Bits and pieces: latest published work, plus thoughts on moving to a weekly newsletter
Good evening! It's so nice to see a few more people signing up to receive this blog/newsletter (is it a blog? Is it a newsletter? It's both) – and, honestly, I am humbled that people in 2024 are voluntarily asking to get more emails. Signing up
Sidetracked Volume 31: Closer to Nature, and thoughts on steadiness of purpose in media
With the latest volume of Sidetracked magazine arriving with subscribers, let's take a look at some of my favourite bits and pieces from this very special issue. And, as is traditional, a bit of waffle from me. This summer we celebrated our 30th issue and 10th year in
Winter Colour: an OWPG highly commended photo set
I've been a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild since 2019, and every year I enter magazine and web articles, books, and images into the annual awards. I have won on two prior occasions, for a magazine feature and for this website. This year, to my
Páramo: building blocks for the future
Páramo Directional Clothing is one of those outdoor gear brands you'll almost certainly have an opinion about. Saying they're a Marmite brand might be overstating it, but outdoor enthusiasts often either steer well clear or are ardent lifelong fans. I don't quite identify as
Fragments from the journey home
A flying visit to Fort William and Glen Coe with Hannah. It's work – a media event at the new Páramo store opening on the FW high street – but it's also fun, catching up with friends who live in the most beautiful spot along the north shore
'So how are things *actually*, Alex?'
It's 6.30pm on a Saturday evening in October and I'm flicking back through my blog posts for the year, reflecting on how I've totally failed to carry out my plan of returning to an old-school pattern of blogging. Not necessarily little and often,
First steps in medium-format film photography
For me, creativity has never been about the final result, and that's certainly true of photography. There's so much more to enjoy, to learn, to engage with. As someone who finds modern digital photography soulless, who has spent a decade learning how to shoot 35mm film,
Ten years as a professional writer and editor
In early July 2014, while hiking in the Alps, an idea I'd been considering for some time finally resolved into a plan. I would quit the day job and dive into a new career as a freelance editor and writer. WHOOSH! Hear that? It's the sound
Postcards from Morocco
In late June, I began the long journey from Scotland to Morocco. The goal: to hike the Toubkal Circuit, climb Toubkal itself, and then have further adventures amongst the 4,000m peaks of the Toubkal National Park. This trip was planned and organised by my friend Emily Woodhouse, who is
Building Alpenglow Journal: a new type of outdoor publication
Friends, it's time to talk about the future. In my last Substack update, I wrote that I was working on plans for a complete relaunch of The Pinnacle. I hinted at a pivot towards something different – something I hoped to launch in July. Although I’m not quite
