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Make Space For Nature
Make Space For Nature
"What's The Story?" The Power of Nature, Positivity and Scottish Spirit – with digital creator Eddy Cheeee
Goosebumps in the snow at Glen Coe. Laughter in the rain. A stranger’s kindness on Arran. We sit with traveller and creator Eddie Chee to trace how a spontaneous trip to Glasgow turned into a deep love for Scotland’s wild weather, rolling hills, and everyday magic—and why a ten‑minute walk can reset a heavy mind.
We trade big‑ticket views for quieter corners, moving from the Quiraing and Old Man of Storr to Ayrshire’s coast, Stirling’s landmarks, and country parks locals often overlook. Eddie talks about using nature as a safe haven for mental health, the simple discipline of stepping outside when you least feel like it, and the relief of leaving the phone in your pocket. He shares how followers and locals steer him toward hidden gems, and how respect for the land—leave no trace, give wildlife space, read the weather—turns adventure into a habit you can sustain for life.
There’s practical wisdom throughout: think of rain as texture, not a barrier; pair a short walk with a coffee to create momentum; choose off‑peak spots to spread footfall; and know when to turn back. Eddie’s story is a reminder that joy thrives on small decisions—pack a layer, pick a path, look up—and that legacy can be as simple as showing the next person it’s possible.
If you’re craving a nudge to get outside, this conversation is your sign. Press play, then tell us where your first ten minutes will take you. Subscribe for more nature‑first stories, rate the show if it helped you, and share this episode with someone who needs a gentle push into fresh air.
Welcome to Make Space for Nature from Nature Scott, the podcast celebrating Scotland's nature, landscapes, and species. I'm Kirsten Guthrie, and in this episode, Tim Hancocks and I are joined by Eddie Chee, the infectiously positive creator behind Eddie Chee Travels, known for his love of Scotland's natural beauty, wild weather, rolling hills, and yes, the rain. We're chatting about how nature influences his mental well-being, what brought him north of the border, and how he finds joy in even the soggiest Scottish day. So hi Eddie and uh welcome to the Make Space for Nature podcast. Um now you've been creating content for Nature Scott which shows your incredible enthusiasm for getting people outside and experiencing Scotland's nature. You know, your posts certainly make me smile, but you know, we'd love to make, you know, know more about you yourself. Where's home and have you always loved nature and being outside?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, thanks, Kirsten. Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it. Yeah, I grew up in Ireland and I moved to England about seven years ago. And uh the story of me being involved in Scotland is that it has to be the most funniest story ever. Because uh I fell in love with Scotland from watching the show Stillgame, and I I loved the show so much. I decided to travel down to Glasgow randomly. I told my girlfriend I'm gonna book a ticket on the weekend, and I was surprised as to how quick it was like four minutes' flight from Birmingham. And as soon as I got there, I'm like, I'm home. Everyone was absolutely lovely. My first two meals were free. A lovely couple paid for my breakfast. It was just amazing, it was just amazing.
SPEAKER_02:And you can yeah, I can certainly um hear your Irish accent in there as well with some of the words you say. It's quite a unique accent you've got. It's great to hear it. And you know, is it something you dreamed about for a while then when you when you came to Scotland?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so literally, when I came to Scotland, I I had no plans, literally. My plan was just uh go see what Glasgow is like because a lot of people were commenting on some of my old videos just saying, You have to go to Scotland, you have to go to Scotland, and growing up in Ireland, I'm used to seeing beautiful countrysides in my local village, but I just never knew that there was something like that in Scotland, and I was blown away. I was just blown away, and I can't stop exploring. That's great to hear.
