Anna Hardie - Walking the West Highland Way with her 3 year old

In this episode of 'Nurture with Nature,' host Iona Andean speaks with Anna Hardie, an adventure enthusiast and mother, about her challenging yet inspiring experience of trekking the 96-mile West Highland Way with her three-year-old daughter. Anna shares the physical and mental struggles they faced, the initial missteps, and how they overcame doubts and logistical challenges to complete their journey. This heartfelt conversation highlights the importance of perseverance, adjusting expectations, and the incredible potential of children when given the space to explore. Anna also discusses her motivations for creating a supportive community for parents and families who wish to embrace outdoor adventures. Follow Anna's ongoing journey on Instagram @annaxhardie and join her Facebook group 'Little and Large Explorers' for more inspiration.

Follow host Iona Andean on Instagram @iona.adventuring to keep in touch and find out about upcoming episodes

00:00 Introduction to Nurture with Nature
00:22 Meet Adventure Mum Anna Hardie
00:29 Anna's Journey on the West Highland Way
00:40 Struggles and Triumphs on the Trail
01:28 Inspiring Kids to Embrace the Outdoors
02:39 Anna's Outdoor Beginnings
04:04 Balancing Motherhood and Adventure
06:36 Daily Life and Outdoor Adventures
13:29 Planning and Preparing for Long Hikes
15:05 Challenges and Realities of Hiking with a Toddler
28:47 Unexpected Challenges on the Trail
29:41 Dealing with Limited Supplies
32:29 Facing Doubts and Comments from Others
37:17 Struggles and Decision to Go Home
42:44 A New Beginning: Restarting the Journey
48:30 Overcoming Physical Setbacks
50:36 Finishing Strong with Family Support
52:37 Reflecting on the Experience
54:21 Encouraging Outdoor Adventures for Families
58:04 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Transcript

Iona: 0:01

Hello and welcome to Nurture with Nature with me, your host, Iona Andean. This is the show that aims to help encourage and inspire you to seek out the many physical and mental health benefits of time outdoors, truly nurturing yourself with nature Am so excited to finally be sharing this episode as today's guest is self proclaimed adventure mum Anna Hardie. In our conversation, we chat about her experience of walking the 96 mile West Highland Way with her 3 year old daughter. And oh my gosh, does it involve some real ups and downs. She candidly describes the struggle she had with coming to terms with the fact that this particular adventure was a real battle between expectation and reality. And at times she felt she had the completely wrong mindset. Anna touches on the feelings of failure that plagued her at times and the seed of self doubt that so many other walkers unintentionally planted in her mind while on the trail. But I think you'll agree that Anna's story is incredibly inspiring and it highlights the importance of knowing when to stop and listen to your gut. Despite having to re jig their entire itinerary along the way, multiple mishaps and sustaining an injury, Anna and her daughter successfully completed the West Highland Way and I'm delighted she chose to share her story with me. Anna is so passionate about getting kids outdoors and she's been focusing on showing that big or hard adventures are possible with young kids. She admitted to me she really struggles with imposter syndrome, which is hard to imagine when her Instagram@annaxhardie is full to the brim with incredible adventure related content. I hope you'll give her a follow and take a look at the way she's inspiring so many other people and families to get out into nature. Whether you have kids or not, today's conversation is well worth a listen for an insight into the realities of long distance hiking. So please do share it with someone that you know will love it. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode over on Instagram, so tag me@iona.Adventuring. Alright, enjoy the show! It's so good to see you, Anna. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Because you have literally just finished in the last few weeks, walking the West Highland way with your little girl. So I really want to talk to you about that. I'm very, very excited to hear all about it. I know you've been sharing bits and pieces on social media. But can we go back to the start and have a think about how adventure became part of your life Is it something that you grew up with, being in the outdoors? Is it something that you've discovered later in life? Tell me how you got to where you are.

Anna: 2:52

So, I never actually grew up outdoorsy at all. We'd play outside but it just wasn't something we ever did. And then it must have been, 2018. Me and Kieran, my husband, rescued a dog. And I was kind of like, oh, I need to find some way to, tire this dog out I was scrolling through Instagram and somebody had shared one of your posts and I joined your group and that is genuinely not even a lie what started me being outdoorsy I think it was the weekend after somebody was doing one of the Munros and I was like I can do this so I'd had Milo the dog for three weeks before when we started hill walking

Iona: 3:30

Oh my gosh.

Anna: 3:32

So, we'd done that Munro and kind of just spiralled and I hated every single minute I was so sweaty. I didn't have the right lead for Milo and it was just horrible. And when I got to the top I was like, Oh, nice. So I kept going on the walks and I think I got about 40 of the Munros done in that, one year because I just absolutely got the bug for it. And then my dad started coming to them. So he's always been quite outdoorsy, like hill running and all that. And then we started doing and it was nice And then COVID had hit and then I found out I was pregnant and then I was kind of gutted because I'd done so many hills in such a short time that I'd set a goal within a year I wanted to reach this amount of hills. then obviously lockdown hit and then pregnancy and I don't know, you probably experienced the same, I got so many comments from people, family and close friends oh well, you're pregnant, you can't do this anymore. And I'd be like, what Why? When she was born. I know what I'm doing. Why not? You know what it's like having a newborn, be like, protect them. Gotta, gotta make, a bubble. I didn't leave the house for the first I didn't even go on a walk or anything. And I was like, this isn't What I want, nothing wrong with it. I don't want to be that person that stays inside. It's just not me. I think I'd camped maybe once or twice with your group before I had her like ever. And then at six months I was like, Oh, I'm going to And then we just went for a camp and that went well. So she's been camping and hiking with us since she was 6 months So yeah, like never grew up outdoorsy at all. It literally is, maybe in the past four or five years.

