The Skye’s the limit! (that’s what she said!)
It all started in January with an email from Coppafeel!. “Congratulations, you have a place on the Isle of Skye Trek in June 2025” (or words to the effect!). I actually yelped!
Fast forward 5 months, after lots of practice walking and fundraising, the day had finally arrived, Friday 13thand I was on my way. Looking like an extra on a Ninja Turtle film*, I shuffled to the station to catch my train to Glasgow, ready to meet up with a group of other equally nervous and excited ladies, all taking on an adventure of a lifetime.
I arrived at the Glasgow Youth Hostel just as a hoard of excitable women were getting back from dinner. They were unmistakably my crowd, given away by the very impractical cream coloured Coppafeel! sweatshirts provided for us and stick on facial hair (not official Coppafeel! merch!) Worried that I’d missed the initial bonding session I was quickly proven wrong, being welcomed with open arms and a cold beer. Then to bed as we had an early start to embark on the next part of our journey to the Isle of Skye.
Saturday morning was full of excitement, a hearty breakfast then we squashed into taxies to get to our hotel meeting point. I couldn’t quite believe that the meeting point was on the first floor. In hindsight perhaps this was the first ascent. After team check ins, raffle tickets for our seats on the coaches and nervous conversation with more new people I was ready to go. I’d been lucky enough to meet me tent mate Sarah too and with the first hug I knew we’d get on just fine.
Fast forward 7 hours (the coach journey wasn’t that exciting, despite a pit stop at Fort William, a last cheeky McDs and a run round Morrisons to pick up loo roll) and we finally arrived at our campsite. The tents were all neatly in a row as were the Portaloo’s. Just time to unpack and dinner was served. A broken generator and missing kit from Mountain Warehouse didn’t dampen the excitement as we get into our team for our first team briefing with our Charity Challenge leaders, Steph, Ian & Graham (Anna was to join us the next day). I knew we’d be in good hands. Meeting our team leader Ekin Su and the imitable Gi Fletcher for the first time made this all very real. So for an early night ready for our first trek on Sunday.
Whether it was the nerves, the thin blowup mattress, the chatter, the constant sound of zips going as people went to the loo throughout the night or the fact that it never really got dark, it’ s fair to say it was not a good night’s sleep. But nothing a bacon sandwich and the best banana bread ever couldn’t sort out. Boots on and ready to go, our team’s first trek was from the Old Man of Storr to Portree, the Isle’s capital. I knew I would struggle with the pace of the trek being a really fast walker and though I kept Gi’s advice in the back of my mind of dropping to the back to scoop people up I spent most of the first trek near the front. There was still lots of opportunity to chat to team mates and get to hear their inspirational stories and their “whys” for being there. Approaching Portree was like something off the TV, literally, as it’s where Ballamory was filmed, with its gorgeous row of pastel coloured houses. With half an hour to spare at the end of the walk we hit the shops - you can take the girl out of Chirpy but you can never take indie retail out of the girl.
We were on a high on the coach after we’d completed the first day. One down, four to go and we were all still in one piece. Back to the campsite for a hearty chilli (still not sure how they did all of this without a generator), another team briefing to find out what Day 2 had in store for us.
There must be nothing better than starting your day with the Hokey Cokey! That really is what it’s all about! If it was meant to be a sun dance then it certainly didn’t work. The start of the trek on Trotternish Ridge was very different from day one. Rougher terrain and uphill straight away actually suited me better and having hung back a bit I felt more part of the gang rather than leading from the front. The scenery was breathtaking and I was very grateful for the views which the team who had climbed it the day before had not been able to see due to the low cloud. This is quite a popular walk so we saw other walkers too, all of who looked quite bemused by a long trail of singing women. Today was definitely a day of 2 halves. Finishing lunch we felt a few spots of rain, which quickly turned into a deluge. Hoods up, heads down we trekked uphill for 4 hours through bogs. Needless to say my trusty five year old boots proved to be no longer waterproof , and with the strength of the wind even my bra & pants were wet! On the plus side, the walk led us straight back to the campsite so at least we didn’t have a soggy coach ride home. The torrential rain all day had taken its toll on camp with the food and social tents being waterlogged as well as lots of the sleeping tents themselves. But that didn’t dampen our spirits. There was music and dancing led by our resident DJ Emily and great advice about how to get our boot insoles dry (putting them in your sleeping bag really does work). Sarah and I were a little cosier that evening as we welcomed Baby Hannah to our tent so she didn’t have to sleep in a puddle in hers. Messages from previous trekking celebrities including Vicky Pattison and Emma Willis lifted out spirits as we hunkered down for the night as the storm raged.
