Notes
Images from a local wood that is being destroyed
Please read this blog post for an update, including further images of the damage. This morning, on my daily walk, I was shocked to discover that a local stand of woodland is in the process of being bulldozed. Most mornings for the last three years, I’ve walked past a
Book review: Rebirding – Rewilding Britain and its Birds by Benedict Macdonald
‘This is the story of how Britain became a factory,’ Benedict Macdonald writes in this remarkable work of horror and hope. This review was first published in The Great Outdoors magazine, February 2020. Rebirding begins by outlining the millennia of damage we’ve inflicted on wildlife in Britain, from the
My top ten wild camps of 2019
Ten of the best from the mountains of Scotland and the Pyrenees As I mentioned in my year in review, I spent a total of 67 nights under canvas this year, of which 47 were ‘wild’ camps. It’s been a fantastic year for wild camps. The Haute Route Pyrenees
2019 in review: long-distance trails, avoiding burnout, and planting seeds for the future
Towards fresh beginnings While 2018 was a year of triumph and tragedy, 2019 has been a steadier year with fewer crazy peaks and troughs. It hasn’t been without its challenges, though – and it’s been a year of major change for me. The outdoors Where to start? 2019 has
Book review: Another Peak – Everest is not the only summit by Alex Staniforth
Everest was Alex Staniforth’s dream, but that dream died when the earthquake struck Nepal in 2015, ending his summit attempt. This review was first published in The Great Outdoors magazine, January 2020. Another Peak – Everest is not the only summit picks up events after Everest, and is all about
An afternoon of bird photography at Gibraltar Point
I’m very fortunate to live a few miles away from Gibraltar Point, one of the best wildlife reserves on the Lincolnshire coast. This afternoon I took my camera for a walk, and saw a few birds despite the high winds. I love spending time in wild places, but I’
TGO Challenge 2020 route submitted for vetting
After a few weeks spent pondering maps, my planned route for the 2020 TGO Challenge has now been submitted. For background on the Challenge, and why I decided to participate, see this blog post. It’s an annual non-competitive backpacking event in which hundreds of people cross Scotland on foot
A pillaged ecology in the Scottish Highlands: ‘I am angry beyond words’
An environmental consultant expresses anger and concern about landscape mismanagement and the impact of deer in the Scottish Highlands Last week, after I put up a post on Twitter and LinkedIn describing how I was writing a piece about the ‘pillaged ecology in the Highlands’, I received an email from
Pinnacle Editorial is fully booked until summer 2020
An availability update. I’ve taken on a number of writing commissions lately from several different clients, and have a stack of editorial projects lined up well into 2020, so it’s time to declare myself fully booked for the foreseeable future. I’ll admit that I’m surprised – at
My photography – November 2019
Thanks to a combination of getting out more than usual and some excellent conditions, I’ve had a strong month for photography both on and off the mountains. In no particular order, here is a selection of images from November 2019. Tip of the hat to my brother James Roddie,