Iona: 5:13

I really didn't know that about you. The first time I met you was when we were doing the Ring of Steal. So, because your dad was there that day, Yeah. I just assumed, Anna, that you No. grew up, doing all these outdoorsy things with your

Anna: 5:29

I feel like, in theory, I should have that ambition, but like kind of push as well because he's so like that. I'm actually not. I'm not going to lie, like Instagram, was kind of when it picked up and you had to do it for the Instagram, you had to do it for the photo, didn't you? So I had to climb up the hill just to get that summit photo, but it was mainly I enjoyed it, it was like a feeling of like total type two at the time.

Iona: 5:57

Once you've got that achievement, and once you've got that view. Yeah. And it's sort of like the rose tinted glasses. Oh yeah. You get to the top and you think, aw, it wasn't so

Anna: 6:06

bad. Like, I feel like with, a lot of my hill walking, it's like that as well. I look back on it so fondly, because, It was so fun, like the views were beautiful, the hill, the day, it was great, but at the time I was like,

Iona: 6:17

Like,

Anna: 6:18

like,

Iona: 6:19

soon

Anna: 6:20

I start climbing the first half an hour, it's like, why am I

Iona: 6:22

am I doing this again?

Anna: 6:25

And then I get to the top, I'm like, cool, let's do it again.

Iona: 6:29

It's obviously, it's had such an impact on your life though, because now you're introducing that life to your little girl. And like you said before, you started doing that from about six months. camping and hiking. I mean, it's obviously such a big part of your lifestyle. that you, Yeah, that it's become such a normality for you. And that you feel able and confident to do that with your little girl.

Anna: 6:54

Parent better outside. I just feel like I parent better outside. When you're outside, the stress of daily life isn't there. If I'm in the house for too long, I start stressing about tidying, about chores, about mundane stuff. But as soon as I'm outside, I'm just like, what do you want to do? What do we do? Oh, that sounds fun. Let's do this. And our daily life actually becomes more like, how our childhood should be in my mind, playing in the mud, not being roped into we'll do the dishes together kind of And I think because I started that when she was so young, she's just so accustomed to it now that we'll be in the house on a sunny day and she'll be like, let's go go outside, she just doesn't like being in the house. Which, I think it's a good and a bad thing.

Iona: 7:37

So, you said that you started camping and hiking with your daughter from around six months. Yeah. How old is she now?

Anna: 7:45

will just be over three and a a half.

Iona: 7:48

And how do adventures and the outdoors, how does that fit into your everyday life now with a busy toddler?

Anna: 7:55

Where we live, we're very lucky, in the Highlands. that so much is accessible within such a short reach. So on her days off from nursery, a Monday or Friday, I try, if the weather's good, I want to make most of that because she's had three days inside in a nursery setting. I want her to be able to just play outside. So obviously because our dog Cooper needs walked, we'll find a local little hill or a big woodland walk, we'll do that. Just mainly so that like she has some form of structure as well, because when she had the past three years of it just being like, Oh, it's a Wednesday. Let's go for a camp. There's so much flexibility with being a stay at home mum, that now that she's in. nursery. I want her to still feel like it's still an option. She doesn't have to wait for school holidays, or I want it to be part of her routine midweek as well, that on her day off, we'll go for a walk. We'll go for a hike, or like something like that. And she asked for it as well. But on my Instagram I mainly just post the bigger stuff because to me that's what's fun Think that's why I actually like doing it, is because she's in such a busy setting in nursery, that I want her to have a mum and daughter day. That's what she calls it. I want to for a mum and daughter day. We'll find somewhere that's quiet, that she can just enjoy, nature. And I feel like, just for me, it makes more sense to take him for, like, Cooper, for a big walk. So, like, we're automatically drawn to, like, something that's more challenging, because It just keeps her little mind going as well. Like, it's not just like a, a stroll through the woods. It's something that she actually has to think about.

Iona: 9:41

I was gonna say, do you feel like when you're in a new environment, or kind of a challenging environment for her, do you think that it kind of sparks a different side of her imagination?

Anna: 9:52

I notice a difference in the days that if we're just walking through the woods, she gets so bored so quickly, and she's like, mum, up, up,

Iona: 9:59

up.

Anna: 10:00

But if we're on like, either like a new trail, or one that involves a little bit of scrambling, or like a bridge to cross, or just something that's a bit more exciting, she's so occupied by that, and it keeps her mind going, she's so appreciative of nature as well. There's some walks that we'll go on and say we get to the summit and she's like, wow, is so pretty. And I'm like, it is. And she's like, I love

Iona: 10:24

Scotland,

Anna: 10:25

but I feel like obviously it's because she's heard me over time be like, wow, look at this, but she just now. says it herself, I absolutely love it because I never expect it when she does it. Don't get me wrong, the days that we go through the woods, she'll be like, wow, mom, look how tall these trees are. Like, she'll find enjoyment in it. But I just find she finds more pleasure

Iona: 10:48

Mm-Hmm.

Anna: 10:50

from the ones that she does once a week, because it's something that she looks forward to.

Iona: 10:55

I think it's important to note as well, like you're speaking about the the way that you show adventures on your Instagram and you're saying that you prefer to show the kind of bigger adventures and the things that are a little bit more challenging. Like, it's your social media, you can do what you want with it. I think that's also a reflection we were speaking about this before recording. That you actively look for people to follow. for Inspiration. And if that's what your looking for in other people. then its only natural that you are then going to show that side of yourself and your family life as well. And there's no right or wrong with social media. There's no rules about what you should or shouldn't share. You can share what you want

Anna: 11:41

subconsciously as because Some of the comments that I got when I was pregnant, or even when I was starting adventuring, being like, you shouldn't really take your child, is it safe? I feel like I share more of our bigger ventures so that people can straight away see, oh well, they do this, so maybe it is possible, whereas if I shared more of our day to day, it might not have the same kind of effect, because a lot of parents are aware that they can Take a walk in the woods. They can go like around a country park or that they might not have the confidence or that push to maybe go up a local hill because they're not used to seeing it. So I feel like subconsciously like I post more about that because I want people to be like, Oh, well my kids are in the same age. Why can't I try this? Like you said, like I, when I'm searching for people, for inspiration or to follow or to connect with. I try and look for the ones that, not that there's anything wrong with sharing the daily but I look for the ones that do something so that I can push myself and push her and be like well let's try this and I feel like that's where us doing the West Highland Way came into it is like she was at a stage where carrying her on my back up hills wasn't really feasible because she wanted to walk but she didn't have the endurance or the strength to go up a big hill because it's steep. It's tough on the legs. Like I struggle. So doing it with her, she just wouldn't have enjoyed it. So I was like, well, let's walk in a straight line. Let's go in a path that won't involve a lot of up and down, but it's still challenging. So I feel like that's why we picked it to do I've wanted to do a long distance for years. just try it.

