MY COUNTRYSIDE
The journalist, broadcaster and political aide on how the Scottish Highlands revive his spirit
Journalist, broadcaster and political aide Alastair Campbell
My dad was a vet and would often take us on his rounds.
He had a practice in Keighley and a branch in Bingley, West Yorkshire, and covered a big area, so we would get out among some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, such as the area around Haworth. I don’t know if I was aware of how beautiful it was then, but some of my earliest memories are of those trips round farms. Dad was a real lover of horses, and at one time he had his own pony and trap, which we used to go out on, too.
All of our holidays were in Scotland, usually weaving from one relative to another, and always ending in the Hebridean island of Tiree.
Uncle Hector and his wife, my auntie Mairi, lived there in the croft where my dad was born. I was always struck by how long the days were, as Tiree gets more hours of sunshine than most places in the UK. The beaches are incredible and never busy. I used to borrow my cousin’s bike and just head off round the island. I was back there recently for Auntie Mairi’s funeral, sadly the last of my dad’s generation on the island.
I like hills, fast-flowing rivers, wildness in scenery
and changing, clashing colours. The view of Ben Nevis is my screensaver, so I guess that must be my favourite view anywhere. We regularly go to a place near Ardgour, just over the water from Fort William. But, to be honest, wherever you are in Scotland you’re not far from fantastic landscapes, especially in winter. As I heard someone say once, when we were going out for a walk in wild rain, “There is no such thing as bad weather… There are just bad clothes and boots”.
When I’m out in great countryside, especially on my bike, my mind is more active afterwards.
Some of my best work comes at these times. Often, if I’m writing, I deliberately go somewhere quiet and beautiful, and just wait for thoughts and ideas.
My bike is often on the roof of the car so I can find places to cycle en route.
Yorkshire and Lancashire are fabulous for hills. So is Scotland and, winter or summer, I often take the bike to the Highlands. In London I tend to join all the MAMILS [Middle Aged Men In Lycra] in Regent’s Park, and I sometimes venture out in Hertfordshire and Essex.
I think the biggest issues facing the countryside are jobs being killed by automation, poverty, access to decent schools and good transport.
And I believe Brexit will be a total disaster for our agriculture. I also have a passionate loathing of litter, and cannot for the life of me understand why that is not universally shared – it is even more infuriating in rural areas!
I don’t need an excuse to get the bagpipes out.
There are many tunes I love, and I also write my own, or, more accurately, make them up as I go along. As a child, I used to rebel a bit when Dad was teaching me how to play, thinking there were better things to do, but I’m so glad I did it now. I love playing them.
Alastair Campbell is a speaker for Head Talks (headtalks.com), which hosts short talks aimed at informing and inspiring those interested in improving and maintaining their mental wellbeing.
I like hills, fast-flowing rivers and clashing colours