Cross Hatch Wave Pattern
This is a video for readers of the book How to Read Water. Notice how a cross-hatch pattern forms where the waves meet on this…
Category: How To Read Water
Learning about the Moon by Watching the Thames
An extraordinary guest article by John Pahl. I love looking at the night’s sky, following the movement of the Moon and stars across the sky.…
Clues Above Brighton Pier
Have a good look at the picture above. I took it during a night walk along the Brighton seafront. If I was planning to set…
How to Smell Rain
A wonderful guest article today by Milo Carnegie Mee. Of the plethora of smells that greet our noses when we are outdoors, the redolence of…
Alder Trees – A Sign of Water Nearby
The common alder – Alnus glutinosa – is a small tree that grows up to about 25 metres. It is native in the UK and…
How to Navigate with Lombardy Poplars
There are three types of tree in any landscape: friends, guests and rebels. Every tree is native, invasive or planted. Native trees have been part…
Father’s Day Gift Ideas
My US publisher, The Experiment, got in touch today to remind me that it is Father’s Day on Sunday. They also sent me this nice…
Transit Lines
My favourite signs always combine simplicity, elegance and practicality. They are often so effective that technology can’t improve on them. Cats’ Paws, the ruffled patterns…
The Pursuit of Outdoor Clues – My New Podcast is Out!
I’ve started a podcast of my own! It’s called The Pursuit of Outdoor Clues, which should give you a flavour of what it’s all about.…
Avalanche Warning Signs
In some areas niche expertise is vital, literally. The signs that warn of avalanches can be life-saving. Nik Huggins spoke to Alan Halewood (pictured) for…
What are Supernumerary Rainbows?
Supernumerary rainbows are faint bow lines that appear just inside the main rainbow. Look at the rainbow above and you may just be able to…
Nigerian Signs
Something a bit different today. My thanks to Chris McCosh, for coming on an Instructor’s Course in 2018, and for passing on his findings in…
Why The Coconut Palm Points to the Sea
The coconut palm tree (Cocos nucifera) does something that very few trees do. It leans into wind. Most trees have trunks that will bend away…
Allow the River to Invite You In
Whilst researching a chapter in the book, How to Read Water, I spent time with fly fishing expert and all-round river guru, Stuart Crofts. During…
The Glitter Path
A ‘glitter path’ is light reflected off water from a low sun, moon or other bright object. Glitter paths help us to read water because…
Beach Hut Picture Puzzle
What direction are we looking in this photo of West Wittering beach in West Sussex, UK? Clues (if you want them): All dunes form with…
How to Read Water
Clues & Patterns from Puddles to the Sea A New York Times Bestseller. A Sunday Times “Must Read” book. A must-have book for walkers, sailors,…
The Sorting by Sea Currents
Sea currents sort objects according to size, shape and weight. There is a documented case of left Wellington boots from a lost container washing up…
How to Navigate with Rainbows
Many people believe that a thing must be either beautiful or practical. But nature brims with examples that manage both. Rainbows are pretty, but they…
The Difference Between Sunrise and Sunset
Have a look at this photo and see if you can tell whether it is a sunrise or sunset? Yes, it’s tricky. Sunrises and sunsets…