Iona: 13:29

try it. So the West Highland Way, was this your first experience of a long distance? hike? Even yourself? Mmhm. Okay.

Anna: 13:36

like there's, you probably know of it, the Dava Way, it's Grantown to Forress. I think it's about 24 miles. When she was about one, one and a half, I was like, I really want to do it, but I could not for the life of me figure out the logistics of carrying all of her stuff and carrying her because she'd want to go on the big structured carrier. So I stressed myself out an unreal amount trying to plan it, couldn't do it, so I put it off. And then I think it was about October last year, I really wanted to do a long distance. She can walk. I can carry everything now. I don't need to worry about that. And my mind just went straight from out of the DAVA and I'd heard so many people talking about like the West Highland Way about how incredible the views are, to me, it was doable. So I just started planning it. And it's so funny. The fact that I got so stressed over a 24 mile walk and the logistics of how could I do it with a child that a 96 mile walk was

Iona: 14:38

just like, oh yeah. Theory

Anna: 14:42

a 96 mile walk should never even be on my radar but i was like well if i'm gonna do it with her i might as well do the most popular like the most kind of well known. Mainly for if something went wrong there's people on trail

Iona: 14:56

or

Anna: 14:57

or it's so accessible

Iona: 14:59

did you know of anybody who had done a hike like this with a toddler no

Anna: 15:05

And that's partly the reason that I wanted to do it, is because, why can't you do it with a toddler? There's people from all ages that do these long distance walks, teens to retirement age, I mean, she can walk, she can hike, she has the, the, the, um, the stamina to play all day, why can't she walk all day kind of mindset. And I think that's partly why I want to do it is because I wanted to show if it is actually possible one to do it and that

Iona: 15:35

enjoyable. Maybe, um, maybe

Anna: 15:40

I set up like the enjoyable bit too much. But

Iona: 15:42

up like the enjoyable bit too much, But No, I

Anna: 15:54

feel like that was just from my own, it was my own fault, like I put so much pressure on enjoying it, doing it, that I actually never, I thought about it more as a whole rather than day by day. And that was my downfall. So like the first few days I just really didn't enjoy because in my mind I'd seen so many pictures. Hours like 100, 200 hours of YouTube videos of people being like, this is great that I set that for my expectation rather than being like, I'm doing this with my child. It's not going to be like that. Um, so I feel like that's why I didn't enjoy it is because I just put too much pressure to enjoy it. I never, In hindsight, I never thought about when I was doing these hills, I hated every single minute of doing the hills. So I never thought that it might be the same for walking. I didn't enjoy the hills until after. So why would walking be any different? I feel like that I was just in the wrong mindset for

Iona: 16:59

it.

Anna: 17:00

I'd seen, People post about, kids, maybe, like, 11, 12. And then when I was doing my research, I couldn't find anything younger than 8. And this was me scrolling for hours and days, on forums, Google, Facebook, Instagram. I just couldn't find anything. So I was just like, well, there's only one way to find out if a child can do it. And that was by doing it.

Iona: 17:26

I love your ambition. I also love how candid you've been about it in the aftermath, because I know that you toyed with how much to share about the sort of more negative feelings that you had about the Highland Way. looking at the responses that you've had on social media, people have found it so valuable. How honest you've been. Very refreshing. And I said this to you, I know I message you when you were kind of swithering over how much to share and how much to cut back on and I had said to you, it's your experience, that is what you

Anna: 18:11

Yeah, that's what our reality

Iona: 18:13

was. And

Anna: 18:15

I think subconsciously I was worried about like trolls because I, there's such like a stigma and taboo about being a these kind of things with kids anyway, like there's such an opinion about whether it's safe, whether kids should be doing it, why aren't they just like in a park or I was kind of worried that if I was so honest and actually real about what happened, that I'd get like a backlash being like, well, what did you expect? But then I was like, do you know what? I could go to the park and hate every minute of it. So why wouldn't I share what actually happened? Especially because I wanted to find out if it was possible. I didn't want potentially somebody to just be like, Oh, well, they've done it with their young child. They loved every minute of it. And then make whoever possibly does it afterwards hate every minute because I wasn't real about it. And they've had such an expectation from me not sharing everything. Um, I just kind of came to the conclusion, I was like, you know what, if I'm honest about it and being real about it and then I'm actually giving a proper reality of what a potential long distance hike looks like with a young child, somebody else could do it and have a complete different experience and love every single minute of it. But then that's their experience.

Iona: 19:33

And that's just life. Yeah. We can all do things. we can all attempt to do the same or similar things. and have a completely different journey through that

Anna: 19:43

But at least they'll know possibly what to expect, just from our experience. And I feel like if I had gone in, with the first few posts being like, this is great, Kieran would have been like, do you want me to remind you of the phone calls I

Iona: 19:57

I call? And

Anna: 19:58

I was phoning him being

Iona: 19:59

like, I

Anna: 20:00

do it. This is so hard. I feel like It would have just been such a lie, see even if a year, if I looked back I'd be like, what happened, why did I lie lie about that?

Iona: 20:12

I mean, let's get into it, let's discuss the West Highland Way, because let's talk about the logistics and the weather and the food, because I know that was a big thing. so yeah, let's, let's let's talk about it.

