On 8th August 2021, my partner and I stood at the most northwesterly point of Scotland, with nothing but sea between us and the North Pole. This is the story of how we completed the 230-mile Cape Wrath Trail, and how it changes us both along the way.
Author Archives: bronofthehills
A Journey for Wildness: Tackling the Cape Wrath Trail
On 17th July 2021, two young hillwalkers will take their first steps on a 230-mile trek through the wildest, remotest terrain the Northwest Highlands has to offer. We’re taking on the Cape Wrath Trail as a Journey for Wildness, to raise funds for protecting Britain’s wild places.
Stepping into Narnia: The dramatic resurgence of nature in a Scottish glen
Walking into Glen Feshie in the western Cairngorms is like stepping into a different world. If this is what can happen after just 14 years of rewilding, what will it look like at the end of this ambitious 200-year project?
Sounds of lockdown: on the Northumbrian fells, skylarks are still singing
The skylark is in steep decline across the UK, but at a time of lockdown when planes are grounded and roads are empty, there is a newfound silence in which skylarks can still be heard singing in certain places.
Finding the wild closer to home
At a time when millions of people are quarantined and unable to access wild places, Robert Macfarlane’s book ‘The Wild Places’ offers an alternative vision of wildness that we can all connect to in our local areas.
Top twelve bits of kit for wild camping in the UK
My top twelve recommended items for taking on a wild camping expedition, based on personal experiences of hiking in the UK’s mountains. Whether you’re new to wild camping or a seasoned veteran, I hope these tips and anecdotes will provide some inspiration for your next expedition.
Rewilding and Shifting Baseline Syndrome: the paradox of the Scottish Highlands
Rewilding is a controversial term these days – does it really have the potential to shape the future of the Scottish Highlands? Here I explore the complex ideology behind this novel conservation approach, the ethical and practical problems it raises, and the question of how Shifting Baseline Syndrome influences the way we value particular ‘wild’ landscapes.
The magic of spring daffodils
Daffodils are emerging in abundance this week, marking the beginning of the vibrant Northumbrian spring. Their vivid yellow reminds me of a passage from one of my favourite novels, bringing hope and joy amidst the gloom of a pandemic.
Keeping perspective when the world’s turned upside down
There is something reassuring about the timelessness of mountains. Read more for reflection on how nature remains unchanged despite the huge changes in our lives due to the coronavirus outbreak – providing us with both perspective and peace.
Musings on Mountains 