The Great Outdoors July issue

The July issue of The Great Outdoors is in the shops now. The big news is that it's the last issue edited by Emily Rodway. Working with Emily over the last decade has been a delight and privilege. I think she has done a fantastic job with TGO and I am sure she'll do the same with her future work.

I am sorry to see Emily leave but really pleased that Carey Davies will be the new editor. I worked with Carey when he was TGO's assistant editor and in recent years in his role as the BMC's hillwalking officer. I am looking forward to working with him again. In the meantime Alex Roddie is editing the August issue before Carey takes over.

In this issue I review 12 hiking shirts - I just wish the weather was warm enough to wear them without a jacket - and also the Columbia OutDry jacket I wore on the TGO Challenge. That event, the 40th, is described by Roger Smith in a piece in which I get a couple of mentions - as one of three greybeards!

Roger also looks at the wild camping controversy of a few weeks ago and hopes something good might emerge from this 'rum do'. Elsewhere in the issue Jim Perrin celebrates Carnedd Llywelyn; Keith Fergus walks the Lairig an Laoigh in the Cairngorms; James Forrest travels to the Lake District by train and bus to walk the Ullswater Way; David Lintern describes his trips over Britain's 24-hour mountain challenges and the people who helped with his forthcoming book on these epics; Roger Butler walks the Howgill Fells; Diana Jarvis goes walking on Guernsey; and Judy Armstrong reviews 7 women's base layers.

For anyone wondering the Scandinavia supplement which was due to appear with this issue has been held over until September.

What I've Been Reading Online No.7

Tree walking, May 4

With the TGO Challenge taking up two weeks of May and much catching up to do since I returned I've not posted an online reading update for six weeks. Finally here's the next one. I enjoyed reading all these pieces.

OUTDOORS

New-Fangled Ultralight Backpacking

This entertaining and informative piece from Paul Mags first appeared in 2017 but has recently been reposted. I hadn't seen it before. 

 

The draw of the Cape Wrath Trail: in conversation with backpackers taking on Britain’s premier long-distance route

Interesting comments from Cape Wrath Trail walkers in these interviews by TGO magazine. 

Charging for wild camping shows a failure to understand what makes it special

The Guardian article by Phoebe Smith that started a furore. 

Three lessons I learned by going offline for a month on the Cape Wrath Trail

Alex Roddie reflects on leaving the Internet behind and comes to some interesting conclusions. 

Danger, Excitement and Death in the Mountains

Andy Howell ponders on the recent spate of deaths in the mountains from lightning strikes in the Highlands to disaster in the Himalayas.

Break the cycle: Britain's oldest off-road club

Mountain biking didn't begin with mountain bikes. Helen Pidd tells the fascinating story of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship. Some of the photos of their trips are hair-raising! 

Two-hour dose of nature significantly boosts health - study 

More research showing the importance of nature to our mental and physical health.

Art in the Cairngorms 

Ellie Dimambro-Denson of Cairngorm Connect describes how the Cairngorms inspires her paintings and sketches.

In the Cairngorms, June 7

NATURE & CONSERVATION

Sunday book review - Who Owns England by Guy Shrubsole 

Mark Avery reviews an important book on land ownership.

We are full of bright ideas to solve ecological problems. So let’s act on them

Chris Packham says action is needed and everyone should do something.

Field Notes: Grounds for Hope

Mike Daniels, the John Muir Trust's Head of Land Management, says there is hope we can counter the impoverishment of nature.

Robert Macfarlane and the Dark Side of Nature Writing

A profile of Robert Macfarlane and his new book Underland in The New York Times.

The Unseen Worlds Beneath Us: Places of Beauty, Danger and Wisdom 
Terry Tempest Williams with a wonderful review of Robert Macfarlane's Underland. 

The Big Bad Wolf is misunderstood - so why do we fear its return to Britain?

 Phoebe Weston visits Italy to listen to wolves and look for their signs and wonders why so many don't want them here. 

The great green expansion: how ring-necked parakeets took over London

Nick Hunt looks at the rapid spread of parakeets in London and considers some of the myths as to how they got there. 

All about pine martens

Keith Morton of the RSPB describes these elusive animals.

The Scottish Planning Bill, hill tracks and our National Parks

Nick Kempe of Parkswatch Scotland looks at the proposed Scottish planning bill and Andy Wightman's proposed amendments for controlling damaging hill tracks. May sound dull but this is important for anyone who cares about wild places in Scotland.

Adder, Cairngorms, May 11

 

Guest blog - I must tell you something of the beaver

Derek Gow tells the story of the amazing beaver and says it's time for a change in how they're regarded.

Abernethy Forest: an old Scottish pinewood

Dr Ron Summers, the RSPB's Principal Conservation Scientist, gives a glimpse of the history and natural history of one of my favourite local places. 

Death and power in the Highlands John D Burns writes about land ownership and the devastation of the Highlands.

An American in loud cuckoo land is already my highlight of the year

National Trust for Scotland ranger Ben Dolphin is entertained by an American who has only everheard a cuckoo clock before and tells us the story of the cuckoo.

Loch Mallachie, Abernethy Forest, June 3