VERA Platform_2304 Sarah Hobbs "Sarah Hobbs is a mountain lover, storyteller, and quiet explorer whose journey has taken her from Derbyshire through Norway, Egypt, and London before settling in the Scottish Highlands. Now based in Aviemore, she is deeply inspired by the landscapes, people, and reindeer of the Highlands, which continue to shape both her personal and creative life.\r\n\r\nA fascination with hill placenames led Sarah to begin learning Scottish Gaelic, opening the door to a rich world of stories, songs, and cultural traditions connected to the land and its communities. These influences are woven into her walks and storytelling, with a particular affection for Gaelic working songs \u2014 \u00f2rain obrach \u2014 and the informal tradition of shared songs and stories around the pub table.\r\n\r\nThroughout her career, Sarah has worked with communities to uncover hidden narratives and amplify overlooked voices as a way of creating social change. Her work has addressed systemic inequalities in health and education across the UK, and she has also organised cultural expeditions for young people to the Middle East and South Asia, encouraging peer-to-peer learning beyond stereotypes.\r\n\r\nHer walks, as Strathspey Storywalks, continue this ethos, exploring hidden gems and untold stories embedded within the landscape \u2014 stories that are often forgotten, silenced, or overlooked. At the heart of her work is a desire to place stories back where they belong, reconnecting people with the land and skyscape through a process of \u201cre-storying\u201d place. The walks evolve with the seasons and with Sarah\u2019s own changing interests, creating experiences that are rooted in curiosity, connection, and discovery." cc274@st-andrews.ac.uk English ENVIRONMENT,HISTORY,INTANGABLE HERITAGE,Natural history,PEOPLE,RECREATION AND TOURISM,SOCIAL HISTORY Artisan image/jpeg ENVIRONMENT,HISTORY,INTANGABLE HERITAGE,Natural history,PEOPLE,RECREATION AND TOURISM,SOCIAL HISTORY IMAGE University of St Andrews VERA Platform "Sarah Hobbs is a mountain lover, storyteller, and quiet explorer whose journey has taken her from Derbyshire through Norway, Egypt, and London before settling in the Scottish Highlands. Now based in Aviemore, she is deeply inspired by the landscapes, people, and reindeer of the Highlands, which continue to shape both her personal and creative life.\r\n\r\nA fascination with hill placenames led Sarah to begin learning Scottish Gaelic, opening the door to a rich world of stories, songs, and cultural traditions connected to the land and its communities. These influences are woven into her walks and storytelling, with a particular affection for Gaelic working songs \u2014 \u00f2rain obrach \u2014 and the informal tradition of shared songs and stories around the pub table.\r\n\r\nThroughout her career, Sarah has worked with communities to uncover hidden narratives and amplify overlooked voices as a way of creating social change. Her work has addressed systemic inequalities in health and education across the UK, and she has also organised cultural expeditions for young people to the Middle East and South Asia, encouraging peer-to-peer learning beyond stereotypes.\r\n\r\nHer walks, as Strathspey Storywalks, continue this ethos, exploring hidden gems and untold stories embedded within the landscape \u2014 stories that are often forgotten, silenced, or overlooked. At the heart of her work is a desire to place stories back where they belong, reconnecting people with the land and skyscape through a process of \u201cre-storying\u201d place. The walks evolve with the seasons and with Sarah\u2019s own changing interests, creating experiences that are rooted in curiosity, connection, and discovery." image/jpeg Image "" image/jpeg Image 57.194602320286144 -3.8244933863580957