Anna: 20:26

She was genuinely having the time of her life, but it was me getting into my own mind. It wasn't like we were both moaning. So as far as she's concerned, she's had the best four days ever, and I'm in my own head, like, thunder, the little guy on my shoulder is like, what are you doing? Completely different experience for her. She loved, she loved it. And she would be telling me all the time, she's like, mum, I love this walk. mum, are we camping here? Let's set up a tent here. I'd be like, well, we're on the side of a trail, like an ant couldn't even put up a tent there. And she'd be like, that's the perfect place to place camp! So the whole time that I'm stressing out about these tiny things that in hindsight, shouldn't be an issue, she's just vibing. It was challenging for me, for me. Not for her. She absolutely blew through this and that's so funny that I struggled with it. But again, I think that was expectation and like, this idea I had created. When we were walking, it's such a well marked trail, we didn't need a map or anything the whole time because it's so incredibly way marked. She was in charge, if we seen a sign with a logo, it just became her thing, she'd be like, right mum, we're on the right path, or right mum, this way. And then, um, There'd be certain times that we'd pass the signs that say, the West Highland Way and she'd be like, Mum, what does that say? So I'd tell her and she's like, Oh, we're gonna go do that. And I'm like, We're doing it right now. So I don't, I don't think she fully comprehended that she was actually doing it, but she was doing it. happy to do it, if you know what I mean.

Iona: 22:05

Why. And I guess as a parent in any situation, you have all the responsibility on your shoulders. Take into account the fact that you'd never done a long distance hike even before having your daughter. So you hadn't experienced that for yourself. And then, The fact that you're carrying all the equipment, so you've got the physical toll on you. You told me as well that, you know, you were forecast to have rain, it was meant to be miserable. Yet you were faced with blazing sunshine, blistering heat,

Anna: 22:36

When we were planning it, I'd picked the end of April into May. as a rough time to do it because in my mind I was like, I'd rather take two weeks of miserable rain and weather than two weeks of midges. So I was like, we'll go earlier. And I was fine with that. We had all the gear for that weather. First day, miserable rain. I was fine. And then it was the end of the second day where the sun came out and it didn't leave until, I didn't leave. There was maybe one or two days, on our rest days where it was overcast, but actual, our hiking days, sun, from day two until when we finished on the twelfth day, it was full sunshine. My base weight. It was about 16 kilograms for the two of us. Um, and then obviously the food and water brought that up to about 20 kilograms, which I was fine with. I was comfortable wearing. I'd spent a few weeks and months walking with the bag and kind of adjusting to it. So I was completely fine with that, but I never considered the weather might be really nice and that everything that I was wearing would have to be carried. So all of our waterproof and like kind of cold weather gear was now on my back and we didn't have shorts, the typical outfits that you would wear for a sunny hike mainly because it wasn't forecast and I was like I'm not carrying Unnecessary stuff. So that was very hard. Because I couldn't dump that stuff in the chance that I needed it. So it's not like I could get Kieran to potentially come and pick it up as dead weight because the day after might hailstoning. So it was very hard in that sense of not knowing what to pack.

Iona: 24:32

So, you had this additional weight that you were carrying. In the event that the weather was going to change, you needed to be prepared. I know that you've spoken on social media about, food stops and having enough snacks and water and things on board. Your pace was obviously slower. than Pretty much anybody on the trail, I imagine. because of little legs. So, how did that work logistically, fueling yourself, fueling your daughter, to keep yourselves going to the next stop, the next camp, or the next food stop?

Anna: 25:04

So, originally, the day before we were leaving, it was all set for me to carry everything. She was never going to take a bag, because I didn't want her to be weighed down by anything. I just wanted her to be able to walk, as her. And then, as I had packed everything, I realised that, in her hip belts and that, I'd put snacks and I was like, you know what, this isn't enough. It's not enough, she's gonna have to carry a bag. So we found her smallest bag, and we just loaded it to the brim with snacks. oat bars, fruit, just sweets, just anything that, she might want to snack on during the day. And that was fine, she was actually really excited to have her own bag., so, when we were planning and researching, Most people, for the first few days anyway, most people's stops are the same because of the camping management zone, so they have to reach a certain point. And most people will tell you, you don't need to bring food, you don't need to bring an excess amount of food because your end stop will have somewhere. But because we were walking at her pace, After the first three days anyway, um, our days were essentially split in half of the normal walkers. So, where they said there's an end point, we'd actually, we'd be reaching that the day after. Um, so I had to carry food, which was fine with, I didn't mind that. Walking with a child, they snack anyway, but walking long distance, she's burning so much calories I didn't consider in my mind that she would be burning so much calories that she'd be so hungry. So we'd only had these snacks And when we'd got to the place for lunch, or supposedly where we were going to be stopping for lunch about the halfway mark, it was closed. We got there at I think 2:58 and it shut at. 3. And my heart just sank because at this point I didn't have a backup. Because all this research said this is the place to stop for lunch. It's great food. There was another place a mile down, which was fine. there was a backup. And this was my own fault. And part of the reason why I did not enjoy the first few days is because the research was all catered to older hikers. It wasn't catered to slower pace, little legs, kind of. And that's my own fault. but like I said when I was researching there was nothing younger than eight years old so I was basing it off what an eight year old could manage rather than what a three year old could manage. So that day I just took a loss, took a taxi back to the start point in Mulgahy and went, you I'm going to Aldi. I'm buying as much food as I can physically pop in to this bag, wraps, ham, apples, like anything that would actually be a substantial lunch. So I think maybe I added two or three kilograms on and that just helped the days afterwards because we had something and then I sat on my phone and I ate. Probably should have, again, done this before we started. I sat and found out all the food places on the stops. And made a list of, Day 2, stop for lunch here, if not, back up place. Dinner, if we can't stop there, dinner's this. And it eased my mind a bit, but again, it's something I should have But I didn't know until I was on trail that

Iona: 28:39

This is what I was going to say. You're Saying to yourself, I should have done this. I should have done that. You just

