Field notes:

The 10 best things about being a digital nomad in Estonia in 2023
career, professional, balance, nature, bikepacking, fastpacking, e-residents, millennial, millennials, Christmas markets, driverless vehicles, As seen in Estonia, Eurovelo, Eurovelo 11, Scandinavia, bog hiking, Bikepacking Estonia, hiking, wild swimming, Saunas, adventure, Finland, Helsinki, Artic circle, Fatbiking, master’s degree, Glögi, WHO, World Health Organisation, Cleveron, Riigimets, RMK, leave no trace, Start-ups, Start-up culture, Bolt, Unicorn, Tartu, Tallinn, Estonia, e-residency, Digital nomad Chris Shirley MA FRGS career, professional, balance, nature, bikepacking, fastpacking, e-residents, millennial, millennials, Christmas markets, driverless vehicles, As seen in Estonia, Eurovelo, Eurovelo 11, Scandinavia, bog hiking, Bikepacking Estonia, hiking, wild swimming, Saunas, adventure, Finland, Helsinki, Artic circle, Fatbiking, master’s degree, Glögi, WHO, World Health Organisation, Cleveron, Riigimets, RMK, leave no trace, Start-ups, Start-up culture, Bolt, Unicorn, Tartu, Tallinn, Estonia, e-residency, Digital nomad Chris Shirley MA FRGS

The 10 best things about being a digital nomad in Estonia in 2023

If you’re seriously considering a year as a digital nomad, whether that’s to explore the world, setup a virtual business, or both, I strongly urge you to put Estonia at the top of your list for all the reasons I mention below – however don’t be surprised if you don’t want to return back to your country of origin at the end of it!

Secondly, I make no apologies for being so enthusiastic about the place, I’ve travelled in over 60 countries across the world and feel like I’ve found somewhere that is truly remarkable for many good reasons that people aren’t yet aware of.

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How can we make adventure more sustainable?
slow travel, bikerafting, bikepacking, packrafting, fastpacking, millennials, fossil fuels, adventure, carbon calculation, electric vehicles, low-carbon adventure, Climate crisis Chris Shirley MA FRGS slow travel, bikerafting, bikepacking, packrafting, fastpacking, millennials, fossil fuels, adventure, carbon calculation, electric vehicles, low-carbon adventure, Climate crisis Chris Shirley MA FRGS

How can we make adventure more sustainable?

I understand the benefits of adventure, increased social mobility by widening your social circle and professional network, education, life skills, increased resilience – the list goes on. However, how can we access these huge opportunities knowing that we’re contributing to an unsustainable way of living.

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Attempting the special forces, ‘Fan Dance’, with adaptive athlete, Justin Oliver Davis
Brecon Beacons fan dance for adaptive athletes, Double amputee fan dance Brecon Beacons, British special forces, fastpacking, hiking, Brecon Beacons, Pen-y-Fan, Pen-y-Fan Mountain, adaptive athlete, adaptive mountaineer, Justin Oliver Davis, Fan Dance, Special Boat Service, SBS, Special Air Service, SAS, Brecon Beacons hiking and stargazing., Hiking in Brecon Beacons for wildlife spotting, Brecon Beacons hiking and history, Brecon Beacons hiking weekend trips, Hiking in Brecon Beacons with a group, Hiking in Brecon Beacons with kids, Brecon Beacons hiking for solo travelers, Brecon Beacons mountain hikes, Hiking in Brecon Beacons without a guide, Brecon Beacons ridge hikes, Hiking in Brecon Beacons with a view, Hiking and camping in Brecon Beacons, Brecon Beacons hiking accommodation, Brecon Beacons self-guided hikes Chris Shirley MA FRGS Brecon Beacons fan dance for adaptive athletes, Double amputee fan dance Brecon Beacons, British special forces, fastpacking, hiking, Brecon Beacons, Pen-y-Fan, Pen-y-Fan Mountain, adaptive athlete, adaptive mountaineer, Justin Oliver Davis, Fan Dance, Special Boat Service, SBS, Special Air Service, SAS, Brecon Beacons hiking and stargazing., Hiking in Brecon Beacons for wildlife spotting, Brecon Beacons hiking and history, Brecon Beacons hiking weekend trips, Hiking in Brecon Beacons with a group, Hiking in Brecon Beacons with kids, Brecon Beacons hiking for solo travelers, Brecon Beacons mountain hikes, Hiking in Brecon Beacons without a guide, Brecon Beacons ridge hikes, Hiking in Brecon Beacons with a view, Hiking and camping in Brecon Beacons, Brecon Beacons hiking accommodation, Brecon Beacons self-guided hikes Chris Shirley MA FRGS

Attempting the special forces, ‘Fan Dance’, with adaptive athlete, Justin Oliver Davis

I was lucky to hang out with adaptive mountaineer, Justin Oliver Davis, on his ten-year ‘bang-iversary’ (the day he was blown up whilst on overseas operations), to be part of his hugely impressive attempt to finish the ‘Fan Dance’, one of the hallmark fitness test for entry into the British Special Forces.

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What it’s like to traverse the Aonach Eagach ridgeline in Scotland
bucket list adventure, physical endeavour, Expedition, hike, scrambling, Scotland, traverse, Red Squirrel campsite, fastpacking, hiking, mountaineering, Clachaig inn, Glen Coe, Aonach Eagach ridgeline, Aonach Eagach, Scrambling adventure, Adventure in the UK Chris Shirley MA FRGS bucket list adventure, physical endeavour, Expedition, hike, scrambling, Scotland, traverse, Red Squirrel campsite, fastpacking, hiking, mountaineering, Clachaig inn, Glen Coe, Aonach Eagach ridgeline, Aonach Eagach, Scrambling adventure, Adventure in the UK Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What it’s like to traverse the Aonach Eagach ridgeline in Scotland

My research told me that the Aonach Eagach ridge is considered one of the most difficult and exposed scrambles in Scotland, and requires a high level of fitness, experience, and proper equipment. It also offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys that you can find emblazoned across Instagram. That was enough for me to give it a go!

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