Back in 2014, I finally did something I’d been wanting to do for a while. Given the lack of English-language information, putting it all together and figuring out how to do it was a bit tricky and so let me save you all that. This is how to climb Esja. Esja is Reykjavik’s mountain. If … More How to climb Esja
I had so much fun planning my Sparkle & Ice 2021 At Home that I’ve decided everyone should do their own at-home camp weekend at least once during these dire times when we can’t go and camp for real. Take a weekend out of your real life, when you don’t have to worry about responsibilities … More How to plan your own camp at home
I’ve done Sparkle & Ice every year since it began. There was muddy 2017, volunteering 2018, icy 2019 and stormy 2020 and now we’ve got at-home 2021. Just because Sparkle & Ice 2021 isn’t happening doesn’t mean I’m going to miss it. Last year, Girlguiding did an online version of Wellies & Wristbands because that’s … More Sparkle & Ice 2021: the at-home version
After Monday’s post about enjoying caving, let’s have a lava caving story. In the UK, if you’re going to crawl around in a hole in the ground, it’ll be a limestone one formed by water action. It’ll have a certain smell, similar to petrichor, you might find fossils and it’ll probably have a mixture of … More Lava caving: crawling under an eruption
Come and meet the love of my life. I don’t talk about caving much here (apart from our 2004 trip to Ireland the other week) because I don’t do much of it these days but it absolutely captured my heart back in my student days and I wish I could do more of it. Well, … More You might enjoy caving if…
I definitely didn’t plan to do three A Single Maps in a row but then again, why not? We’re in lockdown, we can’t go anywhere and it’s a beautiful time to appreciate what’s on your doorstep and get some exercise in the fresh air. Today I’m on the trailway! There are plenty of these trailways … More A Single Map episode 5: walking the trailway
Today I’m going to investigate a wood! I know, this is the second A Single Map post in a row, although I didn’t mention it beyond the title last time. Actually, I went to Tarrant Rushton Airfield twice (well, three times – we went again on Friday!). I didn’t mind. We went in November which … More A Single Map episode 4: “Just a wood”:
Welcome to the former RAF Tarrant Rushton. I’m not a person who writes a lot about 20th century military history. If I’m writing about history, it’s far more likely to be the 9-11th centuries. I love a bit of Saxon or Viking or Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture. I’ve complained, recently, about the 17th century being too … More A Single Map episode 3: Exploring Tarrant Rushton Airfield
Back in June 2004, my caving club went on an “expedition” to Ireland. That’s caving-speak for a holiday. I don’t write a lot of caving stuff but I used to spend half my life underground. We chose Ireland mostly because that’s where they’d been the previous year and because there were plenty of caves. In … More A student caving expedition in Ireland
Traditionally, the first post of a new year would be my Christmas Adventure With Tom but that’s waiting for Thursday this year because today I want to make a post for the Resolutioners: how to get into walking A New Year lockdown hasn’t been announced as at time of writing but we can all feel … More Outdoors 101: How to get into walking
I Am A Polar Bear 