The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
WORLD OF ADVENTURE
5 countries, six continents, 0ne globe-trotting Scot
Peak pandemic, and it seemed as if the world stopped spinning, as each country, one by one, shut down across the globe. Borders closed, planes were grounded indefinitely and travel was no longer an option. But nothing lasts forever, as tourist destinations tentatively open up for business in a bid to salvage the summer season. For globe-trotter Alastair Scott, it was always the road less travelled which appealed.
The 66-year-old is currently living in Aberdeenshire with his wife, Sheena, and can normally be found painting.
But his heart is perhaps elsewhere after he spent most of his life travelling.
Having set off to see the world, brimming with youthful enthusiasm at 24 years old, it would seem Alastair is yet to truly arrive home.
Originally from Edinburgh, he captured his adventures in a slide library, which houses roughly 5,000 images.
He also launched a series of travel books, which chronicle his remarkable exploits.
Alastair cycled 5,000 miles behind the Iron Curtain shortly before it fell, made a winter sled dog traverse of Alaska to the Bering Sea, rowed a Highland birlinn through the Hebrides, managed two transatlantic yacht deliveries, and also has solo circumnavigations of Ireland and the Faroe Islands under his belt.
It’s fair to say he doesn’t do things by halves. With Covid-19 finally calling his wandering to a halt, Alastair has reflected on the story thus far.
Although it would be impossible to gather his experiences of 65 countries and six continents, your life gave it a shot.
“It all started when I decided I was going to travel around the world for as long as it took; I even had my bagpipes with me,” said Alastair.
“Of course they didn’t last long, but I wore my kilt as an introduction to people.
“I remember looking at this tiny globe as a child and wondering what each country was like.
“When I set off, my plan was to do everything the wrong way round.
“So I headed north at winter to Greenland, and I didn’t even plan ahead.
“I just kept adding on countries as I went along.”
Alastair snapped his travels with a Pentax camera, before graduating to a Nikon F3.