"I visit some of the most remote areas of Britain - all by public transport"

A travel blogger has visited some of Britain's most remote locations - all by public transport.

Kay Gillespie 36, has travelled to dozens of offshore islands, partied with Vikings and visited some of Scotland’s most picturesque spots - by bus, ferry, train and even kayak.

Intrepid Kay has worked in Canada and Ibiza, and travelled all over Europe, but now spends most of her time exploring Scotland – without a car.

Kay, from Edinburgh, has been to 66 Scottish Islands, including inhabited islands; some are just rugged rocks she has had to kayak out to.

She has travelled many times on the famous West Highland Line, voted one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world.

Some of her top experiences include staying in remote eco hostel in Corrour, Loch Ossian Youth Hostel, and watching thousands of colourful puffins on the Isle of Lunga.

Kay has never learnt how to drive and received much doubt when she began as a travel blogger, but she admits the transport network in Scotland is “great” and provides “a more local experience”.

Her favourite place is the Isle of Iona, a pilgrimage destination which she describes as “the most idyllic island with turquoise sea and white sand beaches”.

To get there from Edinburgh means either two trains or two buses to Oban, then a ferry to Craignure (Isle of Mull), a bus from there to Fionnphort on Mull, then a ferry to Iona.

It was Kay’s first solo adventure to Ibiza at 18 which sparked her enthusiasm for travelling, though her homeland did not initially take her fancy.

She said: “Ibiza was my first solo adventure - much to my mum’s horror - which started the travel bug for me.

“I stayed for five months, and it paved the way for the unconventional path I’ve followed since.

“It wasn’t about Scotland back then - I had no interest in what was on my own doorstep.

“I just found overseas travel much more exciting!”

Though 2010 was the start of a new journey for Kay, as she had returned from briefly living in London.

She was unemployed and was eyeing up a sailing trip in Croatia combined with a bus tour around Eastern Europe.

Kay noticed the company had a sister travel company in Scotland, who were looking for reservation staff for their tourism office - and if you worked there, employees receive a discount for the European tours.

Kay explained: “I applied for the job because I wanted the staff discount!

“I was unsuccessful in that role but they asked me if I would train to be a tour guide instead and when I accepted that job - it changed the course of my life.

“I went on training trips to the Highlands and Isle of Skye; when I saw Glen Coe for the first time, my jaw hit the floor.

"I couldn’t believe this was my home country.

“I saw the snow-capped mountains, the lochs were glassy still and the weather was beautiful.

“I knew it had lit up something inside me - I was so excited to share it with people from all over the world."