26/08/2024
‘A mountain has an inside’ ~ Nan Shepherd
In her book ‘The living mountain’ Nan, is beautifully introduced as someone who looks beyond the exterior - peaks, shoulders and cliffs of the mountains and prys into its soul. Taking time to appreciate the cracks in rocks and luminous interiors of the lochs.
The photos above are of a recent trip to complete the 5 White Mounth Munros, including the impressive Lochnagar.
At 29km this is a long day on the hills and if the only aim were to bag the summits the 9 hour day could be a long and exhausting one.
Although I do love ticking off the summits the main enjoyment comes from the stories shared, connections made, the nature spotting, the disconnection from the world below, the comforting feeling of isolation, and the reconnection with myself and the outdoors. Oh, and the food, how could I leave that out!?
The benefits of getting outdoors are obvious but not always optimised. Taking time to truly appreciate and explore the landscape like Nan, can turn a daily walk into a new opportunity for discovery and mindfulness.
I urge you to try it on your next big or small adventure 🏔️