Blog
Down the Rabbit Hole with James Roddie and Mike Webster
On 10 November 2019, I attended the world premiere of Down the Rabbit Hole, the new film by Mike Webster about my brother James Roddie and his complicated relationship with mental health and the outdoors. From the film’s page at Spiral Out Pictures: Down the Rabbit Hole is the
What I’ve been reading this week, 1 November 2019
The future of travel blogging, climbing Europe’s ultras, making a living from writing, and wonder works. Environment and nature Fishery collapse ‘confirms Silent Spring pesticide prophecy’ – ‘Unfortunately, while it is clear that harm must have been done to UK river health, the exact impact of neonicotinoids has yet to
Book review: The Big Rounds by David Lintern
In The Big Rounds: Running and walking the Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley and Charlie Ramsay Rounds, David Lintern writes: ‘Hard lines dividing walking and running are a relatively modern notion, and have more to do with commerce and marketing than what goes on when people really start to find their
The Farthest Shore reading list
Here’s my current bibliography of titles that have influenced my thinking (or which I plan to read) during the creative process for my book The Farthest Shore. Updated 2019-10-29 Notes * Books listed here are ones that I have either read in the last two years, or plan to read
What I’ve been reading this week, 25 October 2019
Animal society on the move, the mountaineer’s Google Doodle, and you are fine without advice and suggestions. Environment and nature Country diary: a whole animal society is on the move – a great Country Diary from TGO editor Carey Davies. Glacial rivers absorb carbon faster than rainforests, scientists find – this
The Blue Hour
This year, I’ve been starting my morning walks half an hour earlier, and as autumn progresses I find myself a daily observer of that quiet time just before dawn. For the last couple of weeks now, darkness has characterised my morning walks – or so it appeared at first. I’
What I’ve been reading this week, 19 October 2019
Land of ghosts, what went wrong on the Cape Wrath Trail, tips for lightweight walking, and the most exciting mountain in Ecuador. Environment Land of Ghosts – ‘It’s time we reformed how land is owned and managed. It should not be up to the whim of a land owner whether
Exciting news – I have signed a book deal with Vertebrate Publishing
I am delighted to announce that I have signed a book deal with Vertebrate Publishing, who will be publishing my first non-fiction book: The Farthest Shore. There was always going to be a book about my strange and wonderful journey through the West Highlands early this year. The quest for
Summits & Skylarks
After a winter of painful loss, Alex Roddie returned to the hills early in 2018 for a poignant journey over Fairfield and Helvellyn. This feature was first published in the February 2019 issue of The Great Outdoors. In October 2019 it received the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Award for
In praise of active reading
Active reading is the act of annotating, highlighting and making notes on a book as you read it. As a writer, here’s why it’s one of the most vital tools in my toolbox. Like most people, I first discovered active reading at school. It was Year 9, I
