In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode we catch up with adventurer and outdoor writer Nicola Hardy—also known for becoming Munroist #6,765 after summiting all 282 of Scotland’s Munros.
Nicola left behind a decade-long career in IT to pursue a life filled with mountains, maps, and meaningful adventure. Since our first conversation in March 2022, Nicola has continued to embrace the outdoor life with passion—working part-time to support her adventures and dedicating the rest of her week to exploring the hills and trails she loves.
In this episode, Nicola shares what she’s been up to over the last few years, including writing her first guidebook: Peak Bagging Munros: Volume 1. We talk about the process of creating the book, linking routes efficiently across the Highlands, and her experiences hiking internationally—from Switzerland's Alpine Passes Trail to her first solo trip abroad on the Coronallacs route in Andorra.
Nicola is honest about the practicalities of outdoor life—from parking anxiety and budget travel to the importance of finding community in the outdoors. With future dreams like hiking New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, her journey is far from over.
If you’re passionate about mountains, guidebooks, or building a life around what you love—this episode is for you.
TGP March 31st 2022 - Nicola Hardy - Adventurer and outdoor writer -Climbing all 282 of Scotland's Munros
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Show notes
- Who is Nicola
- Living in Cockermouth, Cumbria
- Being a peak bagger and long distance walker
- Preferring land over the water
- Writing a peak bagging guidebook
- Previously speaking with Nicola in March 31st 2022
- What we chatting about on the first Tough Girl Podcast episode
- Catching up with what’s been happening since 2022
- Ending up here after doing the things that filled her life with joy
- Trying to fill her time with as much adventure as possible
- Finding the balance of adventuring while also bringing in money as well
- Working 2 days a week part time (flipping the standard working week, upside down) and having 5 days off
- Getting to the start of challenges using public transport
- Parking anxiety and how it can introduce negative thinking before an adventure
- Peak Bagging Munro’s - the book and how it came about
- Sir Hugh Munro
- Munro Bagging and what it is
- 64 routes which are designed to link up these iconic mountains
- Adventure Books by Vertebrate Publishing
- What makes this guide book different
- Including good maps, and efficient routes linking Munros together
- Separating into 10 highland hubs
- A walker, a trekker, a fast packer and a runner
- Rest day suggestions
- The gathering of the information
- Building spreadsheets
- Following your passion and working on the guidebook
- Volume 1 of 2
- Who the book is for
- Heading to Switzerland and hiking the Alpine Passes Trail
- Camping 20 nights out of 31
- Being mountain fit
- Park runs
- Doing her first solo trip abroad
- Hiking The Coronallacs
- Being able to switch off and spend time in nature
- Wanting to go on more solo walks
- The South West Coast Path
- Future plans and dreams to hike the Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand
- Zoleo
- How to connect with Nic
- Trying to keep the website updated
- Final words of advice
- Getting out there and finding your community
- Try lots of things in the outdoor space
- Find what you love and dive in headfirst, you never know where it might lead
Social Media
Link for listeners to purchase the book - https://bit.ly/3REAjVU
Website - adventurernic.com
Facebook - @adventurer.nic.official
Instagram - @adventurer.nic