My STORY STAFF. Diary of WALKING SCOTLAND. (National trail, Cape Wrath and WHW) 

I can see you at 80, with a whole wall of sticks. Your great grandkids come by, and say, “Tell us about the day you barfed on the West Highland Way, Gramps!” And you’ll scratch your head, and puzzle on it a bit, then totter over to the wall, pull down your first story stick, and see your symbols. The trip will flood back into your mind, and you’ll start ‘The Story of the Dodgy Burger!’

I adore the notion of the story stick. Even since you mentioned it in the staff-video I've loved the idea of one. I do a fair bit of worldbuilding and I remember when you mentioned the story stick. I paused the video and immediately wrote a note to add them into my world. In about a month's time, I'll be heading out to roam for a couple weeks and I will definitely carve myself a tale to remember.

What a glorious thing you have done with your Story Stick.. a significant part of your life.. etched forever into each of those little symbols.. no wonder that trip means so much to you! And you have a permanent record right there in your hands.. each symbol carved by you! A grand idea.. reliving your epic trip each time you handle that stick.. and see the drawings carved upon it.. each with its own story to tell.. This video so beautiful.. and told so well.. we are crying😭😭 And your strength and courage.. as well as that of your friend.. to continue on.. in spite of food poisoning or bad water.. amazing.. We felt your pain as you trudged determinedly along on your bruised and blistered feet.. must have been agony.. And we felt your relief that.. after days of nausea and vomiting.. you were finally able to keep down some soup and a bit of bread.. So delightful to o watch the two of you frolic on the beach.. in view of the lighthouse.. at the completion of this epic journey across Scotland.. what an accomplishment.. thank you for sharing this with all of us.. All of the videos we have seen thus far are amazing.. this one, dear lad, is epic indeed!!!! Btw.. Scotch whiskey is quite medicinal.. my Scottish Mum gave us this.. blended with ginger.. whenever we were sick as wee ones.. and always it worked!! Thank you so for these unforgettable videos.. and for showing us snippets of our homeland.. For we are Scottish too.. and long so some day to visit the land where our ancestors lived.. In the meantime.. we visit thru your wondrous videos.. always we hope you make them🙏 William and Jen 💜💙🌱🌹🙏

This is a wonderful - absolutely charming - video!!!Thank you for sharing!

My story stick is a lovely straight piece of willow found by the river Thames. It is drying out right now and I'm looking forward to traversing the West Highland Way with it and carving my journey into it. Thanks Tom.

Fantastic video 😊 You could go into primary schools with that story and the stick and encourage youngsters to plan their own stick story adventures. And get paid for your time and knowledge. I’m looking out for a suitable stick to notated my future camper van adventures with my partner and dogs. Many thanks again.

Born in England now live in the U.S. it is interesting trying to explain what a miggie is to someone in the U.S. I always wanted to walk in Scotland. Even wanting to do the highlands in Winter. Younger and crazier days. Did a lot of walking in the Lake District.

Strange thing about food poisoning for me is that I've traveled to some unusual places and ate what the natives ate and never gotten food poisoning until I returned home and started eating home cooking. I've had snake, turtle, eel, tripe, durian, fermented soybean curds, alligator, a variety of fried insects, even squid ink ice cream and galore of street foods. And nothing bad until I got home and started eating regular foods. There's a moral to the story in there somewhere.

I grew up in Yetholm so I was with you in spirit for the start of your journey at least. Wish I’d done more of this type of stuff when I was young. Bit long in the tooth and too many family commitments now. Though I like to think I might do something similar in sections over a period of time if I make it to retirement. 🤔

Tom, thanks what a grand yarn only ever done the west highland way but that sounds a epic daunder 👍 been further north before but only by car. Think you have planted a seed🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I admire your staying power and your dedication to carve a map out on your staff. Epic journey. Mark

I don't comment a lot, but I just loved this video. Well, I love all your videos! I pray one day I can get to the Highlands...thank you for all you do and teach! This Hobbit listens!!!! Love these sticks! I have one myself...the carvings are lovely ~ Cheers from Pennsylvania! Bridget 🤗

Fowler made one when he was in the 'Alone' survival program. Scotland looks amazing and the whiskey is the best in the world. Nice channel keep up the good work

This was so comforting to hear and it really makes me want to get back out there again, even though I probably won't manage a great distance. The one time I attempted the whw was with my partner. We were both somehow overpacked and underpacked at the same time 😂 Both wearing a newly acquired kilt (although probably with underwear 😂), I was wearing poorly broken in army boots, I wasn't aware of my disabilities yet (surely everyone feels like that ahem) and I wasn't mentally prepared for the rain 😂😂😂 So after the second day we made our way back to where we started (not the actual start of the trail, we started closer to Loch Lomond) by a ferry and a bus, only to find out we couldn't pay by card in the village and we barely had any cash, so we went back to the train, which we also couldn't pay for, trying our luck with the conductor (who kindly gave us kids tickets for which we didn't even have enough cash). Back in Glasgow we could thankfully use our cards again so things ended up fine 😂

Thank you for sharing your hiking trip I found it very interesting. I really enjoy your videos and I am learning so much about the Scottish history and your beautiful land through your eyes. I look forward to your next video. : )

It sounds like it was a great adventure thank you very much for sharing your story you got me giggling in a little bit haha your memory staf is quite a cool idea sorry about your sickness I got sick in India and I understand how you feel about us being able to eat something

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing!

