From Lost to Found: How Motherhood, Mountains, and Travel Reshaped My Life

Meet Zoe, a passionate adventurer who has turned life’s trials into a story of resilience, healing, and rediscovery. From a love of sports to a career in luxury travel, her path took unexpected turns through personal struggles, single motherhood, and the restorative power of the outdoors. Now a valued member of the Macs Adventure team, she has found purpose in hiking, nature, and slower adventures, embracing a life of connection and strength. 

I’d always been sporty at school, the kind of kid who thrived on team games and never shied away from trying something new. Sports were my life, and my big ambition was to become a P.E. teacher. But life had other plans. The timing wasn’t right, my lifestyle wasn’t conducive, and before I knew it, my once seven-days-a-week sporting routine had dwindled to just a weekly training session and a hockey match at the weekend. The shift hit me hard. 

Suddenly, I wasn’t as interested in sports anymore. I felt lost, unsure of what to do next. But one thing I did know—I loved to travel. At 18, I made a bold decision: I quit university and took my first proper job at Thomas Cook. 

That job changed everything. I thrived in the fast-paced environment, and soon, I was exploring the world, visiting places I had only ever dreamed about. After two years in retail, gaining experience, I moved overseas. For five incredible years, I worked as a holiday rep, covering most of the Greek Islands before finishing in Cyprus as a wedding coordinator. 

Coming home wasn’t easy. It took time to settle back into a routine. But I eventually found my dream job in luxury travel. This time, I was still globetrotting - only now, I was staying in five-star resorts and experiencing the best of what travel had to offer. It felt like I was living the dream. 

Then everything changed. 

I found out I was pregnant. At 32, I was classed as an “older mum.” Suddenly, my carefree, globe-trotting lifestyle came to an abrupt halt. Worse still, I was trapped in an abusive relationship, and my mental health plummeted. I was about to bring a baby into the world, and I was facing the terrifying reality of doing it alone. 

My son was born, and those first five or six months were a whirlwind—beautiful but dark. Being at home all day only reminded me of the situation I had found myself in, of how lost I had become. So, I walked. No matter the weather, I was outside with the pram, stopping only for feeds and nappy changes. The fresh air helped clear my mind, even if just a little. 

Soon, I started training at the gym while my mum watched my son. Three times a week, I worked out, and in between, I walked 6 – 9 miles a day. I had never been in better shape, and that’s when I started taking on mountains. 

I began with Corbetts, like Goatfell on Arran, and then progressed to Munros. My son was always with me, strapped into the carrier as we hiked. I still remember one particular moment - changing him behind a rock, shielding him from the wind, as he sat on my knee, happily eating his snacks and playing with stones. Hiking with him close to me healed me. And, in a way, he was saving me too. With each climb, I felt stronger, more capable of handling the past. 

Life slowly rebuilt itself. I went back to work three days a week and spent weekends on the mountains. Two years after my son was born, something unexpected happened - I met someone. He loved the outdoors as much as I did, and we connected not over fancy restaurant dates but on hiking trails and picnic stops with my little boy. He understood that my child came first, and he embraced it. 

A few years later, at 37, I was pregnant again. This time, my health wasn’t as strong. Then COVID hit, and just like that, I was back to square one. The lockdowns were isolating, but I found comfort in discovering new walking routes in Ayrshire. Every day, we explored somewhere new. 

When my daughter was born, we were still in the thick of the pandemic. Travel was restricted, and my mental health suffered again. By the time I was due to return to work, something had shifted. I had lost my love for the outdoors, partly out of fear, partly because I had withdrawn. The travel industry had changed too. I didn't love my job like I once did, and my boss refused to accommodate the work-life balance I needed. 

That’s when I stumbled across Macs Adventure while searching for travel jobs. A company built around the outdoors? It felt like fate. I reached out, had a few conversations, and took the leap of faith. Almost five years later, I’m still here. 

My passion for the outdoors has returned, but at a gentler pace. Macs accommodates this by offering Slower Adventures, and I’ve learned to embrace a different rhythm. A couple of years ago, we visited the Lake District as a family, and it was magical. My children love the outdoors as much as I do. Our hikes are filled with laughter, curiosity, and a sense of togetherness. We talk, we observe, we collect tiny treasures—a stone, a stick, a leaf—all tokens of our shared adventures. 

Looking back, I see how far I’ve come. Through every challenge, nature has been my constant, my healing space. My only advice to anyone reading this? Take the trip. Enjoy it. Money comes and goes, but memories last a lifetime.