Munros and Mindfulness

Breathing in the Highlands: Munros as My Therapy

After doing jewellery since 2020, I knew I needed to be a bit more hands on to get the inspiration for my pieces. While the beach is 5 minutes away for all my coastal needs, and I am local to lots of lovely forest walks, I really wanted to see a side of Scotland I hadn't explored - and get up those hills.

The Queens Well Monument, Mount Keen

My munro journey started in 2024, starting off with the one closest to home, Mount Keen. After a 4.5 hour hike in all 4 seasons, that was me hooked. By the end of 2024, I had successfully bagged 15 - so just 267 left - and I was hooked. It wasn't just another way to get inspiration for colours and textures for upcoming collections anymore, but something for myself.

There’s a rhythm to climbing a Munro that feels like a moving meditation — one foot in front of the other, trying to steady your breath and push past achy legs - the worries I carried at the start of the trail always seem to fall away, one by one, with each step I take toward the summit.

The feeling of making it to the top, touching that trig and getting out a well deserved peanut butter and jelly sandwich while taking in the view, makes battling through insane wind and snow completely worth it.

So if you ever find yourself overwhelmed, try heading for higher ground. You might be surprised what you leave behind — and what you find waiting at the top.