A Journey to Peace Across the Outer Hebrides

This June, Warhead Project UK and the Scotland's Veterans Wellbeing Alliance will launch SUNRAY TWOSIX a unique veteran-led wellbeing and awareness expedition travelling the length of the Hebridean Way through Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.

Using Phillip, a restored 1936 Morris 8 ex-military staff car, alongside two support vehicles, the team will travel from Loch Lomond through Barra, the Uists, Harris and Lewis, meeting local communities, veterans, support organisations and island residents along the way.

SUNRAY TWOSIX is more than a road trip.
It is a moving conversation about:

Veteran mental health
PTSD and trauma recovery
Isolation in rural and island communities
Suicide awareness and prevention
Creativity, connection and hope

The project is built around one simple message:

SHARE THE LIGHT

The team behind SUNRAY TWOSIX are all former Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel who have each faced their own personal battles after military service. Through friendship, creativity, openness and mutual support, they have found a path forward — and now aim to share that message with others.

Throughout the journey, the team will work in collaboration with Palpa Films to document the expedition and produce a film exploring life, mental health and resilience in some of the UK’s most remote communities.

Along the route, SUNRAY TWOSIX will:

Host informal meet-ups and conversations
Visit community organisations and wellbeing groups
Speak with veterans living in remote areas
Record interviews and local stories
Create photography, artwork and film content
Use Phillip as a mobile art installation and conversation starter
Deliver small presentations and creative activities where possible

The expedition reflects Warhead Project UK’s belief that creativity, storytelling and human connection can play an important role in recovery and wellbeing.

Why the Outer Hebrides?

The Outer Hebrides are among the most beautiful and remote locations in the United Kingdom. While island life offers incredible community spirit, landscape and culture, rural isolation can also present challenges for mental health support, access to services and social connection.

SUNRAY TWOSIX aims to listen as much as it speaks.

The project seeks to learn from local communities, understand the realities of island life, and explore how veterans and civilians alike navigate mental health, resilience and belonging in geographically isolated areas.

Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 — Monday 1 June 2026

Balloch, Loch Lomond to Oban

Team assembly at Balloch, Loch Lomond
Vehicles:
- Phillip — 1936 Morris 8 ex-military staff car
- Two support vehicles
Drive north-west through the Highlands to Oban
Team briefing and preparation for island crossing

Overnight: Oban

Day 2

Oban to Barra

Ferry crossing from Oban to Barra (approx. 4 hours)
Arrival and orientation prior to filming activities
Community engagement and local exploration

Overnight: Barra

Day 3

Barra and Vatersay

Continued filming and community engagement
Visit to Vatersay via causeway
Informal conversations with locals and veterans
Landscape filming and reflective content capture

Overnight: Barra

Day 4

Barra to South Uist

Small ferry crossing from Barra to Eriskay
Travel via causeway into South Uist
Potential meet-ups and presentations with local groups

Overnight: South Uist

Day 5

South Uist Community Engagement

Filming and wellbeing discussions
Potential mini workshops and creative activities
Veteran and community meet-ups

Overnight: South Uist

Day 6

South Uist to North Uist

Travel through Benbecula
Continue via causeway into North Uist
Scenic documentation and interviews

Overnight: Southern North Uist

Day 7

North Uist

Community visits and filming
Conversations around rural isolation and support networks
Opportunity for local engagement events

Overnight: North Uist

Day 8

North Uist to Lewis

Travel to Berneray via causeway
Ferry crossing to Lewis
Arrival in Southern Lewis

Overnight: Southern Lewis

Day 9

Lewis and Harris

Filming across Lewis and Harris
Veteran outreach and local engagement
Interviews and landscape cinematography

Overnight: Lewis/Harris

Day 10

Lewis and Harris

Continued outreach activities
Community conversations and creative documentation
Wellbeing-focused discussions and storytelling

Overnight: Lewis/Harris

Day 11

Lewis and Harris

Final island filming sessions
Reflection and documentation of the journey’s impact
Preparation for mainland return

Overnight: Lewis/Harris

Day 12

Tarbert to Skye

Ferry crossing from Tarbert to Uig
Continue journey through Skye

Overnight: To Be Confirmed

Day 13

Skye to Mainland Scotland

Cross the Skye Bridge
Travel toward mainland Highlands
Possible overnight stay in Fort William

Overnight: TBC

Day 14

Return Journey via Glencoe and Spean Bridge

Final reflective journey south
Visit to the Commando Memorial
Team dispersal and return home

Project Goals

SUNRAY TWO SIX aims to:

Raise awareness of PTSD, veteran suicide, and mental health challenges
Highlight the difficulties faced by veterans in rural and isolated communities
Encourage open conversations around mental health and recovery
Promote peer support and connection
Capture real stories and experiences through documentary film and creative media
Use art, conversation, and shared experience to reduce stigma
Demonstrate hope, resilience, and recovery through lived experience

The project stands as a reminder that even in the most remote places, connection matters — and nobody should face their struggles alone.

