Preview: The Virago Book Of Women Travellers
My preview of the first title in my “reading female travel writers” project: The Virago Book Of Women Travellers, edited by Mary Morris and Larry O’Connor.
Luinne Bheinn & Meall Bhuidhe
An account of a cracking day’s hillwalking in Knoydart that took in Luinne Bheinn and Meall Bhuidhe.
Inverie city centre
An overview of Inverie, the bustling wee settlement at the heart of the Knoydart Estate, and – not that it feels like it – mainland Britain’s remotest village.
Todmorden
A visit to the West Yorkshire town of Todmorden. I didn’t get abducted by aliens but I did encounter the pinkest microbrewery ever.
Pordo al Miraklo
Eta artikolo pri Armenio originale publikiĝis en oktobro 2016 en la revuo Esperanto en Skotlando. A wee article about Armenia originally published in October 2016 in the magazine Esperanto in Scotland.
Refugees, hipsters and jumpers
I returned to Armenia for a third visit in September 2016. A theme of this trip was the surprising diversity of the country.
Leaving Alexandria, by Richard Holloway
I had the privilege recently of interviewing Richard Holloway, the writer, broadcaster and former leader of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Here’s my review of his memoir Leaving Alexandria, which I read as preparation.
The Outrun, by Amy Liptrot
A review of Amy Liptrot’s powerful memoir The Outrun.
Me And You Again, by Fraser Balaam
A review of the poignant memoir meets witty travelogue, Me & You Again by Fraser Balaam.
Charlotte Street, by Danny Wallace
A review of the very enjoyable debut novel Charlotte Street, by Danny Wallace.
Mind The Gap, by Tim Richards
A review of the immensely fun dimension-shifting fantasy/travel novel Mind The Gap, by Australian travel writer Tim Richards.
The Clava viaduct in three photos
A post about the spectacular Clava viaduct on the train line just south from Inverness, and some photos I’ve taken from (and of) it over the years.
Why (almost) everything is the Labour Party’s fault, and (almost) certainly not Jeremy Corbyn’s
A post on why I feel that the Labour Party is missing the point – and harming the country – in falling out over Jeremy Corbyn. Its problems are, I believe, much, much bigger.
Tramping The Long White Cloud
This is the thirteenth in my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. This one is about walking the entire length of New Zealand.
The United States of Beer
This is the twelfth in my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. It’s the account of a long craft beer-based journey across the USA.
Anything But Guinness
This is the eleventh in my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. This one proposes a beer-based tour of Ireland, though avoiding the famous black stuff.
Between Vast Oceans
This is the tenth in my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. This title imagines a road trip along the Trans-Canada Highway (with the occasional turn off).
Cork’s microbreweries
Following a few visits to Cork, in Ireland, some reflections on the city’s fabulous craft beer scene.
Bypassed
This the ninth my occasional series of “Books on the Horizon” – travelogues I dream of researching and writing, though probably never will. It’s the first in a new batch of titles, and imagines journeys to places that have been literally or figuratively bypassed by otherwise positive developments.
The Wake, by Paul Kingsnorth
A review of the truly extraordinary historical novel The Wake, by Paul Kingsnorth, a book set in a little-known era and written in its very own language.
I hate the EU
In which I share my rambling and angry thoughts on the EU referendum.