I remember a group I led back in 2014, a couple of bright-eyed lads who had spent a small fortune on the latest ultralight titanium …
A First Overnight Close to Home
The Complete Guide to Tracking and Field Signs
Most people think a “complete guide to tracking animals” involves buying a high-end thermal monocular or spending three months studying ancient woodland patterns, but that’s …
Rewilding: the Practical Version, Not the Argument
I spent three years as a ranger watching people stare at a patch of scrubland and call it a “success” just because a few brambles …
Buying Used Kit Without Buying Someone Else’s Problem
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make expensive mistakes, but some of the worst ones happen before they even leave the house. There is this …
Hammock or Ground: What Each Requires
I remember a night in the Cairngorms back in 2014, huddled in a tent that had become a damp, heavy-duty sponge because I’d misjudged the …
Breaking a Long Trail Into Days That Work
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms, watching a group of hikers stare blankly at a map while the sky turned the color …
The Complete Guide to Binoculars and Scopes
I’ve sat on too many ridges watching people spend two thousand pounds on a pair of glass that looks beautiful in a showroom, only to …
Why There Are Cattle on the Nature Reserve
I remember standing on a windswept ridge in the Cairngorms back in 2012, watching a group of well-meaning volunteers try to “restore” a patch of …
What to Buy First, Second and Never
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make the same mistake: they walk into an outdoor shop with a credit card and a sense of misplaced …
Preparing for Four Days on Your Feet
I was standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers huddle under a single, overpriced ultralight tarp while …