What We Do

To promote the benefits of art and creativity on mental health and wellbeing in veterans and the wider community, Warhead Project UK organise a variety of activities and events. These will be inclusive, accessible, and engaging to maximize participation.

1. Art Therapy Workshops

• Purpose: Provide a safe space for veterans and community members to express their

emotions through art.

• Format: Facilitated by professional art therapists, these sessions will involve painting,

drawing, or sculpting, where the focus is on self-expression and emotional release.

• Target Audience: Veterans, their families, and anyone in the wider community seeking

mental health support.

2. Creative Writing and Journaling Workshops

• Purpose: Help participants explore and articulate their thoughts and emotions through writing, which can be deeply

therapeutic.

• Format: Sessions led by experienced writers or therapists where participants engage in storytelling, poetry, or journal-

based writing.

• Target Audience: Veterans, particularly those who might find verbal expression challenging, and anyone interested in

writing as a creative outlet.

3. Photography Walks

• Purpose: Engage participants in mindful photography, focusing on the present moment,

which can reduce stress and improve mental health.

• Format: Organized walks in nature or urban settings where veterans and community

members take photographs that reflect their feelings or perspectives.

• Target Audience: Veterans and the wider community, including those who might prefer

a less traditional art form.

4. Music Therapy Sessions

• Purpose: Use music as a therapeutic tool to foster emotional healing, reduce stress, and improve mood.

• Format: Group or individual sessions led by a music therapist where participants either listen to or create music.

• Target Audience: Veterans who may have experienced trauma, anxiety, or depression, along with other community

members seeking mental well-being.

5. Public Art Exhibitions

• Purpose: Showcase the artwork created by veterans and community members,

highlighting the role of art in mental health recovery.

• Format: Host exhibitions in local galleries, community centers, or outdoor spaces,

possibly with interactive elements where attendees can create art on the spot.

• Target Audience: The entire community, promoting understanding and reducing the

stigma around mental health issues.

6. Veterans’ Art Collective

• Purpose: Create an ongoing community where veterans regularly gather to create art and share experiences.

• Format: A club or group that meets weekly or monthly to work on individual or group art projects, fostering a sense of

community and shared healing.

• Target Audience: Veterans specifically, although the collective could open its doors to the wider community to

promote inclusivity.

7. Community Mural Projects

• Purpose: Bring veterans and community members together to collaborate on a large public art project, symbolizing

healing and unity.

• Format: A collaborative mural-painting event, where participants design and paint a mural in a public space, possibly

with themes related to mental health or the veteran experience.

• Target Audience: Both veterans and the wider community, encouraging teamwork and shared healing through art.

8. Mindful Art Classes

• Purpose: Incorporate mindfulness techniques into artistic creation, helping participants

relax and focus on the present moment.

• Format: Guided classes in painting, coloring, or sculpture that incorporate meditation

or mindful breathing exercises.

• Target Audience: Veterans experiencing PTSD, anxiety, or stress, and community

members looking to reduce daily stress.

9. Storytelling and Film Screenings

• Purpose: Allow veterans to share their stories and experiences in a creative, non-threatening way.

• Format: Film screenings of movies created by or about veterans, followed by discussion sessions, or storytelling events

where veterans share their experiences through film, video, or live performances.

• Target Audience: Veterans and the wider community, bridging the gap between their experiences and public

understanding.

10. Pop-Up Art Cafes

• Purpose: Create a relaxed, social space where veterans and community members can drop in, enjoy art, and engage

with others in creative activities.

• Format: Temporary art spaces with materials for painting, drawing, or crafting, where veterans and community

members can casually create while connecting with others.

• Target Audience: Veterans, their families, and the general public.

11. Creative Collaborations with Local Artists

• Purpose: Partner veterans with local artists to collaborate on creative projects, fostering

skill development and social interaction.

• Format: Pairing veterans with professional artists to create paintings, sculptures, or

multimedia art that express personal journeys or mental health experiences.

• Target Audience: Veterans seeking mentorship or collaboration opportunities, and the

general community.

12. Veteran Art Grants or Competitions

• Purpose: Encourage veterans to pursue art as a profession or serious hobby, recognizing their talent and creativity.

• Format: Offer grants or host competitions for veterans to fund and showcase their art, with public exhibitions and

awards ceremonies.

• Target Audience: Veterans interested in art and the wider community who can be invited to attend exhibitions and

support veteran artists.

13. Art and Nature Retreats

• Purpose: Provide immersive, therapeutic experiences that combine nature and creative activities to promote mental

health.

• Format: Organized weekend or day retreats where veterans and community members participate in nature-inspired

art activities, such as landscape painting, nature photography, or eco-art.

• Target Audience: Veterans needing a mental health reset, as well as other community members interested in art and

wellness.

14. Interactive Art Installations

• Purpose: Engage the public in creative expression and mental health awareness through

participatory art.

• Format: Create installations that allow passersby to contribute to an evolving piece of

art, symbolizing collective mental health efforts and community.

• Target Audience: General public, veterans, and their families.

Each of these activities promotes the healing and therapeutic power of creativity, helping to raise awareness about mental health issues while also offering veterans and the broader community tangible tools for well-being.