Anna: 28:45

No. And she was happy. She could not have cared less. She was just there for the, the journey. But because as a parent, it's my sole responsibility, this whole, the whole lesson way I was essentially sole parenting. the whole responsibility of keeping her fed, keeping her hydrated, warm, was on me and my back It was just a stress that I never, I never really thought about because when you go for a day hike you have your packed lunch, you have snacks to do you through the day that's never normally a problem because you can go home at the end of the day. We were hours from home so it would not be an issue and hats off Kieran the amount of times that he was like do you want me to come down and I will drop off? Like support from him was incredible and I was like, no, it's fine because there's people that come from around the world that can do this without their husband coming to save them. Another thing that we find from our research is there's honesty boxes on trail as well, which I've never seen in my life before. And it's just people out of the kindness of their own hearts setting up essentially cool box stalls filled with juice, ice creams, crisps, water, anything with a price list and it's just like an honesty, you put in the amount and they, they trust you to do that. These had been planned in for my stops as well, but because I had taken a taxi back on the first day, it only took cash. So all the money that I had had cash for these honesty boxes, I put in the taxi, which is fine. I didn't mind that until I realized I forgot to take my bank card. So I couldn't take more money out. Thankfully RBS have a cash up thing and there was a Tesco money out. But because I was like, I don't know how much to take now because day one I've already spent a fortune getting a taxi back. What happens if I need this again, like on like day six and the nearest taxi is like how many miles away? So I was kind of, again, stressing about that. A lot of people say that there's shops on route that you can replenish your stock at. I googled them and it says like campsites, yeah we got an on site shop. Turns out that these shops they don't even have basics, like bread, they don't have tin food, anything to make a substantial meal, it's more just say if you're camping on this campsite and you're snacky, go get a packet of crisps. Go get a wee juice or And I just completely didn't expect this because when somebody says shop, you think shop, like proper food. Um, so there was a few days where we're like super noodles and like cup of soups and nothing like it should, it obviously was keeping us fed and fueled and she was loving it. She was like, Oh, we have noodles again for dinner. If I'd known that beforehand that these shops weren't actually really shops, I would have just taken the hit on the weight of my bag and filled it I had bought like four or five dehydrated meals with the intention of taking them, but when I was packing my bag to leave I was like, they're shops, I don't actually, this is unnecessary weight. So in hindsight, I should have just taken them. As a backup, um, because they would have been great so yeah, the weight wasn't an issue at all. A lot of people hiking my weight was an I had a 55 liter bag with In theory, I would have liked something a bit bigger just for filling it. That managed to take all of our camping stuff and hiking with room. I feel like if I had bigger, I would have taken more, just in case items, which probably wouldn't have actually been a good thing. So, we had quite a few people stopping to make a comment on like the weight of my bag because obviously the way it was packed I had my tent on the front rather than the inside just because it was comfier for my centre of gravity for it to be there. Um, so it looks bigger and fuller and heavier than it actually was. I had quite a few people stopping just general like comments, Oh, hi, how's it going? How old is like your daughter? are you actually doing this? Oh, your bag looks too heavy. How much is it? And I'd be like, Oh, about 20 like 20. Like, how are you carrying that? And I'd be with ease. Um, because we were stopping a lot. I could take that. it off so it wasn't like I was walking for hours carrying this weight we were stopping quite frequently so my shoulders and back were getting a break but then I'd be like well how much is yours and it'd weigh the same and I'd be like so you're carrying for one person and I'm carrying for two but you're telling me our bags that weigh the same mine is too heavy and it was little comments like that The doubt that they were Unintentionally pinning on me, being like is this too heavy? It was little things like that that just added up and it's part of again why I hated like the first few days is because I just felt so unprepared and these little comments were making it aware that I actually possibly was unprepared Because I was like oh well Is my bag too heavy but I've packed the wrong stuff because I've not packed summer stuff like um, sun stuff or I've not packed food. What have I packed that's adding weight? But actually, completely fine. It worked for us, there wasn't one thing in that bag that we didn't use or need. And the weight wasn't an issue. So it was just little naysayers

Iona: 34:22

so let's speak about that because you have said that you couldn't find anything that said that There was somebody as young as your daughter had done something like the West Highland Way. So obviously, I imagine a lot of people that you came across on the trail had a comment for you.

Anna: 34:41

you.

Iona: 34:41

Were you prepared for that?

