An 83-year-old woman from Northampton has visited 27 countries since taking up solo travel at the age of 75, and says it is important to be brave as you age. Sheila Ingram took her first solo trip eight years ago and has not looked back, travelling from India to Uzbekistan and even riding a zipline in Cuba.
Solo travel on the rise among over-50s
New research from Saga Holidays shows that one in five British over-50s now choose to travel alone, with women more than twice as likely as men to do so. Sheila is part of that trend, though her decision was driven by circumstance rather than fashion.
After spending much of her life caring for others, she found herself on her own and resolved to make every moment count. "When I found myself on my own, I thought, this really is my life for as long as I've got it," she said. "I decided to embrace it and try to tick a few countries off the bucket list."
Uzbekistan stands out as favourite destination
Asked to name her standout destination, Sheila chose Registan Square in Samarkand during her first trip to Uzbekistan. "In 2016, after watching a BBC television series called The Silk Road, narrated by Sam Willis, I decided I wanted to have my own adventure and follow part of that historic route," she said.
She discovered that Saga, already her preferred company for solo travel, offered a tour across Uzbekistan, so she decided to go for it. "I was following a dream, and I was not disappointed. The colours of the tilework on the buildings, madrassas and mosques were extraordinary. There were vivid purples, turquoise blues and so many other beautiful shades. The local people were so welcoming, and I loved every single minute of it, so much so that I returned again in 2022."
Friendships forged through travel
Beyond her adventures, Sheila says she has forged wonderful friendships during her eight years of solo travel. "Some have been fellow solo travellers, although many have been couples too," she explained. "Each year we make an effort to have a lunch together in one another's homes and catch up with all the news on the various holidays that we've been on since our last meeting."
She has enjoyed around 17 get-togethers each year in different parts of the UK with friends met through travelling. Acknowledging that some older people may be set in their ways, Sheila says it is understandable that some her age can be cautious, with many perfectly happy returning to familiar destinations. Her guidance is to be "brave and fearless" when embarking on a solo adventure.
Her personal life motto is to "enjoy each and every day we are given on this beautiful, fragile earth." She concluded: "We all have a different amount of time here, and none of us knows exactly what lies ahead. That is why I believe it is so important to make the most of every day we have."
