Fort William woman crowned Scotland’s 'gritter driver of the year' after tackling 'treacherous' Glencoe route

Cheyenne Macdonald Cameron has spent that past three winters waking up at the crack of dawn to cover the notorious Glencoe route, battling some of the most challenging conditions in Scotland.

Ms Macdonald Cameron, who gained her HGV licence at just 23, was now been recognised as part of a national awards scheme to spotlight the UK’s “unsung” winter heroes.

She said she was “delighted and proud” to be recognised as one of this year’s winners.

“It’s really nice to be recognised,” she added. “Gritter drivers work as a team, and the job is open to anyone who’s prepared to work hard and push themselves to succeed.

“We do it to keep people safe, and while we can’t be everywhere at the same time, we always do our best.”

Ms Macdonald Cameron recalls several stand-out moments from her career so far, including receiving a police escort through the Glencoe gorge on the wrong side of the road so she could salt beneath the tyres of vehicles stuck on an icy incline.

She said: “Seeing that many people get going again because of something you’ve done, that’s when you really feel like you’re making a difference.”

She also remembers gritting her own route so she could reach a ball charity event for female lorry drivers, joking that it felt like a real-life “Cinderella moment.”

The 27-year-old works regularly works early mornings, late nights and could be called out at any moment. In 2023, she was called out on Christmas Day.

She said: “I’d just sat down for Christmas dinner when the phone rang. I knew I was on call, so I wrapped up my dinner in tinfoil and said yes.

“I wasn’t going to say no, it’s part of the job and it has a purpose.”

Jonathan Lupton, Managing Director at Econ Engineering, said: “Cheyenne embodies everything the Grit & Glory Awards were created to highlight.

“She shows exceptional teamwork, bravery and professionalism, and she does it all with humility and pride.

“Her stories of supporting stranded drivers, working through the festivities and bringing energy and enthusiasm to every shift really stood out. She’s an outstanding ambassador for gritter drivers across Scotland.”.

He continued: “From Fort William to Glencoe and beyond, drivers like Cheyenne keep essential services running and ensure residents can travel safely, often in the worst conditions imaginable.

“Their contribution deserves recognition and we’re incredible proud to celebrate them.”