Anna: 34:43

No. Um, which is quite funny to think about now because I expected comments after we had finished. say if I posted on social media, I expected people to maybe comment about her age there. But never once in the six, seven months I was planning it, did a thought ever come across my mind that other people on trail would would comment on her age. And of course, why wouldn't they? I don't know why, never, ever. It just never came into my mind. So instantly I was so taken aback um by these comments and 90 percent of them were so kind, so encouraging and supportive about her and being like wow that's incredible but it was the certain comments that we got that I wasn't expecting it not even bad intentions, but people being like, you're not doing it, are you? you're not doing the West Highland Way, rather than being like, oh, are you, are you doing it? It was the instant, like, you're not, are you? That kind of doubtful tone that I'd be like, why, why, why wouldn't I? Um, or people being like, oh, where are you planning on going with that bag? Same place you're going with your bag. It was that doubtful tone, and people being like, Oh, we've never seen a child this young on a trail, is it safe? And as any parent who hikes or camps or does anything outdoors know, internally risk assess. an incredible amount because obviously you're in charge, you're responsible and for your child. I feel like people just expected me to wake up on the Monday morning and be like, Oh, we're going to attempt the West Highland Way. Don't get me wrong I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything. They added an insane amount of pressure to me because people would be like, Oh, well, surely she's one of the youngest. walkers, you'll have to contact your paper, she'll be breaking records, and we're on day two, three here. I've got another potentially 11 days of this. they were making me think just of the end, being like, I have to get to the end. Because now there's so much pressure. If I don't do it, they'll be like, See, told you it wasn't suitable for a child, rather than Oh, well, we're attempting this to see if we can. It now became you have to do this. Otherwise, you've just proven that kids can't do this. In my mind, it was solely on me. And it was just an insane amount of pressure. And I totally understand like why people were stopping but it got to the point where Because her pace, we were constantly being overtaken. Constantly. To the point where she was just like, Oh mum, we'll have to move over. We're being overtaken again. Like it was an ongoing joke for us. but it got to the point where I just knew there was a comment coming. a flyby comment. And it got to the point where instead of enjoying my day, I was just kind of being like. Here comes another one. And I don't want to say that in a way that makes me sound really ungrateful for how encouraging people were. But like, when people were stopping to talk, it wouldn't be like, oh, what's your name? It was just solely about her and her age and, wow, I can't believe you're doing this. It wasn't like, oh, hi, how are you doing? how are you finding the walk? are you enjoying? none of it was directed towards me. And I just kind of became aware as well, that must be a lot of overwhelming for her, because one day it was about 30 And that's a lot, for a young child to be interacting with people they don't know. Being like, how old are you? What's your name? Wow, you're doing this. And I became very aware that I didn't want her to start feeling like she was, out of place. So again, that put a lot of pressure on me. Or some of the trail had steps that were the height of her, that she was with ease managing to get up. But then people would come up so quick behind us, she'd be like, Mum, I need to move. And I'd be like, you are welcome on this trail. you are just as, Allowed to be taking your time. Don't rush. She'd be like, okay, okay, okay. And these people, They honestly, they didn't care. They had no intention of rushing a child. I feel like because she'd had so many comments, she was now aware that she wasn't as common as these older people. so I feel like when it came to a point where she needed to take her time, she was starting to be like, mum, I need, I need to hurry. I can't hurry because I don't want to hold people up. I feel like I maybe overcompensated in a way, but also, because of these comments, I think I, it affected my mood towards. our day to day and I was getting stressed at how slow we were going rather than being like she needs to go this slow Well we need to get to this end point so that we could get to this end point so that we finish it rather than we'll get to this point and if we need a day we'll take a day My attitude and like kind of overall person towards her was just not kind um and I feel like these comments were Partly the reason of that because Instead of it being a fun thing for us to do. I just I didn't like who I was and I it's not something that I even considered I think it was like on the Seventh hiking day, because we took a few rest days, um, I was a bit snappy and short and moody with her, and then I made the decision to go home, and we just didn't have a good day, and We'd walked to our campsite, so we'd, we'd made it to like the official halfway point at the Crianlarich crossroads and we'd walked maybe about a mile further than that to find a place to wild camp and then I realized that we didn't have any water and there was no streams in this, um, the woods that would have been suitable to drink We had water, I mean like to make dinner and for the morning but it just wasn't a comfortable. A mount for me. And then I was on the phone to Kieran, and I was just like, pick me up? I've not enjoyed the past, the whole trip so far. I've been horrible to her, like, snappy. So we made the decision to go home. So he drove two and a half hours down to come and get me at, like, eight o'clock at night. Um, and he was so supportive about it. He was like, it's your call, like, what do you think? So. as soon as I got in the car, we started driving from, Crianlarich to, home, Inverness Way. And we were passing, Bridge of Orchy and, Tyndrum and all that. And I could see Walker still on the trail and I burst into tears. And it's so funny to think about now because Kieran must have been like, whoa, that's like a 180 on your mood. what the heck has just happened? And it was because, I had been so set from Crianlarich to the finish at Fort William and being so excited because it's the most beautiful part. That's the only bit I wanted to walk. And in my mind, we were quitting. so in my mind, that was the bit that I was most excited for. I know that area. Like, the aspect of wild camping. wasn't frightening me for that, like I wanted to do it and the fact that we were in a car not doing it on our way home just floored me. And it's so funny to think about now because it was so overdramatic for Walt. He was like, Are you okay? And I was just like, no, I was like, I feel like a failure. I did. I felt like such a failure just making that decision to call. But the fact that I made that decision, it wasn't easy. D'ya know what, I wanted this to be a fun adventure. All I've done is snap her. I've been moody. I've not enjoyed it. What's the point? it was partly because we were unprepared in the aspect of food. I'm expecting the comments and like about an hour into the drive Kieran was like, well, I'm off in two days time. I'll drive you back down if you want to finish. take these two days as a rest, reset, repack your bag, take out anything that you might possibly not need because now you know what you need in terms of food, you know what you need in terms of Expecting comments and that, he's like, you now know a lot more than you did at the start. Um, honestly, I feel like that made the world of difference because him giving me that option it went from me failing to I'm just having a rest day. well I'm having a rest day at home so maybe that's not the same. And I was like, do you know what? People think rest days are a holiday. I'm just lucky enough that I live close enough that it's not an issue to have it at home. So bless his heart, he drove us back down at like 7 o'clock in the morning A couple days later, dropped us off. And honestly, I think that would have been the morning of day 8 until day 12 when we finished. I had the best time of my life and it's so funny, the comparison how much the first 40 odd miles was just horrible compared to the last, 40 odd And I feel like it was just the knowing of what to expect. Um, and I just feel like that made the world of difference. I expected the slower pace. I completely replanned our route so she was managing about seven, eight miles before she was like, mum, let's stop. So the 10 mile, 10, 11 mile days that I'd planned, scrapped them and um, made them to like eight miles max and just added a few days on at the end for the mileage that we needed to do. I just completely changed my mindset this is, it's not about me. It's not about what I want to do. it's about her. So I changed the mile mileage. Find more potential places to camp because that was a huge stress of mine when I'm wild camping is I'm a planner like I love to know where we're going where we're stopping where we can stop like plan B's and all that I hate the spontaneous nature of wild camping it's just not for me but obviously Bridge of Orchy, Glencoe I know that area so I know like what to expect and I just feel like that just made it so much better and it was just so much more enjoyable after that because I knew that there was no shop so I had to carry the food so we were so prepared on that I knew there's streams and rivers because I know that area like so it was more the knowing of what worked and what didn't work for us in the first half made the second half So much more enjoyable and I just had such a good time that I honestly was just like living life.

