Nearly 200 residents and visitors gathered on a Sunday in July for the 12th edition of the Wastside Smiles charity walk, an annual event that threads through the Shetland communities of Skeld, Wester Skeld, and Reawick. The walk, which began in 2008 as a modest local effort to combine gentle exercise with small-scale fundraising, has grown steadily over a dozen years into a fixture of the summer calendar along quiet roads and coastal paths.
This year, 190 participants took part, a mix of locals, holidaymakers spending time in Shetland, and individuals incorporating the walk into their training schedules.
A Tradition of Community Support
The event’s origins trace back to 2008 in Skeld, a small community on Shetland’s west coast, where organizers sought to bring people together for a simple outdoor activity while raising money for good causes. Over the years, the walk expanded its route options and drew increasing numbers, including tourists who discovered Shetland’s scenery and residents using it as part of training routines. The steady growth reflects Shetland’s tradition of community-led initiatives that blend health, charity, and local pride.
This year, instead of designating a single beneficiary, organizers directed proceeds across multiple charitable efforts, allowing participants to support a range of causes through their participation. The practical result for attendees was an opportunity to support community causes while choosing a distance that suited their fitness level, from a short family stroll to a demanding seven-mile trek across Shetland terrain.
The presence of holidaymakers suggests the event is gaining visibility beyond local circles, and the inclusion of wheelchair participants training for a major road race underscores the event’s accessibility — routes were explicitly open to walking, running, or rolling.
Routes for Every Participant
Organizers set up three route options for the 2026 walk: a one-mile track, a three-mile track, and a seven-mile track. The one-mile route saw nine-year-old Freija Colquhoun from Skeld lead the way alongside Bertha Reid, who has participated in every Wastside Smiles event since its inception in 2008. On the three-mile route, ten-year-old Bobby Peterson and Monica Moncrieff were the first to finish. The challenging seven-mile route was completed first by Norrie Lyall.
Seven-month-old Jack Couper had the honor of starting the event, assisted by his mother Kristen. Among the notable returning participants were Lou Jackson and Laurence Hunter, who completed the route in their wheelchairs.
Both are training for the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run in Glasgow and used the Wastside Smiles walk as part of their preparation, demonstrating how the event’s inclusive design supports athletes at all levels.
Sustained Growth and Broader Significance
With nearly 200 people attending, the 12th edition continued a tradition that has drawn consistent community support since the walk’s launch in 2008. The event’s steady growth over more than a decade illustrates how small, sustained community initiatives can build lasting participation.
It offers visitors a taste of Shetland’s landscape and culture while letting locals set their own pace — whether a gentle mile or a longer seven-mile trek. As the walk enters its second decade, its blend of accessibility, tradition, and charitable support offers a model for similar rural gatherings elsewhere in the United Kingdom. A charity walk is a public walk organized to raise money for good causes while encouraging outdoor activity.
The Wastside Smiles walk matters now because it demonstrates how small communities can sustain annual events that blend local involvement, visitor enjoyment, and training opportunities. The presence of wheelchair participants preparing for a major road race, alongside families with young children and holidaymakers exploring Shetland, shows the versatility of the event’s format.
With three clearly defined routes, the walk accommodates everyone from a nine-year-old leading the one-mile loop to experienced participants tackling the full seven miles. The continued participation of Bertha Reid, present for all 12 walks, and the involvement of new faces such as Jack Couper and his mother Kristen highlight the intergenerational nature of the gathering. As the walk enters its second decade, its blend of accessibility, tradition, and charitable support offers a model for similar rural gatherings across the United Kingdom.
