Walking through sand, grass, rocky beaches and muddy fields accompanied by a strong Scottish winter wind and the sound of stormy sea waves, so-called international ‘pilgrims of freedom’ have picked up nausea, blisters and a sense of euphoria from going beyond their limits. If only 8 out of 30 actually made it to the end, was the experience worth it?
A group of internationals united by love and freedom and a cause, have hiked 108km from Edinburgh to Dunbar in a mere 31 hours. Hike for Freedom organised the hike between the 15th and 16th of February in freezing cold conditions to celebrate Lithuanian Independence.
The idea started back in 2022 when a group of Lithuanian exchange students in Hongkong studying IT and STEM subjects, did not have any plans for Lithuanian Independence Day.
They came to the conclusion that the best way to celebrate would be to hike the 104km Macklemore trail in Hong Kong. Since then, it became their tradition. Each year the hike gets longer, each kilometre symbolising how many years Lithuania has been a sovereign democratic state.
“My head was dizzy. I was feeling nauseous.” Monika, one of the organisers and one of the few people who managed to complete the hike, said.
“It was not the pain in the legs, but it was the fatigue. The tiredness, the exhaustion”
Hike for freedom has evolved a lot, over the five years of its existence. Originally just celebrating Lithuania’s freedom, now they celebrate world freedom, and have been helping the Ukraine in raising money for a forest classroom in Bucha.
“Everyone who joins, put their own meanings into that. [The] Hike in Hong Kong started eight days before the war in Ukraine. I couldn’t believe it – as we just hiked for freedom. And then the idea of freedom was coming to break,” said Monika.
Their route included the seven traditional hills of Edinburgh, and then continuing down the John Muir trail to Dunbar which ran along the coastline.
“It was not the pain in the legs, but it was the fatigue. The tiredness, the exhaustion,” recalls Danny, one of the few who reached the finish line.
Due to the collaborative efforts from Hike for Freedom, some Lithuanian businesses and architecture companies they designed the classroom and through EU funding, the forest classroom was able to open mere days after the hike had happened.
Danny travelled from London and took time off work in order to dedicate himself to the hike. After hearing why Danny wanted to take time off, the company for which he works also donated money to the cause.
Over 4 years ago, it was decided that Scotland would be where the hike would take place but due to a co-organiser being injured, the hike was postponed until they were well.
Before Scotland though, people hiked in Hong Kong, Lithuania, Finland and many different countries across the globe.
“We took it very seriously. Every second day we ran 15 km. One week before heading off, we walked 53 km,” shares Justinus, one of the original Lithuanian hikers from Hong Kong, he like some managed to finish the hike this year.
To scout out the location for their Scottish ‘camino’, Vlad a co-organiser walked 108km before the actual hike happened. Vlad who is half Ukrainian and half Moldovan, grew up in Romania but resides in Edinburgh.
Inspired by John Muir, one day he tested out all the seven peaks of Edinburgh and then later tried out the rest of the trail, totalling 216km.
“It took us ten hours to do the first thirty kilometres. Half of our planned hike time has only been spent on seven hills. Which we could have done in 6 hours. But because we kept waiting and relaxing… Someone even stopped to book a haircut,” says Vlad.
But one participant was especially unique, Nasser, who decided to take a table and a laptop with him. He carried all of these items throughout the hike.
‘I might’ve thought I’d get bored and wanted to play something during the hike. As to what I’ve been doing…Well, definitely not work. I thought I might use the time to finish setting up Linux on my laptop,’ shares Nasser, who gave up on 70th kilometre due to the uncomfortable wizard robe and suit shoes he was wearing.
Along the way, many different animals were spotted. Some told Justinus that the creatures they saw were in fact the illusive ‘wild haggis’, during the interview though it dawned on him that his friends were in fact pulling his leg.
The group spent 24 hours walking but including breaks it took them 31 hours to reach Dunbar.
“I was literally falling asleep on my feet while I was walking. I was kind of hallucinating. And feeling very nauseous. I was literally falling asleep on a bench. We stopped for 10 minutes.”
There were two big breaks on the hike. The most notable one being at the 70th kilometre, where they had a bonfire and warm food was brought by a volunteer and their car.
After this stop most of the people left the trail as the journey had become painful. In the latter stages of the hike, everyones social batteries had died and most walked in silence.
Monika was happy that someone was able to lend her a pair of headphones so she could walk in peace.
“I was non-verbal for 14 hours,” Danny said.
No one felt well during the hike, especially in the run up to sunrise. In order to stay sane, people took micro-naps throughout the hike.
“I was literally falling asleep on my feet while I was walking. I was kind of hallucinating. And feeling very nauseous. I was literally falling asleep on a bench. We stopped for 10 minutes. They waited for me a little bit. Vlad wouldn’t let me go. He kept saying to call the support car to pick me up,’ Danny said.
All this walking caused a lot of blisters, so everyone had to improvise on how to help ease the pain. Danny, who works as a paralegal, had the idea to wrap his feet with sheep wool to prevent friction and absorb moisture. Danny was smart and lucky, another hiker developed green blisters and had to take antibiotics to fight the infection.
After reaching Dunbar, all who ‘survived’ the trail, took a train back to Edinburgh, falling asleep as soon as they sat down.
Everyone was starving and went to grab burgers, except Monika, who instead opted for a warm shower.
The ‘Scottish hike’ has helped Hike for Freedom to raise around £1500 which will go to the future Bucha forest school building. Everyone who wants to support may do so via the website Hike for Freedom.
The future 109km hike has not yet been planned, but the organisers have some ideas, including Greece, Italy or even Romania or Ukraine after the war, as they both share Carpathian mountains
“I was saying it’d be quite fun to do a hike where everyone fails. Because then you push everyone to their limits. Like no one can finish. I think that’d be fun to see how people’s brains work,” Ben, who managed to complete the challenge, said.
