Stroma
My account of a day on the beautiful abandoned island of Stroma, in the Pentland Firth between Caithness and Orkney.
Whaligoe Steps
A walk down the spectacular Whaligoe Steps, 300 steps down to an old fishing station on the Caithness coast.
Sinclair Mausoleum
An exploration of the centuries-old Sinclair Mausoleum, near Ulbster in Caithness.
A brief stop in Helmsdale
A quick stop in Helmsdale, Sutherland, en route to the island of Stroma. A place well worthy of a return visit.
Preview: A Ride in the Neon Sun, by Josie Dew
A preview of July’s Reading Female Travel Writers title, A Ride in the Neon Sun by Josie Dew.
Review: Fabled Shore, by Rose Macaulay
My review of June’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers series – Rose Macaulay’s beautiful if plodding Fabled Shore.
Preview: Fabled Shore, by Rose Macaulay
My preview of June’s Reading Female Travel Writers title, Fabled Shore by Rose Macaulay.
Review: Among Muslims, by Kathleen Jamie
My review of May’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers series – Kathleen Jamie’s Among Muslims.
Pressing concerns
A reflection, in the light of press behaviour following the Manchester bombing, on “death knocking”, standards in our press and what we can do to make our newspapers better.
Preview: Among Muslims, by Kathleen Jamie
Next in my 2017 “Reading Female Travel Writers” quest is my preview of May’s title, Kathleen Jamie’s Among Muslims: Meetings at the Frontiers of Pakistan.
My views on Inverness
In which I get interviewed by the Inverness Courier for my views on what Inverness city centre needs.
Review: Skating to Antarctica, by Jenny Diski
My review of April’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Jenny Diski’s powerful and beautiful Skating to Antarctica.
Preview: Skating to Antarctica, by Jenny Diski
A preview of April’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Jenny Diski’s Skating to Antarctica.
Review: Travels With My Radio, by Fi Glover
My review of March’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Fi Glover’s fun and informative Travels With My Radio.
Brexit, the EU and Scottish independence
A look at some of the myths around Scotland and the EU, in the light of the forthcoming second independence referendum.
Preview: Travels With My Radio, by Fi Glover
A preview of March’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Fi Glover’s Travels With My Radio.
Review: Full Tilt, by Dervla Murphy
My second book review in my 2017 quest to read female-authored travel writing – Dervla Murphy’s Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle.
Here we go again
With Scottish independence rearing its head once more, it’s time to wearily address the question that won’t go away – is the movement for independence racist?
A proportional response
In which I argue that the Single Transferable Vote for elections to the House of Commons is both the one thing that could transform the UK and, through its political impossibility, the one thing that renders the UK unreformable.
What can I do?
A reflection on what I, as an ordinary individual, can do when so many politically horrible things are happening. Warning: this is a long read.