Jamie Neill: How Scotland’s Munros saved me when my badminton career ended

What do you do when your sporting career, which has been your life since you were nine years old, comes to an end?

For my guest Jamie Neill, the answer was to put on a pair of hiking boots.

Jamie was a professional badminton player travelling the world and playing for Scotland in the World Championships. But when his playing career had to stop, he swapped the indoor courts for the outdoors and he hasn’t looked back.

He’s now summited over 200 Munros, climbing 40 of them in just one week; hiked the West Highland Way and summited the three highest peaks in North Africa. He also joined a walking group which led to him meeting his partner Nikki and starting a family.

Getting outside has truly helped Jamie’s mental and physical transition from a sport that so dominated his life.

Jamie and I met 18 months ago on a group walk on Blencathra in the Lake District. He started telling me about his story then, and I’ve wanted to get him on the podcast ever since!

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell is launching a year-long campaign called #StepFurther to encourage people from all walks of life to get outdoors on a micro-adventure to experience the benefits for both their physical and mental health.

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