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Gus Macdonald… Let’s complete his Thistle walks ! ❤️
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In Memory of Gus Macdonald ❤️
Let’s Complete His Thistle Walks
It is with enormous sadness that we recently lost our dear friend Gus Macdonald, who passed away suddenly.
Gus was a devoted and loving husband, a wonderful father to his two beautiful young daughters, a supportive and adored son, and a much-loved friend to so many.
His sudden passing has left an enormous void in the lives of his family, his friends and everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
But Gus also left behind a wonderful idea….. one that we believe deserves to become part of his lasting legacy in Inverness.
Something positive and lasting that his family, and particularly his two young daughters, can look upon with enormous pride in the years ahead and say:
“That was Dad’s idea.” ❤️
Gus’s Idea — The Thistle Walks
Gus came up with the idea of creating three dedicated walking routes from Inverness city centre….. 30-minute, 60-minute and 90-minute walks.
Throughout his day, whether cycling to and from work or spending time at the Crazy Golf, Gus would regularly notice tourists and visitors looking a little unsure of where to go next.
As they reached the area around the golf, many simply didn’t know what else there was to see, or which direction to take. Gus being Gus, he would often stop, offer some friendly advice and point them in the right direction.
He wanted to improve their experience.
He wanted visitors to see more of Inverness and discover some of the wonderful places we sometimes take for granted.
And from that simple observation, the idea of the Thistle Walks was born……
The routes would begin in the heart of Inverness, following the beautiful River Ness and passing through Gus’s beloved Ness Islands. The shorter routes would make their way back towards the city centre, while the longer walks would continue towards the Caledonian Canal before eventually looping back.
Each route would be clearly marked with its own different coloured thistle, creating a simple, distinctive and enjoyable trail that locals and visitors alike could easily follow.
And being the smart guy that Gus was, there was another little touch to his plan…
The routes just happened to pass two businesses particularly close to his heart — the Crazy Golf and Whin Park. ❤️
There was always a little personality and clever thinking behind Gus’s ideas!
But importantly, his vision for the Thistle Walks went far beyond his own businesses.
Gus genuinely believed the walks could benefit the whole Inverness community — encouraging people to get outside, walk, enjoy the River Ness and appreciate the beautiful surroundings we have right on our doorstep.
At the same time, they would give the many thousands of visitors who come to Inverness every year an easy and memorable way to explore one of the true jewels in our city’s crown — the River Ness and its surroundings.
Gus and I had begun working together in late April to turn his idea into reality.
Sadly, he will not now have the opportunity to see what he started completed.
But we can make sure his idea doesn’t end with his passing.
With the full support of Gus’s family, we want to continue the work he started and make the Thistle Walks a reality in his Honour.
Our Goal — £10,000
We hope to raise £10,000 to help develop and establish the Thistle Walks, including the signage and other elements required to turn Gus’s vision into something that can be enjoyed by the Inverness community and its visitors for many years to come.
For me, this has become much more than simply completing a project.
It is about remembering a dear friend.
It is about creating something positive from an incredibly sad loss.
It is about giving something back to Inverness — the city Gus loved. ❤️
And perhaps most importantly, it is about creating something lasting for Gus’s family and his daughters — something that will always carry a little piece of their dad with it.❤️
Every donation, large or small, including business donations, will take us another step closer to making Gus’s vision a reality.
And if you are unable to donate, simply sharing this page would mean a great deal and help us spread the word.
Our target is £10,000.
Let’s finish what Gus started.
Let’s create something special for Inverness.
And let’s make sure that, for many years to come, every person who follows one of those little coloured thistles around our Beautiful City is, in their own small way…walking in Gus’s footsteps. ❤️
Don Lawson
Thistle Walks : Team Leader,
Thistle Walks Team : Bet, Mandy, Morven, Nicola and Emily.