Blog
Things I wish I’d known as a new writer
A few things you won’t learn on that creative writing course Of all the emails I receive each week, a small but growing number are from new writers – often young, and sometimes a bit bewildered, seeking advice on writing. They don’t know where to find ideas, or they
The upgrade trap
Sometimes, when you think you are upgrading an item, you’re actually downgrading instead Our consumer economy is based on the idea that newer is better. The affluent are accustomed to replacing computers and TVs every few years, and smartphones every year or two. These days, even household appliances aren’
In Pursuit of Perfection – the Lochaber Traverse
Seeking perfection on an ambitious three-day journey to reach Ben Nevis This feature was first published in The Great Outdoors magazine, January 2017 Between 2008 to 2011, I lived in Lochaber. I don’t live there any more. Now I make visits north, losing the weather lottery more often than
Walking 1,500 miles in 2017
In the end, it wasn’t about the miles At the start of 2017, I decided to take on ViewRanger’s Walk2017 challenge. The idea is simple: you pick a mileage target—500, 1,000 or 1,500—then aim to hike it over the course of the year. Because
My nine top wild camps of 2017
Nine of the best, from Ardgour to Norway For the last few years it’s been my custom to do a roundup of my year in the outdoors, but this year I have been posting monthly photo updates and I feel that ground has already been covered. 2017 has, however,
Walk2017 – images from October and November
As I near the end of my attempt to walk 1,500 miles in 2017 (yes, I should just about make it!) it’s time to post my penultimate gallery of images. With the exception of a boost in September, my photographic output has gradually slowed over the course of
Availability update: Pinnacle Editorial is fully booked well into 2018, plus a few thoughts on the future
After a quieter month, things are moving into high gear at Pinnacle Editorial HQ, and my time is now fully accounted for until the end of February 2018. I have a varied mix of projects on the go at the moment: * I’ve just started work on Vol.11 of
A roundup of my published outdoor writing in November 2017
It’s been a busy month for outdoor writing. I’ve written a number of features for The Great Outdoors – skills pieces, interviews and more – an interview for Sidetracked, and a one-minute mountain for UKHillwalking. I’ve included a couple of notable pieces I’ve posted on this site too.