Adventure-loving Guardian readers hit back at couch-potato Guardian writers

November 29, 2017 Opinion and advice benedict allen, exploration, media sensationalism, papua new guinea, paul theroux, the guardian 4 Comments

When the explorer Benedict Allen went missing in the jungles of Papua New Guinea earlier this month, it was no surprise when the Guardian published an article by a smug intellectual taking a swipe at his adventurous lifestyle. More surprising was how their readers reacted.

Sea to summit on Chimborazo, part 1: the bike ride

November 22, 2017 Trip reports andeanface, andes, chimborazo, chimborazo sea to summit challenge, cycling, ecuador, edita, sea to summit 3 Comments

Cycling is easier when you are carrying no weight and there are no hills. That was my thought at 10.30 on the first morning of our Chimborazo sea to summit challenge. It was a challenge that terrified me, but could I achieve or would I flop? Here is my trip report for the first part of our challenge.

North Coast 500 bike ride: the videos

November 15, 2017 Trip reports britain, cycling, edita, mountain films, north coast 500, scotland 1 Comment

Once again, it’s time to give a bit more space in this blog to those of you who prefer to watch telly than read books. Here are the four short videos I made to capture the magic, the joy, the tears, the pain – and the farce – of our North Coast 500 bicycle journey.

Sore bums and saddlebags: cycling the North Coast 500

November 8, 2017 Trip reports britain, corbetts, cycling, edita, munros, north coast 500, scotland 15 Comments

It was four years since my last visit to Scotland, and I ended up returning in a most unexpected way. A few months ago I’d never even heard of the North Coast 500; now I’ve only gone and cycled it. The adventure took me beyond exhaustion, but somehow I got round. Here’s how.

The best guidebook to Nepal is now available as a paperback

November 1, 2017 Reviews and tributes guidebooks, himalayan travel guides, kathmandu, nepal, the longest way home, tourism, travel writing, trekking 3 Comments

Back in May I reviewed a new guidebook to Nepal, written by the man behind The Longest Way Home website. Then it was only available as a PDF, but it’s now been published as a paperback by Nepali publisher, Himalayan Travel Guides.