I remember standing on a windswept ridge in the Cairngorms back in 2012, watching a group of well-meaning volunteers try to “restore” a patch of …
Why There Are Cattle on the Nature Reserve
What to Buy First, Second and Never
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make the same mistake: they walk into an outdoor shop with a credit card and a sense of misplaced …
Preparing for Four Days on Your Feet
I was standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers huddle under a single, overpriced ultralight tarp while …
Bivvying: Minimal Shelter, Maximum Commitment
I remember a night on the Scafell Pike ridge back in 2014—the kind of night where the wind doesn’t just blow, it punches you. I …
Tarp Camping: Freedom and Its Price
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms three years ago, watching a group of hikers struggle to pitch a heavy, two-person dome tent …
Training for the Hills Without a Gym
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people crumble on steep ascents, and most of them weren’t lacking “spirit”—they were just following the wrong advice. You don’t …
Why We Need to Stop Romanticizing the Hunt and Start Understanding the Role of Wolves in Ecosystem Balance.
I remember standing on a ridge in the Cairngorms back in 2012, watching a group of hikers argue about whether reintroducing predators was “unnatural” or …
Beyond the Hype and the Press Releases: the Unglamorous Essential Camping Equipment for Weekend Hiking Trips That Actually Keeps You Safe When the Weather Turns.
I’ve spent twenty-two years watching people make the same mistake: they walk into a shop, see a shiny new gadget with a dozen unnecessary features, …
Forget the Pretty Flowerbeds: the Unglamorous, Essential Ways to Build Backyard Habitats for Pollinators That Actually Work.
I spent fifteen years as a ranger watching people treat “nature” like a showroom display—everything manicured, everything sprayed, and absolutely nothing living. There is this …
The Optimistic Decision That Kills: How to Prepare for Long Distance Treks Before the Weather Changes Its Mind.
I once spent three hours in a damp hollow on the edge of the Lake District, watching a group of “prepared” hikers realize that their …