The journeys that shaped me and continue to shape The Pedalling Haggis
I’ve always believed that the best rides give us more than miles.
Of course, cycling can take us to beautiful places. It can challenge us physically and help us build confidence. But the rides that stay with me longest are not necessarily the hardest or the biggest. They are the journeys that created space to think, notice, learn and grow.
Some rides have helped me work through difficult decisions. Others have reminded me of what matters most. Many have introduced me to wonderful people, unexpected conversations and places I would otherwise have passed straight through.
When I look back on my own cycling adventures, I rarely remember average speeds or finishing times. I remember how the journey felt. I remember the sense of freedom, the moments of uncertainty, the laughter, the weather, the landscapes, and the quiet reflections that emerged somewhere between the start and the finish.
These experiences continue to influence how I guide today.
The Pedalling Haggis isn’t simply about showing people great routes. It’s about creating opportunities for people to experience Scotland by bike, connect with themselves and others, and perhaps discover something new along the way.
The stories below share some of the journeys that have helped shape both me and the ethos behind The Pedalling Haggis.
Why I Share These Stories
I don’t share these journeys because they are extraordinary.
I share them because they changed me in small but meaningful ways.
They helped me become more patient.
More reflective.
More resilient.
More curious.
More aware of the value of connection with other people and with the places we travel through.
Those lessons sit at the heart of The Pedalling Haggis.
Every guided ride is an opportunity to explore beautiful places, but it can also be an opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with something that may have become lost in the busyness of everyday life.
You don’t need to be the strongest rider.
You don’t need the latest equipment.
You don’t need ambitious cycling goals.
You simply need a willingness to be curious about what might be waiting around the next corner.
The adventure belongs to you.
I’m simply here to help you enjoy the journey.
The Badger Divide
Trusting the path even when you cannot see the destination
The Badger Divide taught me a great deal about uncertainty.
There were times when the next climb seemed endless, when the weather changed unexpectedly, or when I found myself questioning whether I had made the right choice. Yet, time and again, the route reminded me that progress rarely comes from having all the answers.
Instead, it comes from taking the next step. Then the next one after that.
Long stretches of remote Scottish landscape offered something that can be difficult to find in daily life: space. Space away from expectations, deadlines and distractions. Space to think. Space to listen. Space simply to be present.
I began the ride expecting an adventure.
I finished it with a renewed appreciation for patience, adaptability and self-trust.
What this taught me as a guide
Many people arrive on a ride carrying more than a bike and a few snacks. They may be carrying stress, self-doubt, pressure or uncertainty.
The Badger Divide reminded me that sometimes the greatest value of a cycling journey is not reaching a destination. It is discovering what becomes clearer when we allow ourselves time to pedal, breathe and reflect.
When I guide rides today, I try to create space for exactly that.