The Watchers
- Aug 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 19
The Watchers is a striking art installation located on the A939 Lecht Road in the Cairngorms National Park, near Corgarff Castle in Aberdeenshire. Created by artist John Kennedy, this installation features four sculptural cowls made from folded steel, each sheltering a larch wood seat.
Highlights
The cowls resemble origami-like forms and are designed to offer protection from the wind and snow, evoking imagery such as:
Helmets or armoured figures
A henge or standing stones
A herd on a hillside or whisky stills
Close to The Watchers is another sculpture called A Moment in Time by Louise Gardiner, which frames telescopic views of Corgarff Castle and complements the newer installation.
Practical Information
Parking is limited and should be done so with cautioin die to busy road
Tips for visitors
Looking through the holes on the Monument gives a focus view on aspects of the land scape including a tunnel view of Corgaff Castle
Ferghas' Adventures
Ferghas the Highland coo was on a mission: to find the best picnic spot in all of the Cairngorms. He trotted up the A939, past heather and harebells, until he spotted something curious on the hillside—four folded steel seats, gleaming like origami thrones.
“Och, fancy chairs in the wild!” Ferghas mooed. “Must be for very posh sheep.”
He climbed into one and sat. The wind hushed. The hills stretched wide. And Ferghas felt something he hadn’t felt all morning stillness.
He munched his oatcake sandwich and gazed at Corgarff Castle below. “These seats don’t talk,” he whispered, “but they listen better than most.”
And so, Ferghas left behind a crumb, a moo, and a moment of peace just in case the next traveler needed a quiet place to dream.
This stop took my breath away in more ways than one 🐮