Nicola Hardy - Munro Bagger, Outdoor Writer & Author of Peak Bagging Munros
- Tough Girl
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode we catch up with adventurer and outdoor writer Nicola Hardy—also known for becoming Munroist #6,765 after summiting all 282 of Scotland’s Munros.
Nicola left behind a decade-long career in IT to pursue a life filled with mountains, maps, and meaningful adventure. Since our first conversation in March 2022, Nicola has continued to embrace the outdoor life with passion—working part-time to support her adventures and dedicating the rest of her week to exploring the hills and trails she loves.
In this episode, Nicola shares what she’s been up to over the last few years, including writing her first guidebook: Peak Bagging Munros: Volume 1. We talk about the process of creating the book, linking routes efficiently across the Highlands, and her experiences hiking internationally—from Switzerland's Alpine Passes Trail to her first solo trip abroad on the Coronallacs route in Andorra.
Nicola is honest about the practicalities of outdoor life—from parking anxiety and budget travel to the importance of finding community in the outdoors. With future dreams like hiking New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, her journey is far from over.
If you’re passionate about mountains, guidebooks, or building a life around what you love—this episode is for you.
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Listen to Nicola Now!
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Show notes
Who is Nicola
Living in Cockermouth, Cumbria
Being a peak bagger and long distance walker
Preferring land over the water
Writing a peak bagging guidebook
Previously speaking with Nicola in March 31st 2022
What we chatting about on the first Tough Girl Podcast episode
Catching up with what’s been happening since 2022
Ending up here after doing the things that filled her life with joy
Trying to fill her time with as much adventure as possible
Finding the balance of adventuring while also bringing in money as well
Working 2 days a week part time (flipping the standard working week, upside down) and having 5 days off
Getting to the start of challenges using public transport
Parking anxiety and how it can introduce negative thinking before an adventure
Peak Bagging Munro’s - the book and how it came about
Munro Bagging and what it is
64 routes which are designed to link up these iconic mountains
What makes this guide book different
Including good maps, and efficient routes linking Munros together
Separating into 10 highland hubs
A walker, a trekker, a fast packer and a runner
Rest day suggestions
The gathering of the information
Building spreadsheets
Following your passion and working on the guidebook
Volume 1 of 2
Who the book is for
Heading to Switzerland and hiking the Alpine Passes Trail
Camping 20 nights out of 31
Being mountain fit
Doing her first solo trip abroad
Being able to switch off and spend time in nature
Wanting to go on more solo walks
Future plans and dreams to hike the Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand
How to connect with Nic
Trying to keep the website updated
Final words of advice
Getting out there and finding your community
Try lots of things in the outdoor space
Find what you love and dive in headfirst, you never know where it might lead
Social Media
Link for listeners to purchase the book - https://bit.ly/3REAjVU
Website - adventurernic.com
Facebook - @adventurer.nic.official
Instagram - @adventurer.nic
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