Imagine cycling the length and breadth of the country from Dunnet Head, the most northern point in Scotland, down to Lands End. Sounds like hard going right? Well that’s exactly what Abbie Barnes, passionate adventurer and founder of Spend More Time in the WILD has just done to raise awareness for positive mental wellbeing and environmental conservation.
To make her epic journey even more challenging, along the way she decided to park her bike to scale the highest peak in each of the UK’s National Parks. With her trip now complete, we took the chance to chat to Abbie about her inspirations, her experiences and why she enjoys a Life Outdoors.
Let's Meet Abbie
Abbie has always had an interest in film making and the Great Outdoors. She has many strings to her bow including being a certified Hill and Moorland Leader, a trained Mountain Leader, a quailed wellness coach and an award winning film maker to name just a few of her achievements. In 2016, Abbie created Spend More Time in the WILD, a positive and passionate community that inspires and empowers individuals to enjoy more quality time outside for the benefit of improving mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Abbie’s openness and authentic voice when it comes to talking about her own personal struggles with mental ill health is what led her to her latest challenge, cycling across the UK. In ‘Abbie Bikes Britain – Our Greatest Adventure Yet’, she aimed to raise awareness about positive mental health and environmental conservation. Let’s get to know Abbie better.
Watch the trailer for 'Abbie Bikes Britain'
Congratulations Abbie on completing your epic trip. What inspired the 2000-mile adventure and can you talk us through your experience?
“The idea came to me at some point back in 2020, namely because whenever I go for a walk by myself I always come up with ideas that I rarely let go of! Anyway, as a country we had hit lockdown and I was struggling immensely with chronic pain in my back. Hiking was slowly becoming more uncomfortable, and what with the restrictions at the time, cycling became my number one choice of outdoor activity. As time went on, the idea infiltrated more and more into my being and I knew I had to make this thing happen.”
“My inspiration was that: I wanted to use my voice to highlight the importance of issues very close to my heart; I wanted to feel that the UK was exciting again after many years of intense hiking and filming for WILD; I wanted to travel by my own power and not feel in pain; I wanted to show that COVID19 and the devastation it was causing didn’t have to stop us from dreaming. And so as we came out the back of COVID in spring 2021, with three months before the chosen start date, I committed to making the project happen. From there it was a whirlwind of emailing, prep, training, and so on!”
“There are far more highs from the trip than lows, but I’ll start with lows so that we finish on a high! There wasn’t a single day that I didn’t want to cycle. Granted some days it was harder to get onto the bike, but the game of perseverance was far more of a mental one than physical during Abbie Bikes Britain. Some of the hardest moments were in Wales where the weather took a turn for the worst. I didn’t mind the rain and wind, but at points the severe weather coupled with me feeling mentally on the edge saw me sobbing into the gusts and pushing my bike for miles.”
“The three films we have produced only go so far in showcasing the intensity and excitement of our 55-day adventure, but some special moments feature, such as the group walks to the highest point of each National Park - these events were revitalising and restorative, a great time to laugh and connect, and rest my cycling legs! The sunny days always saw me singing along as I peddled. A personal highlight was cycling up Honister Pass, one of the steepest roads in the Lakes (and the country) - this turned out to be a very spiritual experience; we visited castles, jumped out of a plane, and saw some of the most beautiful and wild parts of the country.”
Time spent outside clearly motivates you. How important are green spaces personally to your mental and physical wellbeing?
“Sending time outdoors and connection with nature is absolutely at the core of who I am as a person. For me it is a place of immense spirituality and perspective, of hope and inspiration, of fun and adventure. We are all a part of nature, and for me I feel very off kilter if I don’t have time each day spent outside enjoying the elements. It’s the only place I feel I can think clearly and I have digested some of my biggest life lessons whilst out for a hike or cycle.”
You talk about how environmental preservation and mental health are intertwined. What do you mean by this?
“As mentioned above, we are all a part of nature. Although I am not a trained mental health specialist, my personal belief is that many people’s mental struggles come from a lack of connection with the things that make us fundamentally human; with nature, community, feelings of meaning and purpose, spirituality, movement, and more.”
“When we lean into these things, especially from a place of pain and suffering, we open the doors to healing and recovery. There is power in contributing to something bigger than ourselves, and by stepping into a place of humility, gratitude, and stewardship, whether with nature or other people, we can change our lives. This is certainly not a quick process, but I have seen it impact thousands through my work with WILD over and over again.”
