Though a native Londoner, I was brought up with an appreciation for camping and the great outdoors — in particular, mountains. Childhood Christmases spent in Glasgow gave my dad ample opportunity to get me started on some Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet) and before long, my love for craggy wildernesses was cemented.
Coming from a Norwegian background on my dad’s side aided in a seamless graduation from the peaks of the Scottish Highlands to the ranges, glaciers, lakes and forests of both Norway and its similarly beautiful Scandinavian and Nordic neighbours. Ever since, occasional but lengthy (and often solo) hiking trips to Norway and Iceland have become a mainstay of my calendar.
Having worked in a range of jobs over the years, from teaching to property research, I'm proud to say I have found a role here at Audley that allows me to pass on my deep-seated love for this most northerly of nations to others that are seeking to experience Norway’s dramatic beauty and cosy charm.
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Q&A with Ollie
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
While visiting the north of Norway, I tried the local delicacy of cod tongues. Though originally a relatively nauseating proposition, not to mention value for money (how big is a cod’s tongue?), the fact they were deep-fried instilled in me sufficient courage to give them a try. Thankfully I didn’t regret my decision — less fishy than the cod itself, these tongues were surprisingly tender and great with the accompanying lemon dip. As an added intrigue, it’s an old tradition in Norway for local children to remove these tongues during the gutting stages, for which I'm told they are paid very handsomely.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
Having spent three weeks solo hiking around Iceland, I met a traveller who made me aware of a seldom trodden route that required the fording of rivers and slightly sketchy scrambling of hillsides, but which ultimately lead you to Icelandic gold dust: a ‘hidden’ hot spring. After a day of trekking, wading, and not encountering another soul, I arrived at this idyllic spot. Tent pitching had to wait as I couldn’t get into the steamy waters fast enough. That feeling of tranquillity and awe as I surveyed the valley I'd just trudged across from my own personal, naturally occurring bath will stay with me forever.
Where would you love to travel next?
Mountainous regions have always been my most loved types of landscapes and I think it’s the aim of most travellers of this persuasion to visit New Zealand to experience the country’s magnificence first hand. It may be the furthest place in the world from me but the jaw-dropping scenery would make such an extensive trip well worth it.