First things first – I hate Covid-19 more than anything. I hate the word ‘staycation’ too, but that is what many of us have been taking more over the last few years.
The pandemic has clipped all of our wings. I was grounded as a travel writer and never left Scotland for over a year. I’ve seriously missed many places, but it really has focused my attention on my own country in a way I have never had to before. The upside is that I have been able to make many more Scottish trips, exploring what was already my favourite country out of the 100+ I’ve been lucky enough to visit. The Covid-compliant adventures have been as varied as they have been unremittingly rewarding, from family cruises with just the four of us, through to solo hikes through the wilds to remote pubs and rediscovering Unesco World Heritage sites within walking distance of my house. This time has really made me look beyond the obvious for stories. Rather than the castles of Skye, I’ve been turning my attention to space travel in Unst, the world-class joys of seriously remote St Kilda and underrated cities like Perth.
I had over 100 articles published on Scotland in 2020 and over 150 in 2021 in myriad newspapers, magazines and online. My copy was published all over in outlets including The Telegraph, Herald, the i Paper, Independent, Wanderlust, Mpora and The Scotsman.
I’ve collated some of them for you below. Hopefully they will help inspire you to travel around this remarkable country of over 800 islands, over 10% of Europe’s coastline and over 40% of the total UK land mass. I still hate the word staycation, but hopefully I can at least help you enjoy your travels. Slainte!
Telegraph – Exploring Scotland’s happiest and most underrated city
Telegraph – Discovering Scotland’s own Hadrian’s Wall, the wild edge of the Roman Empire
Telegraph – The islands at the end of the world – Scotland’s Holy Grail for adventurers
Telegraph – Discovering Scotland’s Orwellian isle
Telegraph – The wild corner of Scotland that exists between heaven and hell
Telegraph – The otherworldly edge of Britain
Telegraph – Kinloch Lodge hotel review
Telegraph – The Torridon hotel review
Telegraph – Loch Melfort Hotel review
Telegraph – The East Neuk, Scotland’s Cornwall
Telegraph – Visit Scotland’s Orwellian Isle
Telegraph – Visit Eigg, the UK’s greenest island
Telegraph – 10 hidden Highlands hotspots
Telegraph – Campbeltown, Scotland’s forgotten town
Telegraph – Outer Hebrides – who needs the Caribbean?
Telegraph – Cumbrae, not Cumbria!
The Independent – Walking with the Romans in Melrose
The Independent – Why Scotland is the perfect replacement for Portugal
Mpora – Britain’s most remote pub
Wanderlust – The Queen of the Hebrides
Scotsman – Weekly 48 Hours guides to various Scottish cities, towns and places
InsiderScotland.com – Blogs for my own Scottish travel website
BBC Radio Scotland – slots talking travel on various shows, regular weekly slot on Stephen Jardine
Love Exploring – 10 life-affirming experiences you can only enjoy in Scotland
Love Exploring – Which Scottish island is for you?
Love Exploring – South Queensferry – Edinburgh’s seaside suburb
Love Exploring – Scottish camping
Herald – Arran gets a hipster makeover
BBC TV – Appearance on Greetings from Scotland documentary. Pop up throughout the programme, then conclude the series from 56 mins on.
Sun – Piece on Fort William and Lochaber
Wild About Argyll – Blog on new Kintyre 66 driving route
i Paper – Orkney’s prehistoric wonderland
Upcoming (commissioned and/or submitted) – Telegraph, Scotsman, Herald, Fabulous Magazine, i Paper, Scotland Magazine, Motorhome Monthly Magazine, Love Exploring.
For a rundown of my planned travels click here.