Iona: 45:45

You obviously went through that first stage of the West Highland Way feeling like it was It's not what you expected, it wasn't what you had prepared for, And. I just want to pick up on the fact that you said there about feeling like when Kieran picked you up you felt like a failure. you felt like you had let yourself down almost, it sounds like, And you said something about being overdramatic when you were crying. I just want to say, I don't think that sounds overdramatic. I think that sounds like A parent who is completely overwhelmed by emotion, by stress, by other people's comments, and by your own like, expectations. but it's just And that's okay.

Anna: 46:37

I feel like. Also, because, it was just me and her, I was essentially lacking in, the adult conversation. So as soon as I got into the car with Kieran, it was, like, seven days worth of compressed emotions and thoughts just spilled out. The actual in person, connection and speaking to him about what went wrong just absolutely floored me, because none of our hikes that we've ever done or camps have ever, I'm very lucky to say it ever gone wrong. And then for the first time that I've done a long distance, everything possible. Like, day two my stove broke. I broke the lighter ignition on it. So thankfully I had a backup lighter, but that was inconvenient. I fell on the first day and I absolutely skinned my knee. Nothing that had ever happened seemed to all be happening in the short amount of days. And it was just like, Oh my goodness, what have I actually got myself into? And I feel like I needed to go through that to be able to have the second half that I did. And I feel like you'll notice that in the photos that I'll share from the second half, because I just wasn't myself. I wasn't. in the right mindset. So the photos that I was taking, as much as I love them, they weren't the photos that they could have been. And it's not about the photos, but that's the only way I can kind of describe it for people listening is that if they see like the contrast in the ones from the first day to the second day, uh, the first half, sorry, the second half, you'll see the difference I just felt like myself and like we had such an amazing time despite the fact I sprained my ankle. The fact I fell again on the same knee. So despite that, if that had happened in the first half I fully would have been like, I'm going home. But because like when I sprained my ankle I was just walking along an access track essentially and I just absolutely stacked it. I had no idea and I knew straight away, I was like, oh, I've done my ankle in. If that had happened four, five days prior, I would have quit at that moment but I was having such a good time that I was just like, well, this could be an issue. I'll just see, I'll just carry on and see what happens. And this happened maybe about a mile from the King's house in Glencoe. And it was such a hazy sunny day that I could see the King's house. When it happened. And that mile and a bit was the longest mile of my life because it wasn't getting any closer. And I was like, you know what, I'll make it to there, and if my ankle is really that bad there's nothing I can do about that. That's like, out with my control. I'll have to stop. So I hobbled down into the King's House. First person I met, physio. there was an absolutely wonderful lady called Sharon. Um, she obviously passed us earlier in the day, and she asked how our hike had gone, like how our day had gone. And I was like, oh, I think I've ankle. And she's like, oh, well, I'm a physio, do you want me to have a look? And I was just like, get away. Like, I have not been lucky this whole trail. There's no way. She took one look at it and she was like, oh yeah, you've sprained it. I'll find you some tape and I'll tape it up for you. So she taped it up for me and instantly it felt so much better. Um, and I said to her, I was just, I was like, I'm a bit, well, I have to give up. And she was like, take a rest day if you can. And she was like, it won't do any damage if you do walk on it, but take a rest day. And in my mind, I was like, perfect. We're in the King's house. I just set up a belting spot right next to the river, sitting with my foot in the river, just icing it. Because I obviously didn't have an ice pack, so I was just using the river. So cold. It was just like, out of a a bad movie, all these things were happening. Thankfully, my dad was coming to join us, um, on the next section. So he was going to join us from, the King's House to Fort William, basically. So he took his van down, so we managed We took the day's arrest, which I'm glad I did, because I could not walk the day after. So we took it as arrest, so the day that my dad met us, I dumped my bag in his van and took a daypack and I have never felt lighter in my life Like honestly for the first time in what, 11 days, we were overtaking people I was just in such a good mood because you know what, I've sprained my ankle But I don't have to carry 20 kilograms anymore. Like I can take a 2 kilogram, 3 kilogram day bag And it's just, I was like, finally some, some good luck on this trail. Um, so yeah, the second half is so much more pleasant. And the most amazing thing is because my dad was there, we managed to get more mileage in because, she wanted to walk her granddad. She was so excited. It was like motivation. And Cooper joined us as well, so she was just so she just had like a new wave of motivation. And then, so we got to the finish line, and, um, because we'd finished, I think, two days earlier than I was meant to, um, because of my dad's help. We met Sharon at the finish line. she just happened to walk past us and I honestly was so delighted because the finish line, I don't know if noticed, you walk through Fort William and it's kind of It's a bit underwhelming after what you've just walked. And it just made it feel like full circle that somebody who had helped me be able to finish Now was at the finish and I just thought it was so lovely. She was so excited to see us as well Which just made it so much better I feel like it ended on such a good high note considering how it started um But I mean it hasn't put me off because I've already been planning already I've already been planning to do more, and I'm like, oh do you know what, it wasn't that bad. The whole time I made a point of having, day logs, because I was like, some of these days were truly, horrific. I don't want to forget this. I don't want, the good, to just be remembered. I want when I post this to be as honest. And it's a good thing I did because honestly I look back now and I'm like, ah, it bad. What was I complaining about? But because I have these logs I can tell people, little things that, made our day so bad that, might help other potential people. I want when she asks me, maybe in a few years. What it was like, I can be like, honestly, you had a ball but I hated it. I want to be as truthful with her as well, so that if she ever, say in 15 years decides she wants to do her own one, she, she won't just be like, oh well, when me and mum did this it was great, I want her to be able to be like, this was actually tough. like it is tough, like you're walking 96 miles, that's hard

