Ana Norrie-Toch sees the outdoors a little differently. From bikepacking through the Highlands and Islands to movement, trail therapy and bothy adventures, she’s found a way of connecting with the landscape that is entirely her own.
Ana shares how movement, adventure and time outdoors have helped her find freedom in her body — and why there’s no right way to experience the outdoors.
Hi, please tell everyone where you are based and what you do!
Hello! I am Ana Norrie-Toch, and I am based in Edinburgh, although you’ll frequently find me in the highlands and islands. I am a Movement Artist, Mountain Bike Trail Therapy Practitioner with Tweed Valley Trail Therapy and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland and a Bikepacking Guide.
How do all of the above interweave you may be thinking? It all comes together with an emphasis on moving with landscape and my passion for encouraging people to move the way you move.
As a Movement Artist, my practice lies in my relationship to the landscapes of Scotland and the influence of these journeys into landscape have on the body and mind. I actively engage in discovering movement stories - on a creelers boat on the West Coast to learning to cut peat with the community of the Isle of Lewis… and of course riding our bikes in the landscape. I see the moving body and people interwoven with landscape as Movement Heritage - a physical archive of tradition and culture. Scottish Mountaineering Press - Movement Heritage
The catalyst for this creative connection to landscape and community has come from my extensive experience of bikepacking, exploring Scotland’s highland and islands by bike - leading to my passion as a Trail Therapy Practitioner. Here I incorporate my experience of embodying landscape through creative movement and visualisation, on and off the bike. I am passionate about facilitating a space for people to recognise their individual strengths and build confidence through bikes and movement.
What’s your favorite way to spend time outdoors?
I love to be out in the landscapes, bikepacking! Having all my stuff - my wee home on my bike. Either in a tent, bivvy bag or the luxury of a bothy. With the momentum of the bike, pedal after pedal - I feel like I'm returning to myself. Mind and body are present and I'm absorbing the landscapes that engulfs my tiny self in its vast wilderness arms.
This is where my movement artistry comes in.. I get off my bike. Usually after a long-ish day pedalling away. Breathing in that air, there is a kind of hum of peace that goes through my body. And I start to move.
Sometimes that is just a very gentle sway of the arms - or maybe I have more energy and I just go for it. It’s far from anything performative - and it’s not choreographed. I’m just being present and letting my body move. The long-ish cycle is what allows my brain to just let go and be truly peaceful. Sometimes I feel I don’t actually hear anything. I’m in my own kind of flow state.
Being around horses. On these journeys I usually meet some very lovely Highland ponies that roam the landscape throughout the year. I feel really drawn to horses and their calm. I feel very lucky to have experiences where they come over and put their head on my shoulder in these landscapes. It is total peace and trust. It makes me pretty emotional to be honest - this amazing animal choosing to spend some time with you. They say horses are a mirror - matching your energy. I think this says a lot about what landscapes do for me and my own energy, and then how they read you. That is a really moving to experience. I’m not bothered about riding them, I just love to be around them. Cycling with any pals, it’s a given we need to stop when there are horses about!
Bothies also have a special place in my life. I am now a Maintenance Officer with the Mountain Bothies Association, for Meanach Bothy in the Central Highlands. This was the first bothy I ever went to - at the end of a bit of an epic (for me) first big solo bikepack from Stirling to Meanach, Kinlochleaven. At the end of that day, sitting in that space and reading the bothy book, that holds handwritten notes from people who have sat in that same chair as you. These books are so beautiful and life affirming to read. Truly. People of all walks of life, sharing their journey. Often very emotionally open and tear inducing (in a good way). I LOVE learning how people experience landscapes and bothies. It’s a total treat.
I’m really passionate about encouraging women to engage with bothies. I’ve had too many conversations or stories told to me about a fear of heading out to these spaces from women. SO! In October, I'm leading a women centred bothy overnighter for beginners that is designed to create a comfortable space for women to connect, share experiences, and support each other. This is a free event, supported by the MBA. The events are for women who have maybe never been to a bothy by bike, unsure what the bothy code is or don’t feel confident to go alone. I really want to emphasise these spaces are for everyone and the more we share them, and talk about the bothy code, the more we can all enjoy these spaces together. Bikepacking to Bothies - MBA More events to follow!
Can you share your favourite, memorable outdoor adventure or experience?
One very specific one!
The bike has taught me the difference between the positivity of physical and mental effort in adventure, and the previously damaging physical pressure I had put my body through, through my training as a dancer.
Over 6 years ago now, cycling with friends had built up my confidence, but I had a feeling to head out solo. I set off on my chunky first day, cycling from Stirling up to Glencoe and then off the grid into the wild Highlands for another two, finishing in Corrour. This trip defined a shift in my mental and physical strength, and where my artistry first connected with the landscape.
Taking in the sight of the Beauchaille Etive Mhor on that first day - I honestly got off my bike and felt I needed to move with this mountain. I walked over, through the tall grasses and moorland, breathed in the air and silence, filled with its own energy, and moved. I don’t mean in any kind of technical way that my body had been trained. I moved the way that the whole journey, cycle and all had prepared and informed my body to move, which was slowly after 90 miles! But this was the truth of my body - influenced by all I had experienced on my adventure. There was no physical pressure here. This was for me. My mind was completely connected to my body. At peace. This adventure and journey of endurance made me feel strong in my own body, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
After years of training in dance, I found my true way of moving, out in the wild. Experience and not performance.
