Mountain Days and Bothy Nights


Book Description

Acknowledged as a classic of mountain writing, this book takes you into the bothies, howffs and dosses on the Scottish hills as Fishgut Mac, Desperate Dan and Stumpy the Big Yin stalk hill and public house, evading gamekeepers and Royalty.







Epic Highland Days and Bothy Nights - 2nd Edn.


Book Description

An epic Norman. A true classic, even by your legendary standards. And richly amusing too. Congratulations on winning trip of the month. Richly deserved and not before time. SimonP LOL, best laid plans, eh??? Sounds like you had an absolute blast and I PMSL laughing reading of your adventure. Nice one! [Kathy] That was a rewarding read! [Ceathreamhnan] A very entertaining read! TundraBoy [RIP March 2014] - Beard of the Year Winner 2013 Well done, your style of writing is a joy to read. It deserves a wider audience MKG Congratulations on your TR of the month award on an incident packed venture: a great read! [Lochivroan] Brilliant Norman, very well done to you!! Bronzebabe Monarch Of The Glen What an epic ! I think I would had lain down in the snow, never to arise. Ouakha [Druim Fada]. Another fantastic report Norman. Always a good read. [Lochcarron wee peaks]. by dalavil The next Bryson? Loved it NevJB That's the best laugh I had in a long time. Hope you are going to write a book about your adventures. AnnieMacD Anyway, your pain makes interesting reading for the rest of us. You'll just need to finish this and not leave us on such a cliff hanger... malky_c [All night & 3 days on An Stac & Meith Bheinn feat Oban Bothy]. Yikes! Am epic indeed and have to say, admire your grit for carrying on in those conditions. I was burst reading it! Kathy Did you ever get out, or did you post this via the Oban bothy wifi connection? It just keeps getting better. More please SimonP Great ! Glad you got back to post this. Would have been a shame to take it with you down some gully or other. Had me stiffling my laughter at work, especially when you were faced with the yoghurt. Do you do this intentionally? I clearly remember your Drum Fhada tale and have used that as a lesson in how not to hill walk! Ouakha Where are the Jasons of this world when WE need them? Still, it was about time your luck changed. Squiz. Aye, if it weren't for Jason of the Faslane Naval Base I'd probably be still there, living on roast bat, although I had thought of training them to carry oot wee notes tied tae their legs. Norman_Grieve An epic indeed! Thanks for posting all your travails. I have often looked at the shores of Loch Morar on the map and wondered. Now I know! I voted for a compass btw. Lochivroan Aye, the Ferocious Supervisor teld moi aboot a week ago, that she was frankly appalled by the highly irresponsible attitude of SHillers, who had until noo voted unanimously for more highly dangerous night time blundering aboot in the pitch dark with not even the bare minimum of gear. Norman_Grieve That maybe your best yet and was certainly an enjoyable read. It contains more than a hint that you might be suffering to much for your art. TundraBoy TB, aye, the father fisherman asked me if I'd enjoyed it and I replied that at times the night time traverse had seemed like purgatory. I then added that when Norma had bid me farewell on leaving, with a cheery 'Enjoy yersen'', I'd teld her that I thought it was going to be a hard one - if only I'd kent just hoo hard I might have gone back tae me bed? Norman_Grieve An epic tale and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading last night. I salute you for the effort involved ! bowlesy Laughed/sympathised in equal degree, a great story, thanks Norman. Don't go there again, it has it in for you. Benarmine Ps an epic and a marvellous read, almost full marks but the finish lets you down, imho lounging around on boats swilling beer isn't quite playing the game?. buy a big ball of string... Dreamer




The Book of the Bothy


Book Description

A guidebook celebrating the bothies of England, Scotland and Wales: a network of huts, cottages and shelters – often in remote mountainous locations – that are completely free to use. The author presents a selection of 26 of her favourite bothies, with notes on access, water, facilities, history and wildlife-spotting opportunities. Includes advice on how to use bothies and bothy etiquette Routes (with mapping) to all of the 26 bothies featured, plus suggestions for what to do when you get there (including nearby hills you might climb) A history of bothies Personal recollections of visits to the 26 bothies Taigh Seumas a' Ghlinne (Glen Coe), Ben Alder Cottage, Ruigh Aiteachain, Ryvoan, Shenavall, Warnscale Head, Greg's Hut and Nant Syddion The majority of bothies are in the Scottish Highlands, but the guide also includes bothies in Dumfries and Galloway, Northumberland, the Pennines, the Lake District, Snowdonia, Mid-Wales and the Brecon Beacons




