If you’re reading this article, then I’m sure you are a travel addict like myself or at the very least well on the way to becoming one. We all know how beneficial travel can be. You may never have heard of him, but Saint Augustine summed it up brilliantly. I remember his quote stating that the world is a book and that not travelling means you only read a page. If he is right and the world is indeed a book, then I reckon the benefits of solo travel turn that good read into a best seller.
As you might be able to tell, I absolutely love travelling alone and it is no coincidence that my best trips have been when I’ve been solo. I’ll try my best now to show why it’s something you should certainly try if you haven’t done so already.
Your Life Circumstances
I thought I’d start here, as it is the reason why I first started to travel alone. At 22 I enjoyed an around the world trip with one of my closest friends. We got on well and he was a great travel companion. The following year though when he and other close friends were settling into new careers, I still had unfinished business when it came to travel. With nobody now available to go with me, it was a case of either going it alone or not at all. I’m glad I chose the first option. The next six months teaching English in Peru and then travelling solo across the South American continent provided me with memories I shall never forget. Sixteen years later and I’m still proud of pushing myself out of my comfort zone and doing it alone.
This same attitude can be applied if you find yourself single. There are many videos out there of couples appearing to live the dream as they make memories together. It can seem daunting heading off into the unknown by yourself when you compare yourself to these people, but it best not to.
After becoming single again eight months ago, I managed the negative feelings I felt by getting out there and living life to the full. Adventures to wild and remote parts of the UK certainly helped and there is no way I could have enjoyed half of these if I was still in the relationship. My ten day journey around western Scotland was simply epic and travelling alone allowed me to pick and choose where and when I went.
For details about my hike across the mountainous Knoydart Peninsula click here.
To discover what I got up to in wild Wester Ross click here.
You Are The Boss
This might be one of the biggest benefits of solo travel. There is an old saying that states that he or she who travels fastest travels alone. There is definitely some truth in that. When you aren’t solo, you must ensure the needs of the other person/people are being met. There is a good chance you’ll end up visiting places you have no real desire in visiting, but you do so out of consideration. With solo travel you can be completely selfish and not feel bad about it. There is no reason to, as you’ve got nobody else to please.
You have absolute freedom in all aspects of the adventure. Where should you stay? How far should you travel? Should you stop and share some time with another traveler you’ve met along the way? When you travel alone, it is completely up to you how you answer all of these questions. How great is that?
It Is Good For Your Soul
Any travel is likely to do you good. Experience has certainly shown me though that solo travel is always better for my well being than being with others. It certainly helps that I am an introverted person by nature, who enjoys his own company. Even if I wasn’t though, I firmly believe that heading off into the wild alone allows you to time to reflect and think. You just can’t do this as well with company for obvious reasons. Maybe it’s just me, but being alone surrounded by the beauty of nature allows me to truly switch off, relax and just be. It is great for my mental health. Add another person into the mix and a fair bit of my energy would be spent making sure they were happy too. Maybe that’s just me though!
The People You Meet
When you travel solo, you can be as sociable or unsociable as you like. One thing I’ve learned though is that your trip is likely to have you interacting with people from all walks of life. If you engage with these characters along the road or path you travel, then they may touch you in a way you weren’t expecting. Here is a small taste of some of the interesting folk I’ve met along the way on my solo trips:
- Vanessa My Saviour On Kinder Scout. I met Vanessa on my first ever wild camp. Eventually finding a flat bit of ground on Kinder Scout in The Peak District, I was struggling to pitch the tent in the blustery conditions. Just then out of the mist came Vanessa, who came to the rescue. Chatting a bit later on, I discovered she was a fellow primary school teacher. She also had an adventurous spirit with many inspirational tales to tell. I still follow her on social media and have recently learned that she is hiking from John O Groats to Lands End. A legend in every sense of the word.
2. The Geordie Couple At The Bothy. I was alone at Gleann Dubh Lighe Bothy near Glenfinnan, when I met a couple from Newcastle Upon Tyne. Their husky dog Boris was gorgeous, but I was more touched by their kindness and stories they shared by the fire that evening. I learned that the elder gentleman had cancer and was getting out to enjoy what he loved doing for as long as he could. His inner strength and positivity was inspiring. It certainly put my own issues into some some sort of perspective, which was needed. Several months later I still think of him and hope he is doing well.
3. Jack- One of The Tallest Men I’ve Met and A Very Nice Chap.
If you’re reading this Jack, then you are probably rolling your eyes at the fact I’ve mentioned your height. No doubt it’s one of the first things most people say when meeting you! I met Jack while taking a dip in a remote lake in Snowdonia of all places and was instantly blown away by how small he made me feel. As somebody who is just over six feet in height, that doesn’t happen all that often.
We shared the next several hours hiking across The Glyderrau Range and I really enjoyed his many stories he had to share. Since then we have remained in touch and are planning a camping trip in the wild sometime soon.
A final note I shall make is that I recently read in an online forum that two solo hikers had met on a mountain summit in The lake District. Several months later and they are now a couple. That should give any single people hope that you never know what is around the next corner and that you never know who you might meet on your next adventure.
It Makes You More Resilient
Unless you’ve got a Vanessa or somebody similar to rescue in a time of need, you’ll be fending for yourself when traveling solo. You’ll need to know which way you’re heading and how to solve problems should they arise. I am a self-confessed worrier, but there is no doubting that solo travel has made me more resilient and calm under pressure. For a real inspiration on how to remain calm when faced with real adversity alone, check out this well-known British adventurer. I find his positive attitude and sense of fun infectious.
To Wrap Things Up…..
I am hoping that you can now see the many benefits of solo travel. If you have already had the pleasure of enjoying it, then no doubt you’ll relate to much of what I’ve written. At least I hope that’s the case. If not, then hopefully you now have the inspiration to get out there and do it. Maybe our paths will cross in the future. Safe travels.