There is something in the rhythm of the bike that taps into my movement brain. Pedal after pedal, that continued moving forward of the body. A repetitive muscle memory of calm and focus, allows me to open my eyes and really see and feel the landscape I am cycling through.
How do you manage to find a balance between being active and life’s other responsibilities i.e. work and family?
I wouldn’t say I am balanced all of the time, but I have become attuned to when I need to make time to really be with myself. I do feel I need that extended immersion though. That self supported thing, is a reminder to myself of how life affirming it is to go up into the Pentlands on a work night and sleep out in my bivvy bag, rising with the sun.
But there is also that thing of running away. That we can all do. Dressing up a bikepacking trip as “I need this, GO GO GO!.” Let me tell you … when it’s not right, I feel it. It’s this unrest. This “why is this not working.” Frustration actually builds up in a space where I want to let go of it. I’m learning this pattern now. In this instance, I need to slow down and get on the sofa.
I need to let it out. I’m sure I'm not the only one that’s put a Yoga with Adriene on, and 5 mins in just starts crying? That’s not a weakness by the way. That’s a release! That tells me I need more time to be present and focus on where my energy is going.
In my own case, previously going and going without stopping. It’s a classic avoidance tactic. Sometimes connecting, and making that time with ourselves is the hardest thing. And it doesn’t always come in the form of pushing through with cycling.
Everything doesn’t need to be done at the speed of light or be big - I think that goes for life and the outdoors.
Is there anyone in particular that inspired your love of the outdoors?
There are 3 great women - Kirstie, Jenny and Lorna, who are now great friends. Years ago we were all at the start of our cycling journey together. Learning, laughing and being very lucky with the weather. Different levels of route diverging insanity, delirium and “let’s just go” attitude. I think the mix of this group and the outdoors, inspired me to be myself. And I hadn’t felt like my true self for a long time back then. All that space of the outdoors to just be. Truly some of the best years, that instilled a quiet and fiery confidence in myself and my voice. Those may sound contradictory, but I think fire and peace is actually what it can feel like. A great warmth and calm. We learnt so much about our own strengths. And I don’t just mean physical. And the very real power of humour.
I could talk about those gals forever, but yes. Inspired by them and the landscapes we made our stories in.
What role does nature play in your mental well-being?
“This is like home to you” I’ve heard from multiple friends as we’ve approached certain areas of the Scottish Highlands and Islands on our bikes. And it’s not from what I say out loud. It’s about the peace that comes over me. And a really quiet smile. That gets pretty damn big on my face. Nature is where I am me. And it’s not that I’m not in day to day life, it’s just where it all becomes a lot clearer for me.
What’s the one piece of gear or clothing you never leave home without on an outdoor trip?
No matter the weather - merino base layers. Cools you down or keeps you warm. Essential! Also, the trusty Nalgene bottle. I can see friends rolling their eyes when they read this. Honestly - it’s your pal. A hot water bottle (yes, it takes boiling water). It’s a game changer in your sleeping bag or just at the end of a long day outside when it gets cold. A true comfort of heat. It’s also your coffee cup/porridge and hot choc sachet mix holder.
When did you discover FINDRA?
A few years ago at Kendal Mountain Film Festival. Drawn to the beautiful clothing at first .. but then when looking you up, Findra is clearly connecting women, stories - and inspiring ways of connecting with the outdoors. And of course a real understanding of all women’s bodies, and what works for them. The dream!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I love “who cares.” And I really like to share that one. Also, just “Drive easy” from my mum.
On writing this blog, what do you feel is the key motivational or inspirational message you would like to highlight to our followers that would inspire them to get outdoors more.
Move the way you move! Embrace the unique ways you engage and connect with landscape, and yourself.
I’ve found a lot of freedom in telling myself, and see others shoulders just drop with the relief when they hear, - in the kindest of ways, “who cares.”
Didn’t go as far as you wanted to? Take that self-made pressure off. I say “who cares” while laughing and smiling by the way. It is so freeing! People care about you as a person, not your strava stats, how great you “showed” your experience online etc. Give yourself that self care and love too.
When I’ve been leading Trail Therapy or Bikepacking, it’s common to hear “I’m going to be the slowest…” “I'm not going to keep up” … “everyone else looks so much more ready for this than me.” With all the respect in the world - no one cares. And I will say this to participants, and pals! You are here right? We are all headed in the same direction, experiencing the journey together but in very individual ways. Isn’t that amazing? We are all going to be around the same table at dinner, that camp fire, that coffee shop, that beauty of a landscape.
You do your thing! I know it’s not an instant change of mindset. It took me time. But bit by bit, that kindness to self lets you actually just enjoy and be present. The external over stimulation/comparison stuff. Who cares?
Sunday Inspiration
Favourite Book
I’m actually not a massive reader..Trying to get better. But I worked on the film of the book, The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, which was phenomenal in itself. I was curious to give that a read, and wow. Deeply moving and life affirming.
Favourite Quote
I feel inspired by the people I meet in landscapes and the stories I read in bothy books. I enjoy having my eyes and ears opened to different walks of life! The people who turn up to Trail Therapy.
Favourite Song
Boards of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy
