After starting the website three years ago, I have decided to start writing a blog on hillwalking and sightseeing across Scotland.
I moved to Scotland in early 2008, from Waterford in the southeast of Ireland. Waterford is well known for its Waterford Crystal, a brand renowned for its craftsmanship and beauty. While the golden era of the crystal manufacturing industry may seem like a distant memory to some, especially the younger generation, the legacy of this fine art continues to resonate with many locals and visitors.
Much of my childhood was spent at the numerous beaches just a short drive from our home, and we also had the Comeragh Mountains nearby. The coastline offered outdoor activities such as swimming, camping, fishing, and scrambling, while the mountains provided a different kind of thrill with their rugged terrain and breath-taking views, ideal for summer adventures. During holidays, both as a child and an adult, we travelled to the west and southwest coasts of Ireland, where the landscape is quite similar to that of Scotland, featuring mountains over 3000 feet and remote coastal villages. These trips were great adventures, despite often encountering the unpredictable Irish weather—a condition I continue to experience in Scotland.
In 2008, due to the financial crash, job opportunities were scarce, and I found myself training as a bus driver in Aberdeen. This marked a new adventure: a different country and a different profession. After a year of working in Aberdeen, I secured a position with a coach tour company, allowing me to travel not only around Scotland but also to Ireland, England, Wales, and some northern parts of Europe. Working with various guides, I gained substantial knowledge about the history of Scotland and witnessed landscapes akin to those of Ireland, but on a larger scale. I played football on Sunday mornings in Aberdeen, which I enjoyed, but as I approached 40, I needed a different activity. This led me to explore the numerous routes and trails around Aberdeenshire, along the rivers Dee and Don, forestry tracks, and smaller hills like Bennachie, not far from where I stayed. Most of the information for these routes came from the website Walkhighlands. This was just before Facebook or should I say before adults started using social media, the website visitors connected through forums, where they arranged to meet and hill walk with individuals of similar abilities. Someone on the website suggested I join one of these hill walks and tackle a Munro, a hill or mountain in Scotland over 3000 feet, named after Hugh Munro, who was tasked with measuring all such hills in the late 1800s. There are currently 282 Munros; when I climbed my first, Mount Keen, in 2011, there were 283, but one in the Fisherfields called Beinn a'Chlaidheimh was demoted. I completed the list in May 2015, which inspired me to pursue a career in the Highlands of Scotland.
In 2019, after training as a mountain leader, I combined this with my experience I had gained as a tour driver and established my website and business, Up 'n About Scotland, adding a nine-seater vehicle to offer transport. Now, I provide not only hiking tours but also sightseeing tours across Scotland, visiting the many castles, distilleries, and mountains the country has to offer.
In upcoming blog posts, I will discuss some of the Munros I have climbed, the people I encountered along the way, and my training to become a mountain guide in Scotland.
Comments