I spent a week testing two lightweight shells on Durness’s cliff tops—walking the Cape Wrath way at dawn, circling Smoo Cave in a stiff sea breeze, and sitting out afternoon clouds on Balnakeil beach—so I could answer a simple question: which lightweight shell jacket actually keeps you warm...
I set out from Sango Sands on a bright, blustery morning with a thermos of tea, my camera, and a...
I arrived in Madeira with the same curiosity I bring to every remote coastline: eager to hike, to...
Why I chose alternatives: options de transport à Madère sans louer de voitureWhen I first planned...
Walking through Amsterdam Noord is one of those urban pleasures that surprises me every time:...
I kayak from Balnakeil whenever I need a North Coast fix: the light is raw, the beaches are wide,...
I love nothing more than a spontaneous seafood supper after a day on the cliffs — pulling into...
Why I chose alternatives: options de transport à Madère sans louer de voitureWhen I first planned my trip to Madeira, I nearly booked a rental car out of habit. Then I remembered the steep, narrow roads and the joy I find in slow travel. I spent a week moving around the island without driving, and that decision shaped everything I saw and felt. If you’re asking how to get around, start with...
Read more...
Walking through Amsterdam Noord is one of those urban pleasures that surprises me every time: industrial heritage rubbed smooth by creative reuse, wide waterways that frame the sky, and neighbourhoods that change character block by block. If you want to explorer les quartiers nord dAmsterdam à pied, this guide is written from hours on foot, ferry crossings and late-afternoon coffee stops. I’ll...
Read more...
I kayak from Balnakeil whenever I need a North Coast fix: the light is raw, the beaches are wide, and the shallow channels that thread the sands can make for quietly joyful paddles — if you treat them with respect. Below I share the launch points I use, the hidden hazards I watch for, and the tide checks and planning steps that keep my outings safe. This is practical, locally informed advice...
Read more...
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 to check it’s safe, and the quickest ways to transport, store and cook it the same evening so it...
Read more...
I grew up with the North Atlantic in my bones: salty air, wind-swept cliffs and a restless curiosity for hidden coves. Over the years I’ve hired local skippers from Durness more times than I can count, both for gentle wildlife-watching trips and for navigation to remote beaches you can’t reach on foot. If you’re thinking of hiring a boat from Durness, here’s everything I wish I’d known...
Read more...
I’ve spent more than one cold, star-splattered night on the cliffs around Durness testing how far a phone camera can go when the Milky Way arcs over the North Atlantic. The good news: you don’t need a full-frame mirrorless camera to capture something memorable. With the right preparation, a steady setup and a few phone-specific tricks you can get stunning Milky Way images from Hillside...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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,...
Read more...
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...
Read more...
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,...
Read more...