT www.internationalat.org), to visit Fort William on the 1st of June to discuss the inclusion of new trail sections, in Scotland.
In 1994, Dick proposed the International Appalachian Trail, beginning at Maine’s Mount Katahdin and following the course of the historic Appalachian Mountains northward representing a new goal for long distance hikers.

Since 1995, with the participation of local chapters and scores of volunteers, the IAT has now been extended across Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, to its North American terminus at Crow Head, Newfoundland and Labrador.

The ancient Appalachians are not limited to the North American continent, however. Geological evidence reveals that due to the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates, millions of years ago, remnants of these same mountains exist across the Atlantic in Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. Including trails in these countries in the IAT/SIA is a logical extension of Dick’s vision, one which has now culminated in the interest of the two Scottish Geoparks, British Geological Survey and hiking groups, among others.

Dick and his colleagues will give a lecture on the International Appalachian Trail/Sentier International des Appalaches (IAT/SIA) to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament and also at Fort William. The latter meeting being open to the public and held on Wednesday 3rd June in the Council Chambers in Tweedale House at 7:30pm. This is a historic event and as such can maximize the positive impact on our tourism industry.