31/07/2026
AD | Gifted
I'm not going to lie, I've been feeling pretty burnt out after the Lonely Planet project. (If you missed it, I authored the chapters covering Orkney, Shetland, the Northern Highlands, Skye and the Outer Hebrides.) While it's brought some incredible experiences, most other things have fallen by the wayside - including mopping my floors and, if I'm honest, looking after myself.
So I needed very little excuse to take these gorgeous new hiking shoes out for a proper test drive while we were in Harris.
These are the Meindl Lite Trail shoes, and I really did put them through their paces in all conditions. Yes, we had our fair share of bad weather on the west coast too! I actually forgot to pack my big walking boots, so these became my go-to footwear for the whole trip.
I'm asked about footwear for Shetland all the time - what to bring, what the terrain is like, whether you need big boots... and honestly, unless you're planning to clock up some serious miles in the hills, a pair like these is probably all you'll need. They're lightweight, supportive, waterproof and comfortable enough to wear all day.
Let's face it, nobody wants to fill half their suitcase with bulky walking boots when that space could be reserved for bringing home knitwear...
I've no discount code or affiliate link to share with you - just an honest recommendation for a brand I wore for around 15 years before I ever started working with them. That, to me, says far more than any sales pitch ever could.