You know you are at the boarder of sctotland when you can see the sun shining.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it‼️😀

I like your photo of Mount Tititea/Aspiring.

TOM, bloody hilarious....Scotland bound soon... Yer an Inspitation........Blessings Slainte from Tha Mclachlan Gauld clan

There's something oddly attractive and sentimental about natural hiking sticks/staffs. When I was in the Air Force I was stationed in West Texas (Abilene) and while there, I led a troop of boy scouts. During a week-long campout, I found a dead Mountain Cedar (Juniperus ashei ) which is a softwood, but cedars and junipers are known for their insect repelling oils and for soft woods, they are quite dense and durable. Anyway, it's now been with me for about 10 years and it's been on trails, beaches, and through the woods in several states. I carve the names and dates of trails I've taken it on. It's going to be a sad day if I ever have to retire my stick.

Now I need to find out if there's similar trail here in Serbia =) Great video and beautiful staff!

Hard to beat a good walk with a good stick and a friend. Take care.

Great video. Brilliant to get a glimpse of Scotland too.

Really enjoyed listening to the story of your journey Tom 😀 it was really interesting & it makes me want to get out walking even more with my family. My wife has been around Scotland, but we have only been to Edinburgh together, so a number of walks & camping in Scotland is called for when all the lock down is over & we have some kind of normality back 😀 Thank you for sharing this video 👏🙂👍 Take care & Stay safe my friend. Andy

Awesome adventure, nice scenery. You look like 10 years old))) Cheers

As soon as the words like true Scotsmen left your mouth I immediately thought nettles thistles and little biting buggers 😇

I think im finally getting used to you in mordern clothes there Tom

Great idea the story staff. Still very beautiful country. Safe journeys.

are you amazed at how successful (so far) your channel is?! and with no idea of what your videos entail by the channel name is all that more remarkable..but..you have an eclectic sort of channel that seems to work..charisma, well edited and promises of more interesting videos to come is what draws me back and anxiously look forward to a notification...it is good to see a proper and historical channel do well..YT is full of fools and screamers and juvies..good for some, but glad to see folks like you have a way to express and share your love of this hobby, and life style..i know i am meandering but basically just wanted to say i dig what you do..and wish you all the more success..peace from Buffalo, NY area..

The story stick is a good idea.

A grand tale, and a nice stick. Thanks!

Great story, thank you 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Beautiful country

The compass acting weird could be because of all the metal from whatever they're shooting. It's like trying to use a compass in a building with a lot of metal it can go a bit wonky

6:48 on that note, whiskey/alcohol can be used as a medicine.

Scottish whiskey IS the water of life.

*Thumbs up, like button smashed*

I had food poisoning from a bugger from a burger van it lasted 3 day its the most sick I've ever been I would say I was throwing up every 10-15 minutes for 3 day's

I made my stick from your other video. Thank you. For me better than poles.

I walked the Skye trail with a friend, still planning on doing the Cape Wrath trail, might pick up a stick along the way!

Haha I have to keep looking up all these odd words. Bothy. Lol my aunt is Scottish so thought I'd heard it all.

Great trip, thanks for sharing!

lots of metal on the bombing range probably messed with your compass

Great original idea, Tom! Question: were you ever in the UK Scouting program? Seems like you learned a lot about the outdoors pretty early in life. Avid Scout, here...in youth and adulthood. Thanks.

Great video Tom! Please educate this Texan on what "boiled sweets" are.....

Love this video.

Eyup fella. I went up to Kirk Yetholm in the eighties and walked home along the pennine way. Your story has all the same elements as mine plus extras but in different order and ..I didn't throw up. Walking a long way seems to have the same travails and simple joys whether you go north or south. Scotland has more bothys by the looks so well done people of Scotland - it's a bit rougher on top up there. I've also stayed at the Drover's on the way up to Skye and wandered around the hills there a bit. Recording your story is a brilliant thing. I know I've told mine times enough because it turns out to be worth the telling. Next time tell the story by a roaring fire cuddling a whisky and in the style of Rowley Birkin QC and I'll buy you the moon ;-) Sithi after, Dave.

it's fandabidozi again cool

9:05, are there any walking/marching songs in Scottish history?

2:37 4:08 5:26 6:18 7:33 8:14 9:15 9:43 12:57

Can someone explain "Yaa" to me?

Great trip my friend love my walking staff its a must ! Take care brother p.s ware underwear !

Whisky IS proper food!

trees provide you medicine. A true highlander would know it and chew on some bitter stuff. Epic journey anyway

You look so young in the old footage! Like a high schooler (secondary?)

You look very young in these clips

Sorry, but I'm not able to understand the word you're saying for the places you're staying. I seem to hear Dozi but I can't find any information about it (I'm spanish so maybe I lack some kind of background)

Don't carve runes into your staff; the Men in Black will come a-knocking on your door! ;) 👍

A sun? How about a Celtic cross?

my staff has murdered giants my pack a long knife carries to cut mince pies from childrens thighs with which tae feed the faeries And when that I have murdered The man in the moon to a powder His staff I'll break and his dog I'll shake And there'll howl no demon louder

What do those midgies eat when they can't get Scotsmen?

:-)

stick😆

How thick are your sticks? As tall as your chin? special wood? I want to make a better stick!

In times now 2023/24 I needed a stick who can … shoot and be a lightsaber and a big sword and a laserpistol and a wizard stick … the times are getting worse… 🔥🔥🔥✌️😂👍🍀🍀🍀🌎🔥🔥🔥😜✌️🔥🍀