The word ‘Naturalism’.
The word ‘nature’ does not confuse many, which is itself a little confusing, since it can have over two dozen meanings. The word ‘nature’ is…
Tag: extreme
Back from the Arctic
Yesterday I arrived back home after sailing north from Scotland via the Faroe Islands into the Arctic, finishing at Reykjavik. I used the trip to…
Walking in Circles
I am often asked about the tendency of people to walk in circles when lost. Here is an explanation of what happens. 1) If people…
Family Camping in Extremis
Each year we travel with 3 other families to the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight for some traditional British camping. This is definitely…
Urban Natural Navigation
A couple of days ago I got off the train in London Victoria station at about 6.40pm. I knew the place I needed to get…
All Roads Lead Home Update
A huge thank you to everyone for all the messages that have been coming in about All Roads Lead Home. I thought it was time…
Orange Lichens
This photo, from my recent and gallette-packed French summer holiday, shows the distinctive orange lichens that have daubed a southern-facing wall of Suscinio Castle in…
All Roads Lead Home
I’m just back from a week in Cornwall, where I have been helping the BBC with a new series called, ‘All Roads Lead Home’. It…
Underground Navigation
I am spending a lot of time at the moment helping the BBC with a new series and have spent the last few days in…
Which way are we looking? Updated.
My thanks to Mark Evans who not only flew over from Oman for a course, but also sent me this great time lapse photo from…
Sunday Times
There was a ‘mini-review’ of the book in yesterday’s Sunday Times Culture section’s seasonal selection of the books of 2010. Here it is in its…
Condry Festival
The third Condry Festival, ‘Nature and Outdoor Writing at its Finest’, took place on Saturday at the Tabernacl in Machynlleth, Wales. I was honoured to…
Sweet Times on Sugar Loaf Mountain
For the love of God, spare us from any more blog titles like that, you are thinking. But persevere, there is a point to it.…
Camping at the Hay Festival
Last night we got back from a family camping trip to a site near the Hay Festival in Herefordshire. It was my first visit to…
Light Snow Compass
Just back from minus 15 degrees in the Scottish Highlands and the unseasonable season continues! It’ s great – even if it has cost me…
Libyan Sahara
Just back after a fantastic and physically intense fortnight in the Libyan desert. This photo of me scaling a dune was taken after nine hours…
Sand Dunes and Endurance
I spent this evening studying some well-respected sand dune theory before my upcoming trip to the Libyan Sahara. It had been a long day, with…