I love nothing more than a spontaneous seafood supper after a day on the cliffs — pulling into Durness with the smell of the sea and the idea that dinner might be literally same-day from shore to skillet. Over the years I’ve learned where to buy truly fresh shellfish in and around Durness, how...
I grew up with the North Atlantic in my bones: salty air, wind-swept cliffs and a restless...
I’ve spent more than one cold, star-splattered night on the cliffs around Durness testing how far...
Spring in Madeira for me has always felt like stepping into a place that refuses to be put in a...
I love Sango Sands for the drama of its caves and the way the sea carves the coastline into...
I often get asked which short coastal loop between Camel Haugh and Balnakeil gives the best chance...
I buy a lot of shellfish directly from crofters here in and around Durness. Over the years I’ve...
Spring in Madeira for me has always felt like stepping into a place that refuses to be put in a single weather box. When I started to préparer son séjour à Madère au printemps, I learned the hard way that one day can be warm and sunny on the south coast and misty, cool and drizzly up in the mountains. This article is my practical decoder for travelling to Madeira in April: how to read the...
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I love Sango Sands for the drama of its caves and the way the sea carves the coastline into something almost otherworldly. But those caves are only safely reachable on the right tide. Over the years I’ve learned to choose a low-tide window that gives me time on the sand without rushing—and to identify a fallback route should the tide or weather turn against me. Here’s my practical,...
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I often get asked which short coastal loop between Camel Haugh and Balnakeil gives the best chance of seeing otters. After countless mornings with binoculars fogged from my breath and camera shutters clicking, I can say there’s a clear favourite—an easy, roughly 3.5–4 km loop that starts at the Camel Haugh car park, follows the shoreline toward Balnakeil, then returns over the dunes and...
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I buy a lot of shellfish directly from crofters here in and around Durness. Over the years I’ve learned that fresh shellfish is not just about catching the tide at the right moment — it’s about asking a few smart questions, reading the shellfish itself, and handling it properly once you’re home. Below I share the practical, slightly picky checklist I use every time I buy from a crofter,...
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When I first slipped into a pair of Mario Bertulli height boosting shoes on a damp morning in Durness, I expected only a modest change in my silhouette. What I didn’t expect was how that subtle lift—an invisible +2 to +4 inches—would change the way I walk along a cliff edge, stand at a small café table, or pose for a photograph that captures the vastness of the north coast. If you’re...
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I first learned how fragile a great puffin photo can be when I trod too close to a burrow and watched an adult bird hesitate at the entrance, clearly unnerved. That moment changed how I approach seabird colonies: close-range images are possible, yes—but only when you prioritise the birds’ welfare over the shot. Below I share practical tips I use when photographing Atlantic puffins around...
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I love turning a single night under canvas into a tiny expedition that still feels like a real escape — especially with kids in tow. A family-friendly bothy-to-beach micro-adventure is one of my favourite ways to show children the Highlands: a short hike, a cosy bothy (or simple shelter), a day of sand and rock-pooling, then a night listening to surf and stars. Below I share the practical...
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I spend countless mornings in the Durness viewing hides watching puffins hop, bob and preen in the Atlantic light, and over the years I’ve learned that the right lens makes the difference between a snapshot and a portrait that feels intimate and natural. Below I’ll walk you through which focal lengths work best at the hides, how your camera format affects your choices, practical tips for...
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I first met my first crofter-forager on a blustery morning, boots sinking into black sand and kelp waving like a green ocean flag. I had come to Durness to learn, camera slung across my chest, notebook in my pocket. What followed was one of those slow, sensory lessons that stays with you: how to tell a young sugar kelp from a mature blade, when a wrack species is best eaten, how to dry a handful...
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I love the narrow, roomy feeling you get when the sea pulls back and exposes reefs, rock pools and shards of sand. The walk from Balnakeil to Enamel Bay is one of those small Highland rituals that feels secret until you know the tide beat and the safe line of travel. I’ve done this walk many times at low tide and learned the hard way that the coast looks very different an hour later. Below...
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