During a week's residency in Glen Tanar as part of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, storyteller Sarah Hobbs and photographer David Lintern recorded many people with connections to the glen. The resulting film, 'Rooted: Voices of Glen Tanar,' gives space for their perspectives on land, nature, ownership and thoughts for the future. 
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In April 2025, Sarah and David undertook a seven-day residency in partnership with Bothy Project and the Cairngorms National Park, at a cottage within the Glen Tanar Estate, near Aboyne. The aim was to develop work collaboratively, responding to the Park's 2030 ambitions for net zero. Their focus was to work with people whose voices are less often heard, and explore connections between ecological and cultural loss. 

Cycling up and down the glen daily, they spent time with 19 people, all with myriad links to the glen, and all of whom loved the place. 

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TRAILER COMING SOON!


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This project was made possible through a partnership with Bothy Project and Cairngorms 2030, a Cairngorms National Park Authority programme supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players. ​

Behind the scenes 

Some of David's shots from the making of, during April 2025. 

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Project team
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Sarah Hobbs is based in Aviemore and runs Storywalks to place stories back where they belong in the landscape and skyscape – very literally re-storying the land. The main focus of Storywalks uncovers and highlights quiet, hidden or silenced voices within the landscape, including how rural landscapes are inextricably linked to empire and colonialism. She is an accredited storyteller with the Scottish Storytelling Forum.

She has 20 years’ experience of working in place-based community-led social change, and has collaborated on story work with Alzheimer Scotland, Cairngorms Connect, Landworkers' Alliance Scotland, Highland Folk Museum, Highland Wildlife Park, the Woodland Trust, and outdoor learning networks and teachers. Read more about Sarah here.

David Lintern has worked across the creative industries for 30 years as a writer, photographer, editor, land rights and access campaigner, founder of a refugee arts charity, music and photography teacher and environmental journalist. Throughout all his work there is a celebration of, and advocacy for, the connections between people, nature and place.

David works as a commercial photographer, photography guide and tutor across the Highlands, both in a community setting and in a private capacity. He is one of the editorial team for The Great Outdoors Magazine and has produced three award winning books; The Big Rounds, Scottish Wild Country Backpacking and Thunder Road. Read more about David here.