This guy travels to places you wouldn’t dare

For many, their ideal summer would involve sunning themselves on a beach, sipping cocktails at an island resort or even just relaxing from the stresses of term-time life.

But while many of us are all too familiar with sharing student accommodation with large groups of new faces, we might not have shared a 3^rd class Russian train carriage with 52 Siberian strangers.

And you may have eaten dinner at a fancy restaurant abroad but you probably haven’t dined at an Iranian family’s home in Tehran.

Stuart isn’t your average student traveller

21-year-old Stirling student Stuart Dodds has done all of this and more on his travels from Stirling to Pyongyang with the Middle East on the way.

This summer he travelled the world’s longest railway line, the Trans-Siberian express from Moscow to the Pacific terminus of Vladivostok.

Not content with the feat however, he progressed his journey into China before deciding: “North Korea, why not?” He said: “Time management is important especially if you plan on travelling during semester breaks, although you’ll learn just as much from travelling as you will in a lecture theatre.”

Harassing the locals in China

But how can a student afford this adventurous lifestyle? Doddsy put it down to: “A combination of part time work, limiting the nights out and alcohol, and a family that has always enjoyed to travel!

“I have also travelled in 3rd class abroad and on plenty of run down nightbuses more times than I like to remember.”

From flying out to South Africa to visit family on many occasions, Stuart said he was introduced to a wider world. Then in summer last year he spent time in Asia: “My travelling bug grew from there.”

Seeing a different way of life and experiencing new cultures culminated in a visit to Israel and Palestine, largely down to an interest in the middle east.

The business and finance student said: “By visiting a city as diverse as Jerusalem and experiencing a protest in Palestine (which only calmed down after United Nations trucks intervened) I learned a lot, and decided that for future trips I wanted a similar experience.”

Travelling 101: Use perspective to make tourist attractions look small

After returning from his trip to Israel he decided he didn’t want to wait long for his next adventure- this time he opted for a leisurely holiday in Iran during the mid-semester break. As you do.

Stuart decided to give his parents just two days notice before his imminent departure for Iran. Probably a wise decision considering the foreign office advise against all but essential travel to the majority of the country.

But Stuart disagrees: “Iran is one of the safest countries I have been to, there is more chance of getting mugged in London, Liverpool or Glasgow.”

Out of all the countries Doddsy has visited on his travels, he says: “Iran is by far the most amazing country I have ever been to.

“I have never been to a country where the locals are as hospitable or will go out there way to make you feel welcome.

“In Tehran and Esfahan I was invited to family gatherings and dinners, the fact I was there during the Persian New Year made it even more special.”

Friendly locals in Iran

After his happy experience in Iran Stuart booked a trip to Syria and Lebanon.

While exploring Lebanon he even found time to stop by the Hezbollah resistance museum: “Museums never really interest me but this one was an exception.

“With the UK and US both listing Hezbollah as a terrorist group it was amazing to hear a different account and side to their story.”

His account of Lebanon is also very positive, although his travel plans in Lebanon were altered “due to the odd bombing or security threat.”

The Foreign Office warns against trips like Stuart’s, saying: “Independent travelers, especially (but not exclusively) if going off the beaten track, face greater risk than those in tour groups or business visitors.”

But Stuart thinks differently: “Off the beaten track is better as long as you expect the unexpected.”

Still looking Scottish

And it was the 9,289km Trans- Siberian express across Russia which was Stuart’s most recent adventure. He said: “I always wanted to do an overland adventure from one side of the World to the other, now I’m just waiting for a train link between Alaska and Russia.”

Normally the Trans-Siberian journey ends in the far east of Russia usually, but for Stuart it ended up in Pyongyang, North Korea.

You can only enter North Korea as part of a tour group because North Korea’s tourism is highly monitored. So Stuart joined an ultra-budget group with Young Pioneer Tours and became one of the few to enter: “Crossing the bridge over the river from China into North Korea is an experience I will never forget.

“As soon as we reached the Korean side you could instantly tell there was poverty that the government tries so hard to hide, the first thing I saw was an abandoned play park that looked like something from Chernobyl.”

So casual

And just as quickly as Stuart’s travel plans change, so have some of the places he travelled to.

Donetsk, which he had visited in 2012, is now a major conflict zone. He said: “At the time it felt like any other European city with a great nightlife so it’s sad to read about what’s happening there now.”

Despite this, Stuart shows no sign of slowing down. He said: “In short, I want to travel anywhere I haven’t been- I still have a long way to go!”

As we head towards our mid-semester break, Stuart will be going on a short European trip to Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania.

And after that? “I haven’t been to South America yet so that is on the list for next summer.”