Waypoints: My Scottish Journey

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Waypoints is a deeply personal journey that reveals as much to Sam about himself as it does to his readers.

After an intense period filming “Outlander”, Heughan is between roles and has a week to rest and relax. But Heughan being Heughan, he decides to walk all ninety-six miles of the West Highland Trail, which is a popular walking/hiking trail through some of the most beautiful (and treacherous) landscapes in the Highlands region of Scotland. As an avid fitness buff and marathon runner, Heughan has never been an avid hiker, so “Waypoints” will definitely cause more than a few laughs. It, too, will teach you about the acting business, Heughan’s lifetime experiences from childhood and beyond that defined him as a person, and of course, the gorgeous landscapes of Scotland and their historical importance. Waypoints is a memoir with a difference! I wanted to tell the stories and share the experiences that have shaped me, but to do that I needed to challenge myself and spend some time in my own company, away from the distractions of everyday life. And for me there’s no better place to reflect than in the wild Scottish Highlands.’ Upon returning to London, Heughan decided to work for a friend’s catering company, while he continued to audition. In Game of Thrones, actor Richard Madden was ( spoiler alert) viciously murdered at what is now called the “Red Wedding.” Heughan and Madden ran into each other at a party, and emotionally, it seems it was Heughan’s very own red wedding. Stay with me, Madden didn’t gouge Heughan with a knife and murder everyone else at the party.Outlander being Sam’s big break. ❤️ It was fate! He was meant to be Jamie Fraser! It was as if he was born to play that role! I’m so happy this role changed his life and meant so much for the success of his acting career.🎵 Sing me a song of a lass that is gone…say, could that lass be I? 🎵 Sort of off topic, but my heart is going to officially break when Outlander ends. So much nostalgia already….. Sam Heughan (of “Outlander” fame) has penned a part memoir, part Scottish travelogue that is similar to his previous work (published with “Outlander” co-star Graham McTavish), “Clanlands” but it is also very different.

Although Heughan begins his journey walking alone, the most humorous moments in the book are when you can tell he misses human interaction. He ends up befriending mushrooms. Yes, mushrooms. Fungi, to be exact. You know how Tom Hanks befriended a volleyball named Wilson in Castaway? Same sitch. Heughan talked to the mushrooms, told them a few dad jokes, and even took several selfies with them. I love truffles, so I support the fact that this man talked to mushrooms. Period. I will say nothing more on the matter. Oh wait, one more thing. Heughan’s mushroom friends have led to fans constantly tweeting mushrooms at him. Hopefully, they’ll send actual truffles to him, and then it will have all been worth it. One of the best parts of the book is the self-deprecating humor with which Heughan tells stories from his past. Like the time he found himself wearing a Stetson hat, in an attempt to stand out in Los Angeles. Deflated after a bad meeting with an executive, Heughan walked down the Hollywood Walk of Fame in his Stetson and caught sight of his reflection in a window and realized how “ridiculous” he looked. To make matters worse, the only restaurant around was a cowboy-themed restaurant. He says people probably assumed he was there for his shift. Then his cell phone beeped, he hoped it would be good news about an audition. Instead, it was a notification that his bank account was in the red. He cried. Feeling like a failure, he returned to London, questioning whether he should be an actor at all. Having worked together for almost 9 years, the costars have a say on set. Now, executive producers of a show they both love, Heughan and Balfe not only lead on set, but get to have creative input behind the scenes too. No longer naïve young actors, they now are role models to the younger cast. Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, Lauren Lyle, John Bell, and Caitlin O’Ryan have all spoken about this.The mushrooms!! Him and the mushrooms!! Oh, and the midges! 😂 😂 Even after watching all the episodes of Men in Kilts, I never saw any hint of Sam’s little obsession with the mushrooms! The midges – most definitely! But now, I’ll never think the same of the mushrooms. I am now well aware that they are always watching us. 😂 🍄 Searching for the Sassenach!! I loved this part. How they went through actresses, but landed on this blue eyed Irish woman who hadn’t acted, but her talent was undeniable. Their chemistry test had to be broken up because they were literally wrapped up in each other and intertwined.🥵 that’s some chemistry right there. Their friendship and trust that grew through S1. What you see between them is the real deal. He felt he had to protect her and that he did. She is one of his most trusted friends. I love how he said the whole cast was super close and that he bonded with Graham Mactavish also. The last thing I want to do is encourage someone to commit themselves to me, only to find I can’t return it, and that’s when I move on. I’m more guarded and unsure. I hope for the simplicity once again. Being able to see the whole landscape below, no clouds obscuring the view. I will continue to seek it, even if I have to work harder and keep climbing.

First off, I want to point out that this was not at all what I was expecting. After reading Clanlands and the Almanac, I guess I was under the impression that this would be more about genealogy and personal history, rather than a journey to gain perspective. I am definitely glad that I was wrong. After being cast as Jamie and Claire, Heughan says that he and Balfe both instinctively felt protective of each other, and that support continues unflaggingly to this day. When asked in a recent Good Morning America interview about what makes Outlander such a hit, Heughan simply answered, “Firstly, I mean, my chemistry with my co-star Caitríona Balfe, she’s an incredible actress. We were two green actors, we didn’t have much experience, and we’ve been on this amazing journey together.”

We learn a number of other things on this Scottwalk. Does Sam Heughan have a fear of cows? He might. That is a very important part of this book that has been overlooked by everyone. But know this: He is scared of cows. But while on that topic, Sam's particular journey I find to be really moving. He definitely paid his dues and struggled. Now knowing this side of him, I definitely respect him a lot more and appreciate his depiction of Jamie Fraser on a whole other level. I feel like we just scratched the surface on the amount of layers that make up Jamie's character. That little sliver is enough to make my head spin. I never realized the complexity of bringing a character to life on the screen. Especially one who is established in a series of books where fans could study the character and rip apart an actors portrayal of said character. Kudos to Sam. I honestly do not think any other person could accurately give us the most authentic version of such a beloved character. As the title suggests, Waypoints is a rewarding mix of markers, both personal as he reflects on his life and geographical as he leads the reader along the West Highland Way’– The Scotsman