SPEAKER_00:Hi, Eddie. Uh, in in all your videos, like uh what I'd say, one of your your your sort of trademarks is your your the energy you bring to it and your infectious laugh. Um, is that have you always been like this, or is it just being in Scotland, or is it something that's sort of grown over time with your your personality? Where does this come from?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, literally, I've always been like that. If you ask anyone that knows me, my mom, my dad, they're used to me. I'm that awkward, weird kid that's just always happy. That I don't know why, but I feel like when I'm happy, nothing can bring me down. I just always look at a positive side of things because you know, you know, that's just the way it's meant to be in life. There's no point being here when you have amazing stuff to look at and be sad, you know. Obviously, you're gonna have sad times, but it's good to be positive, and that's been that's just been the way I've always been.
SPEAKER_00:No, that's fantastic. And uh you're also noticed in a lot of your your videos, you give it the big wow. So for for for Scotland, um I'm obviously you can hear by my accent, I'm also uh uh a foreigner, didn't grow up here. So can you tell us what your first big wow moment was? And for me, like my mine is uh it's a it's a bit uh cliche in that the first one you know that any tour bus would go on is is going to Glen Cove for the first time. I I thought, okay, this is this is uh a whole other level. But then getting a bit more niche on um I went uh a walk on the Isle of Sky up to the old man of store, and I thought this is this is really cool, and and something quite quite Scottish with with seeing those kind of landmarks. Can you tell us about your your first one or two big wow moments when you're like this, like you were saying, you you felt like you were home.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, just hearing that question, I'm again goosebumps right now, just thinking of the main one, it's very it's very cliche, it's similar to you, but again, I just the feelings that's going through my back right now. I I wish you can feel it. It's just so my first wow moment was when I saw Glen Cole, Three Sisters snowing, like it was snowing. I went in December time, late December, and just seeing the three sisters, I thought right now I'm always I'm I'm almost teary right now, just thinking of it. It was so beautiful. I stepped off the tour bus, I took a tour bus as well, and it was so cold, but I couldn't feel the cold. It was weird because it was cloudy, it was cold, everyone was freezing. But I stood, I was, I just stood there, I just stood there froze, and I'm like, what is this place? It doesn't look real. And I'm so glad that I was able to, you know, say the way I was feeling because most people that were there, I kind of felt like they felt the way, but everyone was looking around to see is anyone gonna look at the way I'm reacting. But I didn't care, it was just amazing. And I'm like, this is not real, and I kind of walked around, and then over the next few months as I started traveling, going to places like Isle of Iron. Went to when I went to Isle of Iron, when I went to Isle of Sky, going to Korang, Korang, oh my god, that place is not real. It's literally not a real place, it's not real, just thinking back again. It's not a real place. Old man of store was nice, don't get me wrong, I loved it, but I felt like because I've seen a lot of videos about old man of store, so I kind of was expecting it. But with Kurang, there isn't a lot of videos out there. That's why I love to go to places that isn't known by most people. So most of my videos are one day I'm uh you know, I could be at uh lags the next week. I could be uh uh trying to think of a random place now. Uh I could be somewhere in uh where did I just go to? My brain. I've been to so many places I can't think now. Uh what did I just come from last week? Uh where was I last weekend? I was in Kuwait. I was in Kusan Castle. Kulan. Is it Colin? Oh, Kulane, Kulane, Kulane. Sorry. Okay, Kulan, Colane. Yeah, I was there. I was exploring Ayrshire, and you just drive through places like that that most tourist don't go to. Everyone goes to your Glasgow, your Edinburgh, your Edinburgh Castle. But when you go to like Sterling Castle, you're like, you go to the monument, the Wallace monuments, you're like, this place is they just it again, it's not real. It's not a real place. Scotland is not a real place. It's just wonderful. It's just wonderful.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, it's brilliant. I just love your attitude. It's great. And you know the thing is that you're just at the end of the day, you're saying just get out, enjoy our nature. And you know, that can be on your doorstep as well. Like a lot of the stuff we talk about and make space for nature is literally just opening your door and go and seeing what is out there because the seasons change and the like autumn at the moment is just absolutely stunning. But um, one of my favourite words is that you know, Drich, it was certainly Drich last night and today, and you know, it doesn't matter how Drich it is out there because there's no such thing as bad weather, it really is just just bad clothes. And I actually liked one of your videos, it was uh Ballock Castle Country Park, which is where I'm where I'm near where I'm from. And I just loved your enthusiasm for that place. But I was laughing at some of the comments, it was like Scottish comments go, nah, it's rubbish, it's rubbish, it's rubbish. But actually, your attitude is just like, look at this place, it's so amazing. So, yeah, that was great to see. And you know, how have the local people reacted to you and your enthusiasm? Uh obviously, I'm talking about the you know, certain comments, but I say when you're out and about, are they are they really positive as well?