We're inspired by how open you are about your personal struggles with mental health. Can you tell us about the adversity you face and how it impacts you?
“Managing my mental health is a day to day task. It could be a chore, but the truth is that it is something that brings me closer to living a wholehearted life. I want to steer away from labelling my experiences and contests, but I don’t mind sharing that my biggest struggle at current it managing my mental space whilst dealing with chronic pain in my back. On some days it certainly leaves me curled up on the sofa feeling very sorry for myself, but the truth is that I have had to pull myself back from the end of life so many times.”
“It is out of my very darkest hours that WILD was born, where I fought to turn my anguish and desperateness into an unstoppable fire. I don’t believe in giving up. I stand firm in the belief that there is always another hold (referring to climbing), or another step that can be taken. There are no dead ends because most often in life we are walking a path that we cannot see. This can be frightening, but we have to lean in to trust and hope and goodness; to keep showing up moment by moment, and know that we are enough.”
In 2016 you created Spend More Time in the WILD. What were your motivations behind its creation?
“As you’ll read below, I started filmmaking at a very early age. I was a passionate kid, dedicated to making a difference. Part of that fire I believe came from my own struggles. I was very badly verbally and physically bullied at each school I went to - 6 places of education in total. By the age of 13 I was really struggling with my mental health, though it wasn’t until college that I learn the language for it. Eating disorders, self-harm, extreme anxiety and low mood, and suicide, were all part of my daily challenge. I didn’t feel like I had much of a voice for myself, so instead I sought to speak up for others who were unable.”
“Whilst going through these things as a child, nature had always been my retreat and safe place. I would spend hours each week filming my local wildlife - deer, badgers, fox etc. I knew their sounds, their movements. The same with the seasons and flora. In hindsight this was where my understanding that time outside could make a difference to mental wellbeing began, as even though I was singled out for it at school, by myself spending time with nature made me feel like I belonged and helped me realise that there was more to life than just me.”
“In 2012 my mum and I had started backpacking when we went to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland. From there onwards each year we would walk another long distance route. By 2016 I was well out of college and no longer had any support to stay mental safe, and so I turned to hiking solo. I set about documenting my experiences of how the trips made me feel; the challenges I went through and the lessons I learnt, from how to ‘embrace the journey’ along the West Highland Way (which I re-walked), to ‘seeing beauty in the ordinary’ along the Great Glen Way. I learnt about the art of showing up on the Gritstone Trail, how to put energy into things that made you feel ‘Alive’ on the Tour Du Mont Blanc, and how to ‘Face The Fear’ in Italy as I took on my fear of water head on.”
“So really, that is how WILD came about - as a documentation of my life journey into managing my mental wellbeing and chronic pain. Nowadays I remind folk that adventure is an attitude and you don’t have to do anything crazy or sketchy to have an adventure. Simply walking around a park and being mindful and can calming affects. And that time in nature needs to also be partnered with other support, whether that be lifestyle related steps such as eating closer to nature, managing sleep hygiene, staying hydrated, and connecting with others, and/or professional support. It's best to speak to your GP about this element, as I’m not medically qualified.”
As a qualified wellness coach and mountain leader, what advice would you give to those facing adversity when it comes to getting outdoors safely?
“I would give pretty standard advice really! Make sure you plan ahead, identify your why and be realistic about what is within your remit. Check the weather forecast, have a plan B. Ensure you are well kitted out and have an escape route if you are up high; plus, let others know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Ultimately stay kind to yourself!”
Your talent for film-making has been recognised since you were a teenager. Can you tell us more about your motivations as a filmmaker?
“I started shooting films back in 2013 when I wanted to use my voice to communicate environmental issues for those who had no real voice. My first point of passion was about the unsustainable production of palm oil, an edible plant oil used in many cosmetics and food products across the globe. The issue with its production is that it is often grown in a monoculture (single crop), which is devastating for diversity, never mind the slash and burning of rainforest that comes beforehand to clear the space across Indonesia and Western Africa. Often local and indigenous people are forcefully displaced, and many endemic species such as orangutan, Sumatran elephants and Sumatran tigers are on the brink of being lost forever as a result of this cheaply produced oil. I ended up talking to my little video camera about the issue and sharing the video in a children’s film competition, which I ended up winning and speaking in the European Parliament about the issue and importance of labelling so customers can make informed decisions about whether or not to buy a product with palm oil in it.”
