The 134-mile John Muir Way – which runs from Dunbar, East Lothian, to Helensburgh – opened in April this year, and at the launch townsfolk gathered in Hermitage Park to offer their opinions on the final design choices for the artwork.

Art organisation, WAVEparticle, was commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage and Creative Scotland to create the piece for the Esplanade that would mark both the beginning and the end of the walk.

The concept was developed by Peter McCaughey, lead artist of WAVEparticle, with S1 pupils from Hermitage Academy, as part of a My Creative Community day held at the school in February.

The artwork is a bench and a disc comprised of two elements, an outer ring of black granite and an inner red sandstone circle.

The black granite outer ring has the John Muir quotation ‘When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe’ inlaid in white stone, using letters from John Muir’s own handwriting.

The inner sandstone circle holds footprints of varying sizes, hand carved by master stonemason Alex Keeper – footprints which provide an opportunity for visitors and for anyone undertaking or completing the John Muir Way to stand, to rest, to take stock of the John Muir Way they have just completed or about to commence.

Also represented within the work is the constellation that was overhead on Christmas Eve, 1914, when John Muir, considered the founder of the national park in America, passed away.

Councillor Aileen Morton, who was at the launch of the John Muir Way, told the Advertiser this week: “It’s great to see the artwork going into place and I hope those completing the walk in Helensburgh will take a moment to stand on it and look out over the Clyde.

“The John Muir bench has also been installed – the same style of bench is already in place at the start of the John Muir Way in Dunbar and one should be put in place in every town on the route. Hopefully walkers and local residents alike will enjoy a seat on it.”