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, very, very positive. Like I've got so many stories that if I'm saying it, we'll be here for days. Like at the beginning, at the beginning, I had no clue what to expect because I'm the kind of person that I'm always very, very positive, but I kind of go with someone else. So if I'm happy and I'm talking to you and it's the way you react. So if I feel like you're not giving me the same energy, I kind of you know come down to your energy. But if you're giving me a good energy, I go higher. So from my from my visit, it's been unbelievable. Like one of one of the things that comes straight to my head that I will never forget. This happened about two years ago when I went to Isle of Iron. And me being me, I just assumed there's gonna be loads of shops on the island. So I didn't bring uh I didn't bring shower job. So the next morning when I woke up my first morning on Isle of Iron, I realized, oh Lord, there's no shops around there. And I started walking around. I started literally starting walking around trying to find a shop. And what did I see? I found a random house and I walked towards the house. Picture this in a massive, massive farmland. I'm the only one there. There's no there's no houses around, probably like five minutes, around five minutes around that area. There's no houses. So I just walked up to this lovely house and I could see this elderly couple by the mirror by the window. They're probably thinking, what's this lad doing? But they were so nice. They came out, they're like, You're right. I'm like, Yeah, not too bad. I'm just I came down here, I told them a story. Uh, I forgot to get a shower gel. Is there any chance that can I get a spare soup shower gel? They brought me inside, they were so lovely. And they gave me a shower gel, they gave me soap, and then one of the soap that they gave me, I still have it today. I'm never gonna use it. And uh, every time I go to Scotland, it's at the back of my backpack, but I never use it, I just always have it there to remember why I do this for the lovely people that I meet. And that couple, I know they're probably gonna, they probably would have forgotten, but I would never forget them because they was just that they shouldn't have been nice because they they had no clue who I was, but yeah, it was so lovely, and I'll never forget that story.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, that's so lovely. I bet you've not that I don't think they'll forget you somehow. I don't think they will that's so nice, and you know, uh what kind of what what impact does being in nature have on you know, you've talked about you're generally a kind of happy, happy person, but um, you know, obviously there's lots of people um kind of managing their own mental health issues and whatnot. And how how does being in nature affect your mental health? And is there certain places in Scotland or or even types of landscapes be that locks, forests, coastlines? I mean, I certainly love going to the beach and breathing in the air there and let the dog off and having a wee runabout. But yeah, you what what do you love the most?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, definitely. I feel like no one is perfect, and everyone goes through different things of life that you know they might not say they tend to say the happiest people go through a lot, which is it's it's mostly true. And what I've noticed is that whenever I feel down, which is whenever I feel down and I decide to go to Scotland, that can that boosts me up so so so much. It's like my safe haven. Like I know once I'm going to Scotland, I'm gonna come back rejuvenated, happy, more energy, especially when you see all these amazing locks and you go on this lovely walk. There's so many walks, it's ridiculous. You know, one place I can think of right now that whenever I'm driving past uh when I'm going to when I'm going to uh to the islands, I'm always going past uh Drover's End, which is an on top of yes, which was which and it's got a lovely waterfall at the back of it as well, which I'm gonna go to very soon. It's just amazing it's just so beautiful. But yeah, whenever I'm driving past there and I go through places like Fecken Viewpoint, I'm always stopping there. And it's you stop there, you walk to the uh to the shores of the loch, and you just look and it's just the most picturesque place, it's so beautiful, and that really helps me personally, you know, wherever I'm going through. Again, I'm not perfect, I'm far perfect, I'm far from perfect, but I kind of use stuff that that's there to help me, and the fact that you're always half an hour drive, you know, to all these amazing places. So for me, that really helps me a lot.
