Most people choose to enjoy Scotland’s awe-inspiring views by bus or car, but one woman has hiked a massive 864km on foot to take in the country’s beauty and raise money for a worthy cause.
Yvette Morrissey, 29, was halfway through the Scottish National Trail, a hike made up of smaller trails that was founded in 2012 by outdoorsman Cameron McNeish, when Daily Mail Australia spoke with her.
The New Zealand travel writer is doing it all to raise money for cystic fibrosis research and treatment for her goddaughter.
Yvette Morrissey (pictured), 29, hiked the Scottish National Trail to raise money for cystic fibrosis research and treatment for her goddaughter

In 2016, Ms Morrissey, from New Zealand, found herself ‘single, broke, and exhausted from working full time and running a business’, so she moved to Canada before turning her sights to Scotland

One day Ms Morrissey was browsing online when she came across the Scottish National Trail, which begins in Kirk Yetholm and ends in Cape Wrath
In 2016, Ms Morrissey found herself ‘single, broke, and exhausted from working full time and running a business’.
So she sold her possessions and business and lived in Canada for two years – seven months of which she spent living in a van.
However, the ‘Wayfaring Kiwi’ turned her mind to a new adventure – Scotland.
One day Ms Morrissey was browsing online when she came across the Scottish National Trail, which begins in Kirk Yetholm and ends in Cape Wrath.
‘I always wanted to do a long distance hike, maybe not as long as the SNT which takes around seven weeks with one day off a week, but hiking the length of Scotland sounded pretty cool so I decided I’d do it,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
However an interest in hiking wasn’t the only motivation behind the hike.
She said: ‘A goal for me for this hike is to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis. My Goddaughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with it shortly after she was born.’
Ms Morrissey said that before Olivia’s diagnosis she hadn’t heard of cystic fibrosis (CF).

When she found out her goddaughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis Ms Morrissey was unsure what CF was, so she did her research
The 29-year-old then did her research and found that it is the most common life threatening genetic disorder affecting New Zealanders, according to Health Navigator.
Around one in 25 people carry the cystic fibrosis gene.
The genetically inherited condition is caused by a faulty gene passed on from parent.
CF mostly affects the lungs and digestive system in the early years. It can cause thick mucus in the lungs which prevents enzymes from reaching the intestines to aid digestion.

Ms Morrissey’s goal was to raise £2,500 while hiking the trail, which is roughly AU$4,352.46. She has raised £1055, which is roughly AU$1836.74
People with CF are susceptible to lung infections and steps must be taken to remove as much as possible.
Ms Morrissey’s goal was to raise £2,500, which is roughly AU$4,352.46. She has raised £1055, which is roughly AU$1836.74.
‘Half will go to Olivia’s treatment and the other half with go to the NZ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,’ she said.
She also wants to raise awareness about CF and how organ donation can be a ‘major challenge’ for people living with CF.
The Kiwi had just passed the halfway mark in Glen Feshie and still had three weeks to go when she first spoke to Daily Mail Australia.

Ms Morrissey said: ‘After the first day I had several blisters and one that spread across the back of my ankle. Everything ached – my legs, my hips, and my back. It was a mental battle to move through the pain’
Everyday has a high and low, she explained, but the first week was by far the toughest.
She said: ‘After the first day I had several blisters and one that spread across the back of my ankle. Everything ached – my legs, my hips, and my back. It was a mental battle to move through the pain.
‘I think the hardest day so far was when I hiked from just past Comrie to Aberfeldy. It was 35km and in 27 degree heat – plus there were 2 steep hill climbs to contend with. I was crying by the end of that day. I just wanted it to be over. The weather has been fantastic but it has also been very hard on me!’
However after the trail Ms Morrissey told Daily Mail Australia that it tied for the toughest week.

Ms Morrissey said that she didn’t have as much time as she would have liked to prepare for the trail

Her work as a freelance writer picked up and the biggest preparation was a trip up Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital
She said: ‘During the final week there were soaring temperatures for Scotland (up to 33 degrees) and as a result the clegg season was terrible. A woman I met on the trail told me she hadn’t seen cleggs this bad in 50 years. At times there were hundreds swarming me; bug repellent doesn’t work and they bite through your clothing which was a nightmare.
‘I also had knee problems during the last week because there were more steep climbs, descents, and the terrain was boggy with no marked path. My pack was around 20kg which was 5kg over the recommended limit, which put further strain on my knees.’
She said that when it does get tough, she reminds herself that her hike is seven weeks while CF is for life. She said that keeps her going.
Ms Morrissey’s pack ranged from 15-19 kilograms and she hikes for around 12 hours per day.
She also wasn’t able to prepare for the seven-week hike in a way she would have liked.

She joked that if she had ‘known what she was about to undertake’ she would have ‘joined a gym’ (Pictured: The Kelpies in the Helix, Falkirk)
Her work as a freelance writer picked up, and while she wore her hiking boots a month before she starting, including with dresses, the biggest preparation was a trip up Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital.
‘If I had known then what I was about to undertake I would have joined a gym or hiked a bit more. Building strength for a long distance hike is very important as I’ve since discovered.
‘I’m pretty lucky my body hasn’t broken down!’
However it hasn’t been all blisters and tears.
Ms Morrissey, who finished the hike last month, said she was stoked to have seen much of Scotland many tourists wouldn’t.

While there had been some down sides to the trail Ms Morrissey said that meeting locals had been the highlight of her trip
‘Meeting the locals has been my biggest highlight – there are so many genuinely kind and helpful people in Scotland. They have restored my faith in humanity.
‘I’ve also wild camped in some amazing places – outside castle ruins, in bothies, next to the River Tweed, next to Loch Ness, next to the Falkirk Wheel, in the Cairngorms National Park. I went swimming under a waterfall, and have visited castles, battlefields, and palaces.’
When asked why the Scottish National Trail and not something a little closer to home, Ms Morrissey cited her heritage.
Her family moved from Scotland to New Zealand in the 19th Century, and the freelance writer has always had a fascination with her roots.

When asked why the Scottish National Trail and not something a little closer to home, Ms Morrissey cited her heritage. Her family moved from Scotland to New Zealand in the 19th Century
She also said that the Scottish National Trail isn’t a well-known hike.
The hike, made up of several smaller trails, has only seen a handful of people complete it in one go.
On finishing the hike Ms Morrissey wrote on her Facebook page: ‘And just like that, I reached the lighthouse that has featured in my dreams for the last 7 weeks.
‘[Around] 864kms were walked in thunder, lightening, a heatwave, wind, fog and rain.
‘I battled the bog, midges, cleggs, heat, blisters, sore knees, and my mind.
‘I talked to many people about cystic fibrosis and even met some affected by it.
‘Scotland makes you work hard for it’s beauty.’
The 29-year-old will return to Edinburgh, where she now lives, after the hike.

After the 864km hike Ms Morrissey returned to Edinburgh, where she currently calls home
‘I want to keep being an ambassador for cystic fibrosis and make people aware of the disease, and what they can do to help, and being someone that Olivia can look up to as she grows.
‘I want to show her that if you are mentally strong, you can put your body through a lot more than you originally thought it was capable of. ‘
She also revealed on Facebook that she would be writing a book about the experience.
Ms Morrissey has a Go Fund Me fundraising page.