PORTFOLIO
Selected examples of my writing, journalism and editorial
National Parks: The UK’s most inspiring landscapes
“This book… is inspirational and will have any keen walker or nature lover wanting to visit all 15 parks, all of which should fill us with pride and wonder.” - Martin Chilton, Independent
“A splendid book - lively, affectionately observed, capturing the extraordinary range and variety of the Parks and all that is inspiring about our landscape” - Rory Stewart, former UK environment minister with responsibility for national parks
“A beautiful book” - Tristan Gooley, author of The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs
My first book is a mammoth journey through the natural history, cultural heritage, and artistic legacy of the UK's national parks, pairing my words with more than 200 stunning images from a range of wildlife and landscape photographers. It was selected as one of the Independent’s books of the month for July 2024.
From the sub-arctic mountains of the Cairngorms to the vineyards of the South Downs; from the bristling peaks of Eryri to the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Broads; from the teeming bird colonies of the Pembrokeshire Coast to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lake District: each of these 15 protected landscapes represents a unique intertwining of human and natural history. With a chapter on each park, this book celebrates the enormous natural wonder and depth of cultