I was standing on a granite ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a group of hikers realize that their “smart” device was nothing more than a …
Plb or Satellite Messenger: Which and Why
2026
Hiking With Children Without Anyone Crying
I once spent four hours in a damp valley near the Cairngorms, watching a father try to navigate a steep scree slope while his six-year-old …
Using a Bat Detector on a Summer Evening
I remember standing in a sodden, wind-whipped valley in the Peak District three years ago, staring at a piece of kit that cost more than …
Building a Platform and Anchoring in Snow
I remember sitting in a bivvy bag somewhere near the Cairngorm plateau in 2012, listening to the wind scream against the flysheet and realizing I’d …
Being Found: Whistle, Torch and Bright Colours
I remember a Tuesday in late November, standing on a sodden, featureless ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a client try to use a cheap, plastic …
Watching Nocturnal Animals Without Blinding Them
I once spent four hours crouched in a damp gorse thicket near the Cairngorms, waiting for a single pine marten, only to realize my “high-tech” …
Taking a Dog on the Hill Responsibly
I’ve spent two decades watching people mistake a sunny morning in the valley for a guarantee of safety, and adding a dog to the equation …
The Complete Guide to Walking Alone
I once spent four hours sitting in a damp hollow on a ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a group of “prepared” soloists try to negotiate …
Winter Camping: Long Nights Are the Real Challenge
I remember sitting in a bivvy bag three years ago on a ridge in the Cairngorms, listening to the wind try to peel the flysheet …
Foil Blankets Are Almost Useless. Carry This Instead.
I remember a Tuesday in the Cairngorms back in 2014—the kind of day where the mist doesn’t just roll in, it swallows you whole. I …