Spring draws to a close

May 25, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

I’m currently writing a Slow Travel Guide to North East Scotland, which will be out next spring. The thing about writing this book is I’m spending every working moment on it but won’t have anything to show for my efforts until it’s published. Until then it looks like I’ve fallen off the face of the […]

Stig, Rex and Misty

February 10, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

It was time to go back to Assynt on the west coast this week. Friends of mine own a wood cabin on the edge of a loch – with no phone service and barely anyone else around, it’s one of my favourite places to stay. The weather has been unpredictable for weeks where I am. […]

Traditional Flora of Yule

December 21, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

I’ve always loved winter the most. It might be because I’m a December baby, or because I love snow, ice and winter wildlife – there’s just something special about the dark half of the year. After a summer slump, my motivation begins to grind again in autumn and by winter I’m raring to go. Today […]

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

December 14, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

Christmas always ends up being a hectic whirlwind, but this year I think we’re all looking forward to a bit of festive cheer. However, the festive season can get wasteful and very expensive, so I’ve put together a list of tips for making this Christmas a green one. Cards While I try to limit my […]

If Women Rose Rooted

November 18, 2021.Reading time 15 minutes.

I couldn’t help a slight eye roll when I read the shower of adjectives on the cover reviews of this book: “powerful… inspiring… mind-blowing…” But it actually ended up being all of those things for me, even the last one. If Women Rose Rooted is a combination of three topics I care strongly about: nature, […]

Picking up a Paintbrush

May 18, 2021.Reading time 2 minutes.

Painting always takes a backseat for me. Writing and photography take up all of my creative time and energy, and as a result I barely ever get round to painting even though I love it. The second I actually set out my equipment and get started, I spend hours doing it! The other obstacle is […]

A Song of Ice and Footprints

February 8, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’ve been loving my wintery walks recently and don’t actually want spring to come just yet. We don’t often get snow by the coast but it was finally cold enough for a spell of it this week. When I’m out and about I’m usually peering up and searching for birds or squirrels in the trees. […]

Recent Rambles

January 19, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

For the past few weeks I’ve fallen in love with photography even more than I was before. My new camera has now arrived but the adapter I need to attach it to my lens has been out of stock for weeks, so the camera’s still in the box for now! Luckily for me I’m still […]

Day One

January 5, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

I was determined to make the first day of the year full of wildlife so I headed to my favourite woodland spot to try my luck seeing red squirrels. As usual I was met by a gust of coal tits, brazenly unafraid of me, and once I’d settled down the more timid characters began to […]

2020 Wrapped Up

December 31, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

Well that was an interesting one. I always like to write a little summary at the end of each year, reflecting on what I’ve achieved since last Christmas. This year is no exception, but like everyone else on the planet I couldn’t have anticipated what was about to happen when I wrote in my last […]