Iona: 53:43

I just really hope that you'll take away the fact that She enjoyed it so much. That is such an amazing opportunity that you have given her at such a young age. And say a massive congratulations for completing the West Highland Way with your three and a half year old. That is incredible. Honestly, I love hearing all aspects of it. I love how candid you are about it and how open and honest. And I think a lot of people are really going to resonate with that. and hopefully get some inspiration from it. I wanted to ask you about the Facebook group. that You have set up well I'll let you explain, the way I see it is to, help and encourage more parents and children to get

Anna: 54:33

Yeah, so it's basically that. It's um, it's called Little and Large Explorers and I, I, it came into my mind one day because, um, I'm very lucky that I've had quite a few people reach out to me before and ask for help and advice, even if it's just on clothing or anything camping or hiking related and they always say they want to try but they don't know where to start. So the idea just kind of came into my mind um that I'll start a Facebook and in theory people can share their adventures or post um and it would help others either learn or get inspiration or tag along. I've noticed that a lot of these groups that are already out there are solely mum and child adventurers. And I just feel like that's not fair for, the stay at home dads, or grandparents and all that. So I've tried to make it, as inclusive as possible. Because everybody should be able to go out with their kids, or, grandkids, cousins and that. And have a space, safe space to do it. So that was the mindset that I was in when I made it so that nobody feels left out or nobody feels that they can't participate in one type of activity because they don't fit like a demographic of what it is. I get why people, like there's no like judgment to the ones that are like solely like mom related or solely dad related because they have their reasons for. For setting them up. But mine was just more everybody's welcome. The more merrier kind of, um, mindset. And I quite like it because it's, I want people to be able to feel like you don't have to start young with your kid. You can, if they're older or you've never done it, it's still possible. Like we said earlier, I didn't start. being outdoors until I was in my mid twenties, I don't want anyone else to feel like they have to be a certain age, or they have to have grown up with it, or their kids have had to grow up with it.

Iona: 56:32

And I have to say the Facebook group is amazing because it's not just about organising events like walks and camping trips. It's also a safe space where people can post to ask for advice. Whether that's on clothing, kit, camp spots. I've seen a whole variety of questions asked in there. And honestly, everybody just responds with so much support and love and appreciation for the fact that it's a fellow parent or a grandparent who just wants to be able to take their, take their child outside

Anna: 57:06

and get Being outdoors with kids can be really stressful, not knowing what they need to wear, how they need to be dressed, what gear's suitable, what gear's not suitable. So it's an absolute mind field if you're just getting started. I'm so grateful for everyone that has been so supportive because I've never once seen a judgmental comment or someone being a bit snarky or anything. Like, it's just genuinely people sharing a love for a hobby and that they want to encourage it

Iona: 57:35

I'd say It's a really supportive community. And that's what I think is really important as a parent. Having this community where you can reach out, ask questions, get advice, feel supported. You've created that, and it's a, it's a, really lovely gift.

Anna: 57:50

I want it to be like, welcoming and supportive. And something that people want to be a part of. Um, and obviously that takes time and I made the group, but it's other people that have helped grow it.

Iona: 58:03

We've covered so much, and it's been so nice chatting to you. One final thing I would like to ask you is, for anybody who is listening to this episode, what's one thing that you really would like them to take away from this, out of everything that we've spoken about, or even anything? that we haven't covered? Oh

Anna: 58:23

The first thing that probably actually comes to mind is that I feel like a lot of people don't give kids credit for what they can actually achieve. I was very bad for, putting her in a box and kind of, limiting, for my own, like, insecurities and reasons I didn't, I was like, Oh, that's too dangerous. Oh no, I don't, I don't want to do that. But I feel like kids are capable of so much more than we allow And that we want to kind of accept. And I feel like it's so important just to even like for an hour or a day or something, give them a space to just be a child and see what they can actually do. I feel like that's such an important thing because Like your mind goes into overdrive as a parent and you start thinking worst case scenarios. But think about what we were doing as kids. They need the freedom to be able to have risky play but safely or even just give an opportunity to, to try and do something that they've never done like camping or hiking. You don't know what they're capable of unless you give them a space to, to try. And I feel like that's very important. I don't know if it's from personal experience, when I stopped kind of babying her and dictating how she plays, or where she plays, I just noticed such a change in her because She was experimenting herself. But also, I would have never known that she's possible doing a long distance walk with if we never tried. I gave her that space and she absolutely blew my expectations and, just showed that I was, underestimating her. Um, so I feel like it's just important just to let your child sometimes take the lead and, just let them be them for a minute. But you're close enough that if they need you, you're there.

Iona: 1:00:05

I love that. That's that's such a good takeaway. Anna, thank you so much for taking the time to chat about the West Highland Way. I want to say thank you for documenting it on social media as well because I, for one, love seeing the photos, love reading the captions, the hard bits, the good bits, the everything in between. and I've loved watching your adventures with your daughter since she was a baby. Obviously I knew you before you had her. And you've just been a massive inspiration for me. Um, as a parent. So, yeah, thank you so

Anna: 1:00:38

Thank you for even just giving me the opportunity to ramble. Um, no, it's so appreciated

Iona: 1:00:49

I hope you'll agree that Anna's story really is proof that it's possible to try something for the first time, regardless of whether you know you're capable of it or not. You really won't know until you try, and that's what will stick with me from our conversation today. You can take a look back at Anna's photos and words from the West Highland Way over on her Instagram account,@annaxhardie. There you can keep up to date with Anna's upcoming adventures, including her plans to walk yet another long distance hike, the Affric Kintail Way. If you'd like to join her family friendly outdoor group on Facebook, then search for Little and Large Explorers. It really is a wonderful, welcoming community. As always, word of mouth is the most effective way for me to reach more people with the incredible stories that my guests share. I've been so grateful for your support so far and I'd love if you could share the show on social media. Tag me if you've been enjoying it or send it to a friend that you know will love it. I hope even more of you can find your own ways of feeling truly nurtured with nature. I'll see you soon.