The Day I Found My Mojo Again with Heather Friendship-Kay

July 14, 2026

Main image by Steve Baxter

There are some people whose love for the outdoors is impossible to miss, and Heather Friendship-Kay is one of them. Whether she's helping tackle single-use pollution with Trash Free Trails, coaching mountain bikers, or finding a moment of calm beside a river, Heather's connection to nature runs deep.

In this conversation, Heather shares the story of losing, and finding, her mojo again, the role the outdoors has played through life's challenges, and why the greatest adventures often begin on the other side of fear. Honest, uplifting and full of heart, her story is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one ride, one swim or one step outside to reconnect with yourself.

Hi, please tell everyone where you are based and what you do!

Hi, I’m Heather, I am currently in the process of moving from the stunning Eryri, Wales to the even more incredible Aberfoyle in Scotland. I do all the data management and single-use pollution (litter) research side of things for Trash Free Trails as well as managing our event season. In my spare time I’m also a mountain bike coach and leader!

What’s your favorite way to spend time outdoors?

Without any hesitation on a mountain bike, pushing the limits on a steep wooded trail or out challenging the mountainsides. Though pretty much anything on 2 wheels goes. This doesn’t mean I don’t also enjoy the quiet of a river dip, staring at a tiny plant or the slower precision of climbing.

Can you share your favourite, memorable outdoor adventure or experience?

Impossible, there are soooo many! I’m going to go for something quite simple though. Long story short I’ve had repeated chronic illnesses / injuries and had completely lost my mojo on the bike: I felt like I’d lost myself, my passion, like I would never again experience the joys of sliding around the woods only half in control.

Throw peri-menopause in and I was really struggling… I decided to try hypnotherapy and a few days after my first session I joined my mate George for a rag around Aboyne, and there, somewhere on a steep Scottish hillside, as some rare warm mid-March sunshine filtered through the trees, the mojo returned. Like a flood of me, like feeling whole again, I stopped on the hillside and cried. Tears of joy.

How do you manage to find a balance between being active and life’s other responsibilities i.e. work and family?

I am incredibly lucky (though as a colleague says ‘you make your own luck’) to work for the amazing Trash Free Trails, it’s fair to say that as a team we each pour a lot of ourselves, our passion and energy into what we do. With this comes the understanding that we also need to breathe and look after ourselves. This means that I can make space, when needed, for the fun things. I can look out the window at some sunshine and take myself off for a dip in the local river, or a lap of the woods.

Is there anyone in particular that inspired your love of the outdoors?

My Mum has to take a whole bundle of credit for this, camping trips on Dartmoor, annual summer holidays to Eryri, and just generally always being taken to beautiful places with either the sea or a river to plunge in. She also never let me being a girl hold me back even when the rest of the world thought I shouldn’t be doing the things I loved (rugby, mountain biking etc.)

What role does nature play in your mental well-being?

I find this insanely hard to answer. I was using the Trash Free Trails nature connection cards at an event last weekend and drew the card ‘ what does nature mean to you?’ and as I tried to find words all I could feel was this upwelling of emotion. I wouldn’t be here without nature, and I don’t mean that in the logical way that I need trees for oxygen and water to drink, I mean that I would never have made it through some of the average days let alone the tough ones if I’d not had a tree to hug, a teeny moss to gaze at in wonder or a river to plunge in…

What’s the one piece of gear or clothing you never leave home without on an outdoor trip?

Is it cheesy if I say my FINDRA Merino top? I mean, I’m being honest. A friend always says that I have a ‘narrow operating window’ and this is in relation to temperature. Just a faint breeze and I’m reaching for an extra layer, a glimpse of sunshine and I’m sweating. So a Merino layer is never far from me.

Second option is my endura cycling vest for the same reason - temperature regulation.

When did you discover FINDRA?

Image by Andy Cole

I used to race mountain bikes and joined the Flow MTB team back in the 2010’s, the team was supported by FINDRA and I was lucky enough to get to try some of the apparel, I’ve never looked back since.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

What is it with the impossible questions?! I can’t think of any actual advice I’ve received but I pick up things I hear or read. I’m a fan of the short quotes that require contemplation: follow your flow, own your own sh*t, every mistake is a gift.

But if I had to pick a favourite it’d be: “In a world that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act”