Longform
Sky Dance by John D. Burns – why this book was my top project for 2019
On 5 September 2019, I spoke at the launch of Sky Dance by Pinnacle Editorial client John D. Burns. Here’s why this author’s work means so much to me – particularly his latest book. This is an expanded version of the short talk I gave at the book launch.
Went to mow the meadow
Is this an essay about solastalgia, automation, landscape, history, or just a little tale about a walker and an owl? I don’t know, but I hope you enjoy reading it. Nine o’clock on a midsummer’s evening, and I hike through farmland that had once been the grounds
Three lessons I learned by going offline for a month on the Cape Wrath Trail
It isn’t really about technology at all. In January 2019, when attempting to explain why I felt compelled to leave the internet behind for my winter Cape Wrath Trail, I wrote that ‘For some years, I’ve been aware that I can’t think properly when my mind is
Paper vs. digital journaling on a long-distance trail
When I go backpacking, keeping a journal is an important part of the process for me – as important as taking photographs. But should you keep a digital journal or record your thoughts in a real, physical notebook? Here’s what I’ve learned about the pros and cons of each.
Aonach Beag and Ben Nevis, Alpine-style
A decade ago, my life was very different. I’d been living in Glen Coe for just over a year, working behind the bar at the Clachaig Inn, and I spent all my spare time writing, climbing and hillwalking. Looking back now, it hardly seems real. On the 10th of
Chased by Storms: 113 miles along the Haute Route Pyrenees and GR11 in 2016
Three long-distance routes traverse the Pyrenees: the GR10, GR11 and, most challenging of all, the Pyrenean Haute Route. In 2016, on the hunt for mountains and summer sun, Alex Roddie got a taste of each of them. This feature was first published in the August 2017 issue of The Great
Electronics for lightweight and ultralight backpacking
This article was last updated on 31 March 2019. “Nothing that uses a battery can be relied upon in the wild.” This is something we hear from time to time, but how true is it? What level of electronic gadgetry is necessary or appropriate in the outdoors? The purpose of
The Decaying Alps: climate change and glacial retreat in the Playground of Europe
As outdoor writers and photographers, it’s time for us to be honest about the realities of environmental destruction – and how these realities affect the mountain landscapes we love. This feature was first published in On Landscape, October 2017 Think of an image depicting the Swiss Alps. Chances are, you’
Smartphone photography for outdoor writers
Tempted to use images captured by your smartphone for your next feature? Here are a few things to consider. A version of this article was first published in my Pinnacle Newsletter, March 2018. Modern smartphones have highly capable cameras, but most outdoor writers rely on heftier setups. DSLR or mirrorless,
Skills guide: Modernise your mountain navigation
Are you still taking those frayed old OS maps out on the hill? Ever find yourself not quite lost, but momentarily misplaced and wishing you had some way of pinpointing your exact location? It could be time to bring your nav skills into the 21st century. This skills guide was
