How are we all dealing with the bruised toes and black/falling off toenails? Is this just something we all have to deal with, or am I wearing the wrong shoes?
I wear the Salamon X ultra 5.
I’m in a mid-to-late twenties existential crisis/crossroads and on a whim, I booked a cabin in the Alps for a week. I’m excited but honestly re-thinking it a bit because it’s almost £800 just for a week’s accommodation and I’m feeling really stressed and burnt out. I haven’t even booked flights yet and I’ll be leaving in under two weeks. I almost cancelled last night but I feel like I should just push through?
I’m not interested in ticking off all the tourist hotspots and really just want an immersive week spent solo hiking and exploring. The accommodation is quite remote, which is part of the appeal to me, but it also means I’m probably not going to meet people as it’s obviously not a hostel.
I know no one can actually tell me whether I should go or not but I’d really like to hear what people think. Has anyone been in a similar situation where they were stressed/overwhelmed before a solo trip but went anyway? And how did you feel once you actually got there?
What do we all think about autumn 2026? I’m obsessed. It smells like the Lush sleepy scent but a little more subtle and lavender-y.
Also, the hare poster and the little gifts are absolutely adorable 🥹
I’m very close to booking a solo hiking trip in Switzerland. I’m just hesitant because it will be early October and obviously, Switzerland is very expensive and I’m not staying in hostels.
I’ll be based in Halisberg.
This is my itinerary:
Day 1) Zurich - Halisberg
Day 2) Glogghüs/Rothorn/Balmeregghorn via Melchsee-Frutt
Day 3) Lauterbrunnen, Grimmelwald & Murren
Day 4) Abgschütz/Melchsee-Frutt area
Day 5) Rosenlaui & Engelhornhütte
Day 6) Kandersteg & Oeschinensee
Day 7) Lake Brienz & Giessbach Falls
I’m obviously aware that I will need to be flexible based on weather and may not do all of these hikes.
There are significant travel times between Halisberg and Kandersteg etc.
Do you think it’s worth it?
I’m very close to booking a solo hiking trip in Switzerland. I’m just hesitant because it will be early October and obviously, Switzerland is very expensive and I’m not staying in hostels.
I’ll be based in Halisberg.
This is my itinerary:
Day 1) Zurich - Halisberg
Day 2) Glogghüs/Rothorn/Balmeregghorn via Melchsee-Frutt
Day 3) Lauterbrunnen, Grimmelwald & Murren
Day 4) Abgschütz/Melchsee-Frutt area
Day 5) Rosenlaui & Engelhornhütte
Day 6) Kandersteg & Oeschinensee
Day 7) Lake Brienz & Giessbach Falls
I’m obviously aware that I will need to be flexible based on weather and may not do all of these hikes.
There are significant travel times between Halisberg and Kandersteg etc.
Do you think it’s worth it?
I’m booking a (last minute) mid September solo Lofoten trip This is my itinerary:
Day 1 : Arrive in Oslo
Day 2: Oslo. Chill, explore, cafe and bakeries
Day 3: Oslo- bodo-leknes-stamsund. Chill/explore
Day 4:mountain(s) near Stamsund, sauna and swim
Day 5: possibly Henningsvær. Climbing/hiking. (Not 100% sure about this day)
Day 6: stamsund - reine. Explore, Reinebringen.
Day 7: A bakery. Munken.
Day 8: Bunes, Brunakseltinden + Helvetestinden. Swim??
Day 9: kayaking
Day 10: home
Ryten & Kvalvika maybe? Not sure when.
Is there anything I should cut? I don’t just want to tick off view points. The mountains, kayaking and Bunes are all non negotiable.
I’m booking a (last minute) mid September solo Lofoten trip This is my itinerary:
Day 1 : Arrive in Oslo
Day 2: Oslo. Chill, explore, cafe and bakeries
Day 3: Oslo- bodo-leknes-stamsund. Chill/explore
Day 4:mountain(s) near Stamsund, sauna and swim
Day 5: possibly Henningsvær. Climbing/hiking. (Not 100% sure about this day)
Day 6: stamsund - reine. Explore, Reinebringen.
Day 7: A bakery. Munken.
Day 8: Bunes, Brunakseltinden + Helvetestinden. Swim??