“Following this I went on to discuss issues of marine debris, climate change, and others, through films shot on the south coast of the UK and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. My films gained national and international attention, and I won a bunch of awards; the most significant being presented by Sir David Attenborough himself, which was a real honour. My desire to empower people to live a more environmentally sound life is at the core of WILD and I continue to speak up about issues wherever the message fits across all aspects of my work.”
As a long-distance adventurer, what has been your favourite trip to date and why?
“I operate a lot outside of my comfort zone, within the stretch zone. What this means is that I am constantly pushing myself and thus am on a perpetual journey of learning. I make mistakes and screw up, but I never give up. Many adventures I have undertaken have been within this stretch zone - they have required dedicated and perseverance, and I always show up 100%.”
“I enjoy recognising my fears in life and facing them head on in order to grow and come stronger. One such example of this was in 2019 when I went to solo walk the Tour Du Mont Blanc, a circular route that travelled through the Alps in France, Italy and Switzerland. I walked it solo, camping along the way, with very little skill in the way of language or International hiking in big mountains. Anyway, I had set out to walk the route in 9 days, but along the way found myself so pumped and strong that I pushed through and wrapped it up in 7! I covered long days over big mountain passes, felt totally in tune with the landscape, intimidated yet respectful.”
“One night I had pushed on past my designated stop for the day and chanced popping my head into a Refugio half way up a big col. When I got there I found out that they were full. I was told I could not wild camp as it was illegal, and found myself panicking. I had also been intimidated by a group of hikers who were clearly drunk and decided to get to me. I was anxious to wild camp as I have had a number of (undiagnosed) psychosis-like episodes whilst alone in my tent and have been beyond terrified during these experiences. But I was left with little choice. I walked on, upwards, to 2500m right on the Swiss-Italian boarder in the Alps. The process of pushing myself upwards away from the stresses and strains saw me regain composure and I talked myself through the process of finding a camping spot and measuring myself that I would be okay. I didn’t sleep much, and no one came to fine me 650 euro(!), and I rose to one of the most stunning sunrises of my life. In coaching myself through the panic attacks and fear, I had realised that I was capable of far more that I allowed myself to believe, and I carry those rays of courage with me to this day.”
What gear essentials are you never without on a trip?
“I take all the usual clobber and rarely think too deeply about what I am taking on a trip as it is pretty ingrained in my system now! Everything has its place and use, from my rucksack to tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, second set of clothes; stove, food, water bottles and filter, map, compass, layers, etc. I never skimp on safety and have never been on to aim for ultralight, however my base weight is usually around 7-9kg these days.”
“What adds weight to my pack is camera kit! Tripod, lenses, batteries, charger, cables, Sony, GoPro etc. It comes to around 4-5kg depending on the trip. Soon I'll be lugging a drone along no doubt! This doesn’t leave much space for luxury items; I might take are my tiny MP3 player and my little stuffed dog who has come on every trip since day 1 and it kind of a part of the deal, like a mascot!”
What's next on your agenda?
“Since finishing Abbie Bikes Britain I have been putting the same energy that saw me cycle the country into behind the scenes of WILD. I am at a real turning point with the organisation and am putting on WILD walks across the country such a day events and a 3 Peaks Challenge for my community network; re-engaging in speaking bookings; offering 1-1 coaching online; building my store, full of hand-made ethical products; kicked off season 4 of my One Wild Life Podcast; editing like crazy the huge backlog of films I have ready to be uploaded to YouTube; and so much more.”
“I am building a team and putting a lot of work into plans for 2023 when this thing is going to get even bigger. Why? To help empower more folk to get outside in an environmentally conscious and compassionate way. As for adventures? Well, let’s just see! I have a sticky note board in our office covered with potential ideas and trips, from simple overnight camps to many-month long ventures. Stay tuned for more!”
Abbie and her partner Anna are proof that spending time in nature is incredibly rewarding. Their determination to push the boundaries of their outdoor adventures to inspire you to Spend More Time in the WILD makes them essential voices in our outdoor community. Visit the Spend More Time in the WILD Website for more information, where you can also book a speaking engagement, or keep up to date with their latest adventures on instagram.
Life Outdoors is the DNA of Blacks. Enjoy more powerful stories of inspirational people who advocate time spent in nature by exploring our campaign #everydaylifeoutdoors.