SPEAKER_02:Brilliant.
SPEAKER_00:And Eddie, you you obviously spend a lot of time uh creating content and and working on on uh things as well as whatever other projects you have busy. Um so how do you balance that? You know, because a lot of people they talk about the the work-life balance and how to try and um you know make sure you don't end up with burnout and and to protect your mental health. How do you how do you uh look after yourself?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I feel like I've realized that I think it's the fact that I'm doing something that I genuinely love. So it's something that I do that after the stuff I do, I don't record. So especially when I'm done here in Birmingham, I go for my runs, I go to like triffern parks, and there's been times where I've been to places in Scotland that I didn't want to record. So I could be in Scotland and no one would actually know unless I post it. And I feel like sometimes we need that. And I'm so lucky to have an amazing girlfriend that she's very she loves traveling as well. So so whenever I feel like this might be a bit of a burnout, I kind of just leave the Instagram for like maybe a day or two and just focus on real life, you know. At the end of the day, we're living a real life. Instagram is just a way of you know seeing what's going on out there to promote people to get out there. So I'll probably say, yeah, just going for a love, a lovely walk whenever I feel like there's a burnout coming and just really knowing it's not real, it's social media and it's not real.
SPEAKER_00:So I I'm sure a lot of your your followers and we've seen in the comments a lot of people who who see your stories and your and your videos um talk about how how your positivity really brightens up their day. Um what what is your sort of main goal when when you're posting about uh a nature or or things happening in your life? What are you hoping people take away from that?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I feel like uh whenever I I record a video, I'm thinking of I'm thinking of you know someone like me, someone that's you know, maybe my age, uh just thinking of you never know what someone is going through. Because I've been through stuff in life that just watching a video has changed my the way I think. You know, there's been times where we we've up and down, you know, and we just watch something online and it just boosts you up. And my legacy in life, I want I want to be that person that when I'm gone, that you can always go back and be like, oh wow, uh Eddie was able to live this, Eddie was able to record this, Eddie was able to do that. I want my grandkids to be able to know that look, their granddad go to all these amazing places and they can do as well. And it's just so beautiful, and there's no point being here getting the opportunity to live in this beautiful world and not exploring what we have on our doorstep. So yeah, that's what I want to leave for anyone that's watching or listening.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that's a great, great attitude. Um, and you know, as you kind of touched on there, like for people that are perhaps maybe um they're kind of feeling stuck indoors, whether that's through anxiety or depression or just maybe feeling overwhelmed with life, um, busy lives that we all all live lead at the moment. You know, what's your advice for making that initial move outside?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, definitely. I feel like there's been days where I've been stuck in, I don't want to go for a run, I just want to be inside in the dark. And then the way I kind of come out of that is I tell myself just go for a 10-minute walk. Just stepping outside, feeling that fresh air, that fresh breeze, looking at greenery, even in winter time. Yeah, just stepping out, it helps a lot because there's been days where I don't want to do anything. But then the moment I step out, I go out, maybe I go get some coffee, which I absolutely love. As soon as I step out, I just get this energy, and I'm coming back home, I'm just a new person. Just stepping out. It could be a two-minute walk. You could walk around, just walking around your garden. You know, we step out of the garden just to you know to get something quickly, but just stepping out and just standing there for 10 minutes, that could that goes a long way, a long way.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, absolutely. And the thing is that I've never heard anybody say that they regret going out. You know, it's like okay, you don't want to maybe you don't want to go out, but actually once you've done it, you always feel you tend to always feel better. But for me, I think having a coffee shop at the end of the walk is quite nice as well. That's my kind of that's my target. Um, and you know, where's next on your your Scottish adventure list? How do you how do you plan where where to go next? Or you know, do you speak to locals? Do your followers inspire you? What how do you come up with your your plan?