Acknowledged as a classic of mountain writing, this book takes you into the bothies, howffs and dosses on the Scottish hills as Fishgut Mac, Desperate Dan and Stumpy the Big Yin stalk hill and public house, evading gamekeepers and Royalty.
The Watershed of Scotland is a line that separates east from west; that divides those river basin areas which drain towards the North Sea on the one hand, and those which flow west into the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It's a line that meanders from Peel Fell on the English border all the way to the top at Duncansby Head, near John O'Groats - over 745 miles, through almost every kind of terrain. The Watershed follows the high ground, and offers wide vistas down almost every major river valley, towards towns and communities, into the heartlands of Scotland. Ribbon of Wildness provides a vivid introduction to this geographic and landscape feature, which has hitherto been largely unknown. The rock, bog, forest, moor and mountain are all testament to The Watershed's richly varied natural state. The evolving kaleidoscope of changing vistas, wide panoramas, ever present wildlife, and the vagaries of the weather, are delightfully described on this great journey of discovery. Along the route of the Watershed the general emptiness of the journey will strike the walker all the way, creating a unique, beautiful, spiritual dimension to the walk. BACK COVER: If you've bagged the Munros, done the Caledonian Challenge and walked the West Highland Way, this is your next conquest. The Watershed of Scotland is a line that separates east from west; that divides those river basin areas which drain towards the North Sea from those which flow west into the Atlantic Ocian. It's a line that meanders from Peel Fell on the English Border all the way to the top of Duncansby Head, near John O'Groats - over 745 miles, through almost every kind of terrain. The Watershed follows the high ground, and offers wide vistas down major river valleys, towards towns and communities, into the heartlands of Scotland. Wakj the Watershed in eight weeks. Tackle short sections over a weekend. 7 route maps. Over 30 colour photographs. Ribbon of Wildness provides a vivid introduction to this geographic and landscape feature, which has hitherto been largely unknown. The rock, bog, forest, moor and mountain are all testament to the Watershed's richly varied natural state. The evolving kaleidoscope of changijg vistas, wide panoramas, ever-present wildlife, and the vagaries of the weather, are delightfully described on this great journey of discovery.
Winner of the Outdoor Writers Guild Award for Excellence In this new book on pre-mountaineering ascents and near ascents in the Highlands, we have at last a work which does justice to those who lived and worked, travelled and fought in the Highlands before Walter Scott. PROF. BRUCE LENMAN Marvelous account of mountaineering's prehistory... as colourful as it is thought provoking - THE SCOTSMAN This work tells the story of explorations and ascents in the Scottish Highlands in the days before mountaineering became a popular sport - when Jacobites, bandits, poachers and illicit distillers traditionally used the mountains as sanctuary.
Acclaimed hillwalking writers Ian R Mitchell and George Rodway tell the fascinating story of Aberdeen-born Alexander Kellas, and his contribution to mountaineering from the 20th century to the present day. Now a largely neglected figure, Kellas is the pioneer of high altitude physiology, his climbing routes still in evidence today. Follow Kellas' journey, which takes him from the Scottish Cairngorms to the Himalaya, and discover how his struggles and explorations have impacted upon mountaineering today.
'Bothy Culture' focuses on exploring the rich subculture that can be found at some of the remotest locations throughout the Scottish wilderness; however, it is much more than that for it is primarily one man's scathing social commentary on what he interprets as "a world gone mad." Often funny, controversial and brutally provocative, Mortimer takes no prisoners in explaining his need to regularly get off-grid and escape the urban/suburban sprawl.
Service went from bank clerk to cowboy to become the first million-selling poet. The early forerunner of Kerouac's beat generation, Service wrote for those who wouldn't be caught dead reading poetry.
This is the story of the adventures of Stobcross Gentlemen's Climbing Club. Against all the odds thrown up by the Scottish weather, faulty map reading and the symptoms of physical decline, they strove to maintain the fine traditions of Scottish mountaineering. They battled through their Munros and Corbetts whilst valiantly trying to celebrate Burns' Night, Guy Fawkes Night and Hogmanay in a ritual calendar of the Scottish Hills. Alongside these adventures are explorations of a different kind – ones into the history of the bothies and the mountains that make up the present day landscape, as well as the stories of those who have vacated the bens and glens within living memory. Based on Ian Mitchell's research and experiences, Mountain Footfalls adds a new dimension to hillwalkers' appreciation and enjoyment of the Scottish Highlands.
With this book is completed a trilogy of works begun in 2005 with This City Now: Glasgow and its Working Class Past, and continuing with Clydeside; Red Orange and Green in 2009. The three books have all had similar aims in trying to raise the profile of forgotten or neglected areas and aspects of Glasgow and its history, in a small way trying to boost the esteem in which such places are held by the people who live in there and by those who visit. Moving away slightly from the working class focus, this third instalment presents a broad view of Glasgow's industrial, social and intellectual history. From public art to socialist memorials, and from factories to cultural hubs, Ian Mitchell takes the reader on a guided tour of Glasgow, outlining walking routes which encompass the city's forgotten icons.
Award-winning author and mountaineer follows in the footsteps of the woman as well as the monarch who came to see the Highlands as her retreat and solace. This historical biography cum guide book has a wealth of new material about "Mrs Brown". From her short walks to her large scale expeditions and her days out on the mountains, her experiences add to any walker's enjoyment of the region. It includes maps, line drawings, and never before seen photographs from the Washington Wilson collection.
Ian R. Mitchell takes the reader on an urban promenade along the Clyde and finds its character is created from far more than the remnants of shipbuilding. "Clydeside" relates stories of conflicts, people and communities, while incorporating present-day walks in these oft-forgotten areas, to allow the reader to fully appreciate the culture and history. Exploring more than just Glasgow itself, the book meanders from Coatbridge to Cathcart, Garngad to Greencock. Proving there's far more to Paisley than a deceased weaving industry, more to Shettleston than the old mining days and more to Dumbarton than the Black Death, Mitchell depicts a largely unseen side to the diverse towns and villages along the Clyde. From Robert Owen's New Lanark utopian experiment to the fascinating architecture of 'Greek' Thomson, here is a working-class history rich in political and industrial venture.