The Kindness of Strangers in Scotland

Today's story comes from Scotland, where a pair of university students decided to hike all over the country without using any money, putting the test the Scots' reputation of being generous.

The two intrepid adventurers, Tom Langhorne and Cameron Hyde, left from Aberdeen on Scotland's east coast with nothing but the packs on their backs, a bag of rice and a bag of oats and one week later they returned to their doorstep after traveling well over 400 miles. And they did it all without spending a cent.



In addition to their travel on foot the duo received rides from many different people including a traveling sales man, Swiss and Spanish tourists and a retired couple with a motorhome.  They also did odd jobs along the way in exchange for food and lodging.

This story of hitchhiking and wandering off into the countryside is something straight out of the 1960s, when people were much more carefree and open to the idea of strangers on the side of the road with a thumb raised and a pack on their back.

For a couple of guys to succeed on an adventure like this in 2016 when people are constantly on high alert really shows that there are people out there with a good heart who are willing to help out a stranger.

When talking discussing the people they came across on their voyage, Langhorne said "There was a big mix of people who were willing to help us. Hitchhiking is supposed to be something that's dying off but we always found someone to give us a lift."

"From previous experience I know that people who pick up hitchhikers either then to be the nicest people or the craziest, but we had nothing but good experiences here," he added.

To learn more about the week-long adventures of Tom Langhorne and Cameron Hyde you can read additional details courtesy of The Herald Scotland or you can watch the video chronicling their exploits.