Why join it: Q&A with Tom Avery & Lewis Gordon Pugh
19 February 2007
Q: The Talisker Trek, what is it and when is it?
T: The Talisker Trek is a fantastic and unique event. I was fortunate enough to have led the 2006 trek which takes place on the first weekend of June and it’s for 200 like-minded outdoor enthusiasts from all sorts of walks of life to join myself, Lewis Gordon Pugh, the extreme ocean swimmer, two rugby legends, Martin Bayfield and Dean Richards on a 30 mile trek across the Isle of Skye. Skye of course, it’s the home of Talisker Whisky, the only single malt whisky on the island, and of course after trekking for two days we’re going to need to rest those sore limbs and blisters, and the trek culminates in a visit of the Talisker distillery there, so we’ll all enjoy a wee dram at the end of it all
Q: What can trekkers expect from this year’s adventures and I take it that this happens every year, so how does it differ every year?
L: Well this is the second year that it’s taken place and it’s going to be slightly different this year, it’s going to be slightly longer, and this year it’ll be 30 miles, but I don’t think people should be daunted by that, it’s going to be challenging but fun, and I think it’s manageable by most people as long as they practice a little bit of walking between now and June.
T: And of course you’ve now got Lewis here whose being very modest, who is leading this year’s trek, so he will put his own sort of unique dimension to the whole, to the whole trek. And obviously we’ve got Martin Bayfield whose joining up with Dean and myself so you know it’s going to be a huge amount of fun but a bit of a challenge as well.
Q: You mentioned that you need a pair of walking boots to take part – can anybody get involved in this?
L: Yes we’re looking for teams of 4 people to get involved, and last year they had 200 people, this year we hope to have even more, the aim of the whole Talisker trek is for a very very important cause, we’re trying to raise money for the Woodland Trust. The Woodland Trust are a fantastic charity which plant trees throughout the United Kingdom, and I can’t think of anything more worthy at this time with climate change and global warming than planting trees around our country
Q: Why was the Woodland Trust chosen, obviously it’s a nature issue as well, why was it chosen and what are you hoping to raise in total for it?
T: Well the Woodland Trust does a huge amount of good throughout the United Kingdom, they’re an established charity with a phenomenal track record with, as well as improving current woodlands they’re also planting new forests around the UK as well, just 8% of the UK’s land area is forested, compared to a European average of 36% so we’re doing everything that we can to do our little bit and to increase that, so that is a hugely important part of it, doing our bit for the environment in this time of change
Q: So what areas specifically are going to benefit specifically from the money that’s raised?
T: Well it goes throughout the United Kingdom. I in fact planted some trees with Dean Richards and Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the end of the 2006 Talisker Trek, but this year it’ll be throughout the United Kingdom, so Scotland, Wales, Northern Island and England will be direct beneficiaries of the funds that we’re trying to raise. We will try and raise quarter of a million pounds here which will go towards planting quarter of a million trees, so it really is a major project
Q: Tom and Lewis, both of you, what’s your direct involvement in this challenge?
T: Yes well, it’s Tom here I’d led the 2006 Inaugural Talisker Trek and it really was one of the highlights of 2006 for me, I’m going to be involved in this year’s trek but the real figurehead, the man in charge, the leader, is going to be Lewis as I said one of the world’s most extreme ocean swimmers and Lewis perhaps you could explain a bit about your role?
L: Yes I’m very very fortunate to have travelled to many many places around the world and one place which amazes me just how incredibly beautiful it is, and that’s the Isle of Skye, so I’ll be leading the trek, and then many many different activities which are going to be taking place over the two days, some highland games, navigational exercises, I know that polar explorers like Tom always enjoy having a tyre-pulling race down the beach, so many different activities, mind games and physical games as well
Q: Do you anticipate anything being particularly challenging this year?
T: Well anyone whose been to Scotland will know that it’s a very, it’s a mountainous country and the Isle of Skye is no different, so yes there are going to be some hills to walk up and down, but last year’s trek for example, we had 200 men and women from all sorts of walks of life and completely different ranges of experience. Quite a few had absolutely no experience of this sort of thing before, and that’s what this is all about, it’s getting a real mix and yes challenging ourselves but also having a good time as well
Q: So it sounds like quite a nice bonding experience for strangers to come together, meet up and do like-minded things?
L: Yes well that’s just it, we’re looking for people to enter into teams of four, so teams of four, and the cost of this event is ?79 to register and then we’re asking each person to try and raise ?500 which all the money is going towards the Woodland Trust, but people who are interested in trying to find out more about the event, they should go to the website, which is taliskertrek.co.uk then they’ll find out everything there. This is an incredible and unique two day hike across the Isle of Skye, not only will you be getting out into the beautiful beautiful island but also you’ll be raising money for the Woodland Trust which is a fantastic charity
Q:Lovely. Tom?
T: Yes well no I would just like to echo those words that Lewis just said. Obviously Skye being the home of Talisker, for me one of the real enjoyments of last year was once the trek was all finished, everyone outside, on the beach enjoying a great big bonfire, enjoying a wee dram of Talisker and talking about and laughing about the weekend’s events. It really was one of the highlights of 2006 for me and I’m really looking forward to 2007
Q: Wonderful. Just for my own purposes, is this going to be televised at all?
T: Yes, yes it is, the 2006 trek was filmed and this year it’s going to be filmed as well. Exactly who is filming I’m not sure but it will definitely be filmed