Day 9: kayaking
Day 10: home
Ryten & Kvalvike maybe? Not sure when.
Is there anything I should cut? I don’t just want to tick off view points. The mountains, kayaking and Bunes are all non negotiable.
I’m planning a last minute solo trip in August/early September and wondering if Lofoten is doable without a car.
How popular is hitchhiking and bike rentals?
My main focus is hiking and swimming etc. and I don’t really want to stay in Svolvær.
I’m just really worried I’ll go and spend my time hanging around the hostel because I can’t find reliable transport.
What shoes would you recommend for summer day hikes in the Scottish highlands, Lake District and Norway etc?
I was thinking of the Salomon XT-6 gtx but I’m not sure as I may use them for the Camino de Santiago next year and possibly Sinai (Egypt) and I’m worried about overheating
I’m 29 and feeling really lost trying to figure out what kind of travel I actually want to do. I know I don’t just want a standard holiday where I walk around sightseeing for a week and come home. I think I’m looking for something more meaningful - volunteering, conservation, farm stays, eco projects, hostel work, cultural exchange, something where there’s a sense of purpose and connection while solo travelling.
The problem is I genuinely cannot seem to find anything that feels right. I’ve looked into volunteering and Workaway-type things, but a lot of it either seems sketchy, exploitative, agency-based and really expensive, or it’s aimed at people who already live locally long-term. I actually did a Workaway before and had a bad experience, so now I’m second-guessing everything and struggling to trust opportunities.
I feel stuck because I really want to get out of my comfort zone and do something transformative, wholesome, outdoorsy, and meaningful, but I can’t seem to find the actual “thing.” Every time I think I’ve found an option, I end up doubting it.
Did anyone else go through this stage before solo travelling? How did you actually find meaningful opportunities abroad that felt genuine and safe?
I’m 29 and feeling really lost trying to figure out what kind of travel I actually want to do. I know I don’t just want a standard holiday where I walk around sightseeing for a week and come home. I think I’m looking for something more meaningful - volunteering, conservation, farm stays, eco projects, hostel work, cultural exchange, something where there’s a sense of purpose and connection while solo travelling.
The problem is I genuinely cannot seem to find anything that feels right. I’ve looked into volunteering and Workaway-type things, but a lot of it either seems sketchy, exploitative, agency-based and really expensive, or it’s aimed at people who already live locally long-term. I actually did a Workaway before and had a bad experience, so now I’m second-guessing everything and struggling to trust opportunities.
I feel stuck because I really want to get out of my comfort zone and do something transformative, wholesome, outdoorsy, and meaningful, but I can’t seem to find the actual “thing.” Every time I think I’ve found an option, I end up doubting it.
Did anyone else go through this stage before solo travelling? How did you actually find meaningful opportunities abroad that felt genuine and safe?
I’m 29 and feeling really lost trying to figure out what kind of travel I actually want to do. I know I don’t just want a standard holiday where I walk around sightseeing for a week and come home. I think I’m looking for something more meaningful - volunteering, conservation, farm stays, eco projects, hostel work, cultural exchange, something where there’s a sense of purpose and connection while solo travelling.
The problem is I genuinely cannot seem to find anything that feels right. I’ve looked into volunteering and Workaway-type things, but a lot of it either seems sketchy, exploitative, agency-based and really expensive, or it’s aimed at people who already live locally long-term. I actually did a Workaway before and had a bad experience, so now I’m second-guessing everything and struggling to trust opportunities.
I feel stuck because I really want to get out of my comfort zone and do something transformative, wholesome, outdoorsy, and meaningful, but I can’t seem to find the actual “thing.” Every time I think I’ve found an option, I end up doubting it.
Did anyone else go through this stage before solo travelling? How did you actually find meaningful opportunities abroad that felt genuine and safe?
I’m 29 and feeling really lost trying to figure out what kind of travel I actually want to do. I know I don’t just want a standard holiday where I walk around sightseeing for a week and come home. I think I’m looking for something more meaningful - volunteering, conservation, farm stays, eco projects, hostel work, cultural exchange, something where there’s a sense of purpose and connection while solo travelling.
