Pembrokeshire
I’m just back from a fascinating week researching natural navigation and outdoor clues in Pembrokeshire, Wales. I’ve collated my favourite signs and they are now…
Tag: natural navigation
A Lost and Found Reader
My thanks to Nicole for reading my book, this kind email and permission to share here: Hi Tristan, I have always considered myself a lost…
Navigating with Trees in Cities
London plane trees are tall, broad-canopied trees with mottled bark that flakes away in patches of cream, grey, and olive. This gives their bark a…
What’s On the Other Side of the Hedge?
I was walking in the Sussex countryside a couple of days ago and took this photo: Which direction are we looking? Was the picture taken…
Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest in East Sussex will hide from your life for years, but when it makes an entrance, it will also make an impression. For…
The Meaning of Tree Branches
In nature, shapes are stories. There are always a hundred stories in every tree, because there are a hundred branches, each with its own tale…
The Joy of Handrails for Natural Navigators
I’m just back from a few days’ natural navigation walks in Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. My forays into fresh terrain often adopt the same…
How to Use Plants to Map Wet Ground
All plants need water and all plants are sensitive to the levels of water in the ground. This means that every plant can make a…
Navigating Marrakesh
I’m recently back from a natural navigation research trip to Marrakesh in Morocco. Proper deep-end urban navigation challenges in the souks! Photos and videos of…
The Woolly Compass
On exposed hillsides, sheep take shelter behind gorse bushes. Over time this kills the lowest branches, creates patches of bare earth and pieces of straggling…
Which Way Are We Walking in North Wales?
Clues in the mud colours, wildflowers and more… Mud in ruts is wetter and darker on shaded south side. Wildflowers more common in south-facing spots.…
Paperbacks of the Year
A big thank you to Waterstones for selecting How to Read a Tree as one of their ‘Paperbacks of the Year 2024’. You can explore…
Sign of the Week
For outdoor clues, signs, puzzles and more, please subscribe to my SIGN OF THE WEEK newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/naturalnavigator/sign-of-the-week
What Time is It?
What time was this video taken? There are clues in the sun, shadows, church, trees, clouds, grasses and more. Answer below. Spoiler Alert… Answers below……
Gardeners’ World Podcast
For an podcast interview about nature’s signs, natural navigation and how these come into play in gardens please listen to an interview with Tristan Gooley…
Which Way Are We Walking?
North, East, South or West? And why? Answer… Spoiler Alert… Notice the green algae and mosses growing on the right side of the roof, showing…
Finding Land with Help from the Birds
“It was our first and only experience in 50 years of cruising of navigating by gannet!” My thanks to Christopher for this lovely email and…
Which Direction Are We Walking?
Which Direction Are We Walking in the video above? North, East, South or West? There are clues in the the trees, the light, the mud,…
Which Way Are We Looking?
I took this photo in the South Downs a few days ago. Which direction are we looking? North, East, South or West? And Why? Struggling?…
What is Rime Ice?
Rime Ice There is a common type of icing that is regularly called frost, but is not formed in the same way. Rime ice occurs…
Texas Creosote Bush
My thanks to Dan Acosta for the following very interesting email and permission to share: Hi Tristan, I was in the Chihuahuan desert at Big…