Robin's Story
What are some struggles you've faced with your mental health?
Social media paints a picture that spending time in nature is great for the mind, body, and soul, and I totally agree!
There’s also the glory side of smashing trails and conquering mountains. It can all be a bit offputting to be honest, but what you won’t hear about as much, is pre-trip anxiety. I’m surely not the only one who gets a bit anxious before a solo hiking trip?
I’m a very social person, but over time I have realised that if I want to achieve my goals. For example, completing all the Corbetts (mountains in Scotland between 2,500’ and 2,999’ in height) this year, then I can’t always be with someone. And guess what? It’s actually really nice to spend time alone in the wilderness.
But the night before a big hike, I can start to feel a bit anxious. I worry about being alone out on the hills, imposter syndrome kicks and I doubt my ability. I often almost sack the trip!
If I do make it out the door, I feel the urge to swing the car around, turn back and go home. It’s tough because I think I can confuse anxiety with a gut feeling. But I’ve learned to push myself to go anyway. Within 10-15 minutes into the hike, the anxiety totally fades away, and I’m in the zone, enjoying the sounds and sights of nature and doing some filming stuff for the YouTube channel.
I realise quickly that I know the difference between anxiety and when something isn't quite right
What do you do to keep your mental health in check?
Obviously spending time in the Scottish mountains is a great way to keep my mind healthy, but that’s not always practical.
The weather can be totally pants, or I’m stuck at home doing boring adult stuff, just last week our garden fence got totally destroyed by Storm Éowyn.
So it’s a trip to the hardware shop to get some nails! Hiking aside, a few years back, Nicola and I got our first ever dog. Luna the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She’s been an absolute blast!
Going for local walks alone can be a bit weird, but having Luna by my side makes it so much more fun. Plus, the exercise and seeing her enjoy herself running about mad really helps me relax and unwind.
Having a dog gets us out a lot more and it’s great more pubs and cafes are becoming dog friendly too. I enjoy reliving the hiking trips too, through the video editing and that can easily eat up an evening or two!
What makes you feel most fulfilled?
For me spending quality time with my partner Nicola, day trips, eating out and binging on various TV series. We’re working our way through Slow Horses at the moment and just watched The Traitors final!
From an adventure perspective, the overnighter trips are the most memorable, whether that be wild camping or bothies. Quite recently I was sitting in my tent with the doors tied open looking out over a mountain loch where I just blurted out to my friend Kev who was standing outside “I f*cking love camping”. Kev just laughed but he totally agreed.
What is something you're looking forward to doing?
I’ve been on a mission to bag the Corbetts for almost a decade now. There are a whopping 222 Corbetts in total, and I’m currently sitting pretty at 202.
So, I’m getting really close to the finishing line, and I’m actually looking forward to crossing it off my list. Being a Corbett bagger has probably been my most challenging outdoors adventure yet.
In many ways, the Corbetts are even tougher than the Munros because they’re more isolated, pathless, and sometimes steeper! When I do complete the Corbetts, I’m looking forward to seeking out really cool and interesting places to hike and camp without being attached to any hill list.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with their mental health?
This may be a bit of a cliche: but if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s a good idea to reach out to someone you trust and talk to get it off your chest. If talking to someone close isn’t your thing, there are plenty of charities and support groups.
And hey, if you're feeling a bit self-conscious about walking alone, just remember that no one pays attention if you’re out alone. A bit of fresh air and a leg stretch helps a lot. Even just a blast around the block or nipping out to the shops for a pint of milk.
Ultimately please don’t suffer in silence.
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A massive thank you to Robin for taking the time to write this fantastic post. I hope you all take something from it. I certainly did.
Follw along with his adventures on Instagram @walkwithwallace and on Youtube @WalkWithWallace.