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it's a mixture of of literally all the stuff you listed there. So whenever I go away, I'm always listening to locals, ideas, and also listening to my comment section. But then there's been times where I'm literally at home, like I said, just maybe I might be stuck in a in a rut and like going through my comments, and someone says, Oh, Eddie, you should definitely come to this area. I remember was the reason I decided to explore uh whatchamacallit, Dumfries and Galloway, was the fact that I was just strolling my Instagram after like two weeks ago, and I seen a comment, and I've been seeing that comment the last three, four weeks, and I'm like, What's where is this place, Dumfries and Galloway? And I checked it out, and I realize I get to drive past a place called Stran Ra. Yeah, and I'm a I'm a big fan of uh I'm actually ever watched Max and Paddy, and I remember there's a scene where the guy goes Stran Ra and I'm not sure you guys know what that it's like a funny scene, and I'm I'm I'm and it's like it's a dream of mine just to be able to say Stran Ra in Stran Ra. So the fact that I was able to go to Stran Ra and it was a lovely place. I went to Stran Ra, absolutely lovely place, beautiful people, people just so nice. So yeah, yeah, most of the time it's just random, it's just random. I love doing it.
SPEAKER_02:Brilliant.
SPEAKER_00:I love that. Finding the joy in everything, even just a place name. Like I can totally appreciate that. Um so uh you you've already given a couple of uh uh good ideas of things that help you and that you recommend to people, you know, just getting out and getting some fresh air, or even if it's a two-minute walk around your garden. Um, we we ask everyone who comes on the on the pod to to let us know first, you know, what what do you do to make make space for nature in your life? And any tips you have for for anybody listening is is things that they should do, whether you know little things you can do for nature or just for your own mental health and getting out. What's what's what's the the top tips from Eddie?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, definitely step out whenever you can. And also what while you're out, if you see any rubbish, I feel like that's what one thing I love about Scotland. Most of my walks or anywhere I go to it's always clean. And I feel like it's a fact that we keep saying it, keep it clean, keep it tidy for the next generation. Because the reason why we have access to it right now is the fact that the last generation did it, you know, they kept it clean, they kept it that way. And also, when we see all these amazing, beautiful animals, whether it's a squirrel or any animals you see, don't you know, don't go to them, leave them alone. You know, you don't want to endanger the animals and just keeping it clean, keeping it tidy, making it safe, you know, whether it's set in fire, you know, make sure you read the rules and regulations, and also don't go out when you know it's it's dangerous. You know, look at the weather forecast. I'll give you an example. I was meant to go wild camping a few weeks ago before the storm. Actually, before the storm Amy, I think it was storm Amy. Yeah, I was gonna go wild camping, I had everything parked, I've already done my research, I couldn't wait for it. And as soon as I get to my uh my campsari, no, I have my campsari, I got to the I got uh where I was gonna start hiking up. I just look at the weather, the weather was horrible. I'm like, there's no point in me going up there and making people come rescue me. And you know, it's just not fair on everyone else, you know what I mean? So what did I do? I decided to check into a hotel. I was lucky to find a cheap hotel. Check into the hotel, I had the most amazing night with the wind blowing outside, and you know, next day I was safe, everyone else was safe, so yeah, definitely not do stuff where that you can put anyone else's life in danger. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, that's such a good point. And and thank you so much. And uh, you know, the the the energy and and passion that you bring for for exploring the outdoors and Scotland in particular is is fantastic and and so so inspiring and infectious. So even on the cloud yesterday, you know, as long as it's safe, as you say, and get more people out and exploring, whether you're you're just coming to visit Scotland or whether maybe you live here and you you've you've forgotten how beautiful it is just on your doorstep. Let's let's get more people out. Thank you so much, Eddie. Thank you so much, guys. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_02:Thanks for listening for more ways to connect with and help protect Scotland's natural world. Go to nature.scot