Into the Wild, Chile / the Guardian

On January 11th 2011, I set off on a bicycle ride from the bottom of South America.

On Chilean Independence Day 2018, the The Guardian shared some of the marvellous things I have found so far.

It was a testing job to pick the pit-stops for a one month trip that stretches from the Atacama Desert to the Pacific Ocean. The diversity in between mountains and ocean; culture and cuisine and wildlife and wilderness can send you into a spin when taking it all in on a first trip.

I didn’t want anyone to feel though that they would miss out. And the final suggested route gives you enough time to poke into the curious corners of the country whilst carving out your own largely self-guided experience.

All the transport choices deliberately avoid air travel. Partly it was an attempt to keep visitors’ carbon footprint low once in the country. Also, (and this part didn’t make my final draft) by travelling slowly through the country – sharing a bunk room on a steamer through the fiords, or gliding overnight into the desert on the 180degree reclining bed bus – you meet the people. This is where the real stories begin.

If you do get to travel to Chile, I hope you return with a rucksack full of adventures to last you a lifetime.

I’m still packing mine…

Read at the Guardian here.

The Silent Giants of Pentland Firth / Geographical

Photo: SIMEC Atlantis

This August 2018 I investigated the burgeoning tidal energy sector for Geographical magazine, and interviewed the man in charge of the Scottish project that is now largest tidal stream array project anywhere in the world.

You can read it here (opens in a separate tab)

Cheese Rolling / Men’s Running

An interview with the Big Cheese and all-time cheese chasing champion Chris Anderson for Men’s Running magazine

Featured photo by Luke Purdye (lukepurdye.com / @villageportrait)

You can read the original article below.

MR88_034-035 (cheese rolling)

Guide to shooting in remote and dangerous locations / Battle Face

I whipped this up for Battle Face Travel. There’s some accompanying shots from coconut hunting on Panamanian desert islands; to tandeming at 4000m in the Atacama Desert; to opal-river crossings in the Chilean Patagonia. Continue reading here ! (opens in new tab) 

Where the Wild Things Are / Escapism

In late August of 2017 I wrangled the opportunity to visit the densest wolf population in central Sweden. I travelled with my equally madcap-sister Olivia. During our time in Vastmanland we walked in the tracks of wolf packs, slept in woodland hobbit-holes, hiked enchanted forests, shared ‘fika’, braved swamps, tracked moose, wildcamped around fires and were, er…whipped in a floating sauna. 

The story is published now at Escapism Magazine on pages 95-100. You can read it below. 

e45_intrepid–wild-sweden

Many thanks to all the following for the hospitality that Olivia and I received on our journey through Vastmanland. We came into your homes as guests, and left by morning as friends: Ulvsbomuren Vildmark & LantlivHellen WistrandÅsa StanawayMarcus EldhWildSwedenJohn de JongEdens Garden Cottages, Bed & Breakfast and Tourist ActivitiesVisitSweden