I was crouched in a patch of gorse three years ago, my knees aching and my fingers numb from a biting Atlantic wind, waiting for …
The Complete Guide to Watching Wildlife
Planting for Pollinators Across the Whole Season
I was up on a ridge in the Cairngorms last Tuesday, watching a pair of peregrines circle a scree slope, when I realized how much …
Binoculars: Eight by Forty-two and Why
I’ve spent more hours than I care to count squinting through cheap, high-magnification glass only to realize I’ve missed the actual bird because the image …
Bikepacking: the Same Trip With Different Constraints
I remember sitting in a sodden tent three years ago, listening to the rhythmic slap of rain against a heavy-duty bivvy, realizing I had spent …
Carrying Water Versus Finding It
I remember a group I was leading in the Cairngorms back in 2014—not a bad group, just a bit too optimistic about the afternoon’s temperature. …
The Complete Guide to Walking at Altitude
I once spent six hours huddled under a granite overhang in the Cairngorms, watching a client try to “power through” a mounting headache with nothing …
Small Changes That Help Hedgehogs Survive a Garden
I spent a decade as a ranger watching people try to “save” nature with expensive, plastic-heavy gadgets that end up doing more harm than good. …
Fitting a Rucksack So Your Shoulders Stop Aching
I remember a group I led in the Cairngorms about five years ago—a lovely, capable lot, but they were all fighting their gear. One lad, …
What Goes in a Day Sack and What Never Should
I once spent forty minutes on a ridge in the Cairngorms, shivering in a damp base layer, because I couldn’t find my emergency shell in …
The Complete Guide to Hot Weather Safety
I remember a group I led in the Cairngorms three summers ago; they had every piece of high-tech, moisture-wicking gear money could buy, yet they …