Ribbon of Wildness


Book Description

The Watershed of Scotland is a line that separates east from west; that divides those river basin areas which drain towards the North Sea on the one hand, and those which flow west into the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It's a line that meanders from Peel Fell on the English border all the way to the top at Duncansby Head, near John O'Groats - over 745 miles, through almost every kind of terrain. The Watershed follows the high ground, and offers wide vistas down almost every major river valley, towards towns and communities, into the heartlands of Scotland. Ribbon of Wildness provides a vivid introduction to this geographic and landscape feature, which has hitherto been largely unknown. The rock, bog, forest, moor and mountain are all testament to The Watershed's richly varied natural state. The evolving kaleidoscope of changing vistas, wide panoramas, ever present wildlife, and the vagaries of the weather, are delightfully described on this great journey of discovery. Along the route of the Watershed the general emptiness of the journey will strike the walker all the way, creating a unique, beautiful, spiritual dimension to the walk. BACK COVER: If you've bagged the Munros, done the Caledonian Challenge and walked the West Highland Way, this is your next conquest. The Watershed of Scotland is a line that separates east from west; that divides those river basin areas which drain towards the North Sea from those which flow west into the Atlantic Ocian. It's a line that meanders from Peel Fell on the English Border all the way to the top of Duncansby Head, near John O'Groats - over 745 miles, through almost every kind of terrain. The Watershed follows the high ground, and offers wide vistas down major river valleys, towards towns and communities, into the heartlands of Scotland. Wakj the Watershed in eight weeks. Tackle short sections over a weekend. 7 route maps. Over 30 colour photographs. Ribbon of Wildness provides a vivid introduction to this geographic and landscape feature, which has hitherto been largely unknown. The rock, bog, forest, moor and mountain are all testament to the Watershed's richly varied natural state. The evolving kaleidoscope of changijg vistas, wide panoramas, ever-present wildlife, and the vagaries of the weather, are delightfully described on this great journey of discovery.




Scotland's Mountains Before the Mountaineers


Book Description

Winner of the Outdoor Writers Guild Award for Excellence In this new book on pre-mountaineering ascents and near ascents in the Highlands, we have at last a work which does justice to those who lived and worked, travelled and fought in the Highlands before Walter Scott. PROF. BRUCE LENMAN Marvelous account of mountaineering's prehistory... as colourful as it is thought provoking - THE SCOTSMAN This work tells the story of explorations and ascents in the Scottish Highlands in the days before mountaineering became a popular sport - when Jacobites, bandits, poachers and illicit distillers traditionally used the mountains as sanctuary.




Prelude to Everest


Book Description

Acclaimed hillwalking writers Ian R Mitchell and George Rodway tell the fascinating story of Aberdeen-born Alexander Kellas, and his contribution to mountaineering from the 20th century to the present day. Now a largely neglected figure, Kellas is the pioneer of high altitude physiology, his climbing routes still in evidence today. Follow Kellas' journey, which takes him from the Scottish Cairngorms to the Himalaya, and discover how his struggles and explorations have impacted upon mountaineering today.




Bothy Culture


Book Description

'Bothy Culture' focuses on exploring the rich subculture that can be found at some of the remotest locations throughout the Scottish wilderness; however, it is much more than that for it is primarily one man's scathing social commentary on what he interprets as "a world gone mad." Often funny, controversial and brutally provocative, Mortimer takes no prisoners in explaining his need to regularly get off-grid and escape the urban/suburban sprawl.




On the Trail of Robert Service


Book Description

Service went from bank clerk to cowboy to become the first million-selling poet. The early forerunner of Kerouac's beat generation, Service wrote for those who wouldn't be caught dead reading poetry.




Mountain Footfalls


Book Description

This is the story of the adventures of Stobcross Gentlemen's Climbing Club. Against all the odds thrown up by the Scottish weather, faulty map reading and the symptoms of physical decline, they strove to maintain the fine traditions of Scottish mountaineering. They battled through their Munros and Corbetts whilst valiantly trying to celebrate Burns' Night, Guy Fawkes Night and Hogmanay in a ritual calendar of the Scottish Hills. Alongside these adventures are explorations of a different kind – ones into the history of the bothies and the mountains that make up the present day landscape, as well as the stories of those who have vacated the bens and glens within living memory. Based on Ian Mitchell's research and experiences, Mountain Footfalls adds a new dimension to hillwalkers' appreciation and enjoyment of the Scottish Highlands.