Who is Kayde Parker?
Hello there. My name is Kayde Parker. I’m a chef in my day-to-day job, but when I’m away from the kitchen, I’m pursuing my ever-expanding passion for history, travel, walking, and hiking. I think the best way to see a city is by foot, and the best way to see the countryside is also, well, by foot.
I took a trip to Scotland in my late 20s and, as weird as this may sound, during a day tour through the Scottish Highlands, I saw an actual mountain range for the first time in my life—a far cry from the hills I’ve seen growing up in Western Australia.
When I asked the guide of this Scottish Highland tour where all the people carrying backpacks were going, he explained the West Highland Way. For those who don’t know, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s a hiking route where you can walk for several days through lush green meadows, past absolutely beautiful lochs and snowcapped mountains, culminating at the town of Fort William, not far from the foot of Ben Nevis.
I just knew this hike was something I had to do. Fast-forward five months, and I was back in Scotland, carrying far too much gear in my bag, ready for the first hike of my life. My girlfriend couldn’t quite understand why I wanted to return to somewhere we had just left. But then again, I don’t know how she can spend so many hours at a shopping center.
