Meet the Coatbridge man who visits dangerous places across the world

Callum Mills, also known as Callum Abroad on YouTube, has more than 50,000 subscribers on his channel with his videos showing him exploring unique places such as Kherson in Ukraine which was under Russian control, gang areas of the Favelas in Brazil and standing on Saddam Hussein Palace, which is an area with access granted to only a limited number of people.

The YouTuber has revealed that being able to get to see these special areas of countries has been a real “eye opener” but always ensures that he shows what is in front of him through raw content.

He said: “I've felt privileged in a way getting to see what I've done as some of it has been a real eye-opener.

“I've always wanted to travel, and the pandemic helped that with it impacting my time at university.

“The first trip I went on was Giza in Egypt where I got to a few parts of the pyramid that tourists don’t get to see.”

Callum outside the Pyramids in Egypt in one of his first adventures (Image: Callum Mills)

Callum in Mosul, Iraq next to a derelict building (Image: Callum Mills)

The Coatbridge Youtuber pictured on top of the Saddam Hussein's palace (Image: Callum Mills)

He went on to add how he has secured access to some very restricted areas during his visits, saying: “I've been asked this many times – about how I get to see some of the things that I do. I always say, 'I just speak to people'.

“It tends to be if you speak to someone and just ask, there's a chance that they could make it happen or know someone who will.

“The whole YouTube thing was only made for me just to keep track of some of my memories, as I'm someone who loves taking photos to remember a time.”

The Scot admitted that there have been times when a situation has got his pulse racing, such as in Bogota's Bronx in Colombia when he met gang members who told their stories. This took place while he was beside a crocodile and they said they would get the reptile to bite the limbs off of other gang members if they caught them.

The Coatbridge-born influencer has also seen a different side to many of the countries that he has visited, which has helped him learn more about the culture in these areas.

These experiences range from seeing a Banksy original wall mural in the West Bank in Palestine to a trip to Syria which saw him learn about life from the locals, while also getting to see Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

And in a crazy coincidence, Callum also had the chance to speak to family members of former drug lord Pablo Escobar in Colombia after running into them when visiting the area. 

Callum visiting a building in Syria (Image: Callum Mills)

The Coatbridge YouTuber with brother of Pablo Escobar, Roberto (Image: Callum Mills)

Callum beside former drug lord Pablo Escobar's grave (Image: Callum Mills)

Callum pictured at the compound that Osama Bin Ladden used (Image: Callum Mills)

He says that getting to travel the world like this and explore is a “real privilege” as he admits he has seen things he would “never dream of seeing”.

However, recently Callum has been travelling to Ukraine to speak to people living there and see what the country is going through first-hand.

It is here that he has witnessed multiple bombings in areas he’s been in as well as speaking to people about coping during the war.

He said: “There have been hard times when I’ve been there after bombings where you can see bodies laying on the street.

“It's heartbreaking to hear about, let alone witness.

“We have an app where it lets us know when to get cover as a strike is expected.

“It was terrifying stuff.

“But during the day the atmosphere in the towns and cities change as it is lively with people going about their day getting shopping as normal.

“It's when it becomes night time it gets tense and frightening."

Callum in Kherson in Ukraine during the war (Image: Callum Mills)

Callum wearing body armour in Kherson as he explores Ukraine (Image: Callum Mills)

He added that travelling has allowed him to learn a lot about the world by seeing it all first-hand.

He said: “There have been incredible people who I've spoken to, with some people teaching me a lot about things.

“Getting to visit all these countries, people and areas has delivered a better education than school ever did.”

You can keep up to date and find out more information about his travels with on YouTube at Callum Abroad, as well as on Twitter through his @CallumAbroad account.