Peering out of the tent the next morning I wasn’t sure all of the tents would still be standing after such a stormy night. But they were! So putting back on our soggy walking boots we headed off to walk Rubha Hunish, the scenic coastal path. The cloud had lifted so we had beautiful views of the Isle of Skye coast, surrounded by the sounds of birds and lots of running water, much of it we had to jump over. The walk took us to the most northern part of the island where we reached a cute Bothy, I bet the 10 people who’d snuggled up in it the night before has been a bit more comfortable than us! Next stop was lunch where once again I enjoyed a ham sandwich, crisps, chocolate bar and drink, lovingly prepared for us each day by our wonderful caterers. This walk had given me the chance to chat again, finding out stories from inspirational women in my team and sharing mine. As my diagnosis had been the furthest in the past than anyone it was nice to feel like I could give a sense of hope to those early in their cancer journey. The bonus to this walk was it was the shortest and also ended with a visit to pub, in fact a rather stylish hotel with breathtaking views across the sea. Never has a cold pint tasted so good and it was just the break we all needed to celebrate being over half way through our epic adventure. We sang loudly on the coach home, possibly due to the alcohol. As we were home early I had the opportunity for a bit more shopping, visiting the local pottery next to the campsite where of course I had to buy a couple of souvenirs. A wonderful curry for dinner and a bottle of wine by the shore finished off a fabulous day.
Wednesday was the day I was looking forward to the most - Sligachan to The Fairy Falls. I’d visited the Fairy Falls 8 years ago with my family and the pressure of expectation weighed upon me as my ‘moment’ finally hit me on the coach when there with tears streaming. I’d learn not to fight them, best to let them out. This walk did not disappoint at all, though I realised I’d probably only done about a quarter of it last time. Our guide Anna told us stories of her time climbing the Black Cuillin which brought the enormity of it all to life. The views were breathtaking as we saw the Fairy Falls coming into view and with it other people! We really hadn’t seen many people on our travels throughout the week but this was a much more popular tourist park of the island. It’s said that if you dip your face in the crystal clear waters you’ll be granted eternal youth. Not sure I’m looking 10 years younger but it was a lot of fun (and great content!) It was a long walk back but as usual our travels were filled with song, chatter and laughter. For me the Fairy Falls had lived up to my expectations.
The last day we all got to walk the same route to Beinn Edra, the longest walk. Dressed in our matching t-shirts, flower garlands, glitter freckles and temporary tattoos we looked like some crazy hen do. Our last Hokey Cokey was an emotional one and topped off with Rachel’s rap which summed up the highs and lows (but mainly highs) of the week. With a spring in our tired legs we took on the last hills with a sense of determination. Seeing the other teams along the way gave the walk an even more of celebratory feel, giving us a peak into their dynamic. From standing on top of the trig point to having our team topless photo taken the team couldn’t have been stronger than it was that day. We really did ‘reach for the stars’ and there ‘ain’t no mountain high enough’ to stop us from completing this trek. We were joined for the final few miles with the magnificent Giovanna Fletcher, the woman who makes all this possible and is a force of nature. Walking down towards the campsite I could feel the sense of anticipation rising. I wasn’t sure what was waiting for us at the end except for a lot of tears but I wasn’t expecting a kilted drummers and bagpipers as we crossed the finish line to claim our medal. The sun had shone for us all day to make it the most wonderful end to this epic adventure. The final debrief was joyous, remembering Kris, the awesome women behind Coppafeel and thanking all the organisers, team leaders, caterers, and finally ourselves for taking on the amazing challenge and completing it.
And on top of all the we raiser OVER HALF A MILLION POUNDS!!
Finally, don’t forget to CHECK YOUR CHESTS!
*even more so when I fell over backwards in Marks & Spencer’s trying to reach for a packet of crisps! Having to be helped up by a member of staff only to realise I’d picked up the wrong flavour crisps and left my pride well and truly on the floor!