Scottish Highlands
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
The winter Cape Wrath Trail gear list
After months of preparation, I have a near-final gear list for next month’s winter Cape Wrath Trail attempt. Here are a few thoughts on the gear I’ve selected and why. Trigger warning: this is not an ultralight gear list! General gear considerations For information on the trip’s
The Cape Wrath Trail in winter: seeking silence in the Scottish Highlands
Time to announce my big winter project for early 2019. More: * Gear list on Lighterpack * Why go offline – and how? * Resupply plan It’s time to talk about a project I’ve been planning for a while. You may have seen hints on social media or in my newsletter about
Staying safe in early-winter mountain conditions
This can be a challenging time of year in the British mountains: no avalanche forecasts, changeable conditions, and short daylight hours. This feature was first published by The Great Outdoors, 30 November 2017. Autumn or winter? If you live far from the hills, especially further south in England, it’s
The Alder Trail
Alex Roddie answers the call of Ben Alder’s wildness in this ambitious long-distance trail between Fort William and Aviemore. This feature was first published in Trail magazine, November 2016. The Alder Trail is a highly challenging route, with considerable off-trail sections crossing Munros, suitable only for experienced backpackers in
Photography on the Trail
You don’t need a ton of gear to create meaningful images on a long-distance trail. Sometimes an agile approach can be best. This feature was first published in On Landscape (Issue 132), February 2017. All images © Alex Roddie. By its very nature, landscape photography requires the photographer to be
Why you should hike the West Highland Way
A 94-mile backpacking adventure through the Scottish Highlands The West Highland Way is one of Britain’s best backpacking routes, and the first designated long-distance trail in Scotland. Every year, thousands of people walk the 94 miles / 151km from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William in the heart of the
Lightweight backpacking in the Scottish Highlands: a mini-guide
If you’re used to lightweight or ultralight backpacking in the sunny mountains of the USA, the prospect of applying the same philosophy to the Scottish Highlands can be bewildering. Here’s how to do it safely.
