I was standing on a granite ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, soaked through to my base layers and waiting for a mist to …
Learning Birdsong Five Species at a Time
Identifying Raptors by Shape and Flight, Not Colour
I spent three hours last Tuesday huddled behind a gritstone outcrop in a driving sleet, my fingers numb and my binoculars fogging every time I …
Planning a Day Walk Backwards From Sunset
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make the same mistake: they think knowing how to plan a day walk is about downloading the flashiest app …
Getting Boots Fitted Properly, Once
I once spent four hours on a sodden ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a perfectly capable group of walkers slowly descend into a state of …
The Complete Guide to Navigation on Foot
I once spent four hours huddled under a granite overhang in the Cairngorms, watching a group of hikers stare blankly at a GPS unit that …
Choosing a Pitch: Wind, Water and Ground
I’ve spent more years than I care to admit watching people arrive at a beautiful, remote glen, only to spend the next six hours fighting …
Watching Wildlife Starts With Sitting Still
I spent three hours last Tuesday crouched in a sodden patch of heather, shivering in a way that even my three-layer merino base layer couldn’t …
Starting to Hike Without Buying Anything First
Most people will tell you that learning how to start hiking is all about finding the perfect $300 technical shell or the latest ultralight titanium …
Choosing Boots: Fit First, Everything Else Second
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers try to navigate a scree slope in boots …
Your First Camping Trip, Kept Deliberately Simple
I spent three hours last Tuesday watching a well-meaning couple struggle to pitch a high-tech, ultralight tent in a steady drizzle, only to realize they …