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Morag Skelton, an accomplished mountaineer who has spent much of her adult life climbing and skiing in the Scottish mountains, has recently taken on an exciting new challenge: including her nine-month-old baby, Hamish, in her outdoor pursuits. From cross-country skiing trips to island-hopping camping adventures, and even a night spent in a remote bothy, Morag is embracing motherhood alongside her passion for nature. Living in Inverness, she expresses a deep desire to share the joy she finds in the outdoors with her son and treasures seeing his reactions to the different landscapes and wildlife they encounter.
Working as an outdoor instructor at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s national outdoor training centre, Morag is well-equipped to manage the challenges of adventuring with a baby. She describes Hamish as generally content, happiest when outside, with his only complaints coming when he is hungry. Morag believes that children benefit greatly from the natural sensory experiences provided by the outdoors—the scents of fresh air and pine forests, the feel of different textures, and the sounds of trees and running water create a rich environment for learning. She notes that these experiences require no extra toys, as sensory play in nature is abundant and free.
Safety is Morag’s top priority during their excursions. Her professional training allows her to anticipate and mitigate potential risks by carefully assessing weather conditions, reading maps, and planning routes meticulously before setting out. One memorable trip involved a 90-minute hike carrying six-month-old Hamish in a child carrier to a basic bothy with no electricity or running water, accompanied by her friend Nicola Cameron and their pet dogs. Morag explains that Hamish was at an ideal age for this adventure, as he was yet to crawl and did not need solid food, which simplified their preparation despite the additional gear needed for overnight stays.
Among Morag’s favorite experiences so far was an island-hopping wild camping journey to the Isles of Muck and Eigg in the Inner Hebrides when Hamish was just three months old. Using a three-wheel buggy to transport her son, she kept the trip simple by camping only a short walk from the ferry terminal and appreciated the peacefulness of being away from busy roads as well as the warmth of the local island community. Morag is determined to continue living her outdoor-focused lifestyle while raising a family and finds profound joy in witnessing Hamish’s first encounters with nature. She says, “I love seeing his facial expressions as he absorbs the landscapes, wildlife and different things around him.
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