Epic 1930s cycle run around Highlands inspired new film
The diaries of 17-year-old Mary Harvie’s epic 500-mile cycle and hostelling holiday in the mid-1930s were the inspiration for a new cycle adventure film, What would Mary do?
Hostelling Scotland and The Adventure Syndicate premiered the new off-road biking and adventure tourism film at the Biking Night of this year’s Fort William Mountain Festival.
‘What would Mary do?’ beautifully captures Scotland’s majestic and remote landscapes, environment and natural heritage together with the true spirit of hostelling and was created by Maciek Tomiczek.
It follows Lee Craigie, Philippa Battye and Alice Lemkes from The Adventure Syndicate, a group of female adventurers and storytellers who promote mental and physical wellbeing through their outdoor endeavours, as they take on a five-day, 300mile, cycling and hostel-packing journey, from Glasgow to the Highlands and Skye.
The film, commissioned by Hostelling Scotland as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations (February 2021/22) and in support of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, was inspired by the poignant and insightful diaries written by the teenage Mary, from Shotts, in Lanarkshire, in the summer of 1936, and published in Hostelling Scotland’s Members Handbook, after her son Harvie Paterson transcribed them during lockdown. The diary recounts Mary’s epic two-week, 500mile cycle and hostelling holiday she took with her two sisters Ella and Jean, exploring the North West Highlands, Skye, Highland Perthshire, and Stirlingshire, both on and off the bike.
Her journal encapsulated the true spirit of active adventure and sustainable tourism that, to this day, comes from exploring Scotland on a bike, while using hostel accommodation.
Lee Craigie from The Adventure Syndicate said: ‘Our respect and admiration for Mary Harvie’s spirit grew and grew the more we thought about the trip she made with her sisters in 1936.
‘In her diaries Mary comes across as someone totally up for a challenge, really curious, full of energy and above all, humble and understated about the things she did.
‘Mary’s willingness to stay in each moment and make the very best of every situation became our guiding mantra. If we were cold, lacking enthusiasm or looking for the easy way out we asked ourselves, ‘What would Mary do?’. She developed superhuman attributes by the end of our trip.’
The Adventure Syndicate’s reimagined and ambitious route had to embrace and commemorate the Harvie sisters’ original route.
However, to avoid the busy traffic they were keen to explore the off-road alternatives, while taking into account winter light and weather, as well as the locations of today’s Youth Hostel network.
It made use of old drove roads and forgotten single tracks, while also encompassing sections of gruelling mountainous ‘hike a bike’ and bog trotting.
Wild swimming, hitching rides on a Model T Ford, a ferry and a bus, and brewing coffee in the most incredibly scenic spots were all features of the trip.
View the film at https:// youtu.be/P2NPK67c9lM.