The problem is I genuinely cannot seem to find anything that feels right. I’ve looked into volunteering and Workaway-type things, but a lot of it either seems sketchy, exploitative, agency-based and really expensive, or it’s aimed at people who already live locally long-term. I actually did a Workaway before and had a bad experience, so now I’m second-guessing everything and struggling to trust opportunities.
I feel stuck because I really want to get out of my comfort zone and do something transformative, wholesome, outdoorsy, and meaningful, but I can’t seem to find the actual “thing.” Every time I think I’ve found an option, I end up doubting it.
Did anyone else go through this stage before solo travelling? How did you actually find meaningful opportunities abroad that felt genuine and safe?
I’m 29 and feeling really lost trying to figure out what kind of travel I actually want to do. I know I don’t just want a standard holiday where I walk around sightseeing for a week and come home. I think I’m looking for something more meaningful - volunteering, conservation, farm stays, eco projects, hostel work, cultural exchange, something where there’s a sense of purpose and connection while solo travelling.
The problem is I genuinely cannot seem to find anything that feels right. I’ve looked into volunteering and Workaway-type things, but a lot of it either seems sketchy, exploitative, agency-based and really expensive, or it’s aimed at people who already live locally long-term. I actually did a Workaway before and had a bad experience, so now I’m second-guessing everything and struggling to trust opportunities.
I feel stuck because I really want to get out of my comfort zone and do something transformative, wholesome, outdoorsy, and meaningful, but I can’t seem to find the actual “thing.” Every time I think I’ve found an option, I end up doubting it.
Did anyone else go through this stage before solo travelling? How did you actually find meaningful opportunities abroad that felt genuine and safe?
I’m 29 and feeling really lost trying to figure out what kind of travel I actually want to do. I know I don’t just want a standard holiday where I walk around sightseeing for a week and come home. I think I’m looking for something more meaningful - volunteering, conservation, farm stays, eco projects, hostel work, cultural exchange, something where there’s a sense of purpose and connection while solo travelling.
The problem is I genuinely cannot seem to find anything that feels right. I’ve looked into volunteering and Workaway-type things, but a lot of it either seems sketchy, exploitative, agency-based and really expensive, or it’s aimed at people who already live locally long-term. I actually did a Workaway before and had a bad experience, so now I’m second-guessing everything and struggling to trust opportunities.
I feel stuck because I really want to get out of my comfort zone and do something transformative, wholesome, outdoorsy, and meaningful, but I can’t seem to find the actual “thing.” Every time I think I’ve found an option, I end up doubting it.
Did anyone else go through this stage before solo travelling? How did you actually find meaningful opportunities abroad that felt genuine and safe?
Anyone know where I can get a matcha birthday cake made and delivered in Lancashire?
I’m stuck with a workaway host who is raw vegan and eats literally just salad, undercooked beans and smoothies and I’m constantly starving!
The nearest supermarket is a 40 minute drive away, but I felt bad asking them to take me in case they got offended?
I knew they were vegan (I’m vegan myself), but this is just extreme. They made me a small green smoothie for lunch today 😭 I’m always tired and hungry!
i got my host to drive me to a supermarket and went crazy and bought alpro yoghurts, vegan cheese, dark chocolate, pb and dried fruit etc.
she looked really pissed tbh and looked at what i bought and said ‘okay but even dark chocolate has loads of sugar.’
i just went to put things in the fridge and saw that she has two blocks of tofu and several different kinds of oatly that she never even offered me! i’ve been having black tea & coffee which i hate.
she also told me yesterday when i suggested tofu for dinner that she rarely eats it because it’s so expensive.
Also : on arrival, my host told me that i would have to leave my room the next weekend because her friend is coming to stay and she forgot to tell me this before i arranged the trip/arrived.
she wants me to either sleep in a hammock in the garden or on the couch which i’m not comfortable with. i won’t have any privacy or time alone to call my boyfriend parents and this whole thing is already out of my comfort zone.
she just put me on the spot so i just said it was fine (she didn’t actually give me any other option)
i’m thinking of cutting the workaway short and going to another place i wanted to go to in the country before her friend comes, but i’m worried she’ll be annoyed/disappointed and that i’m making a big deal out of nothing.
if i go, i will only have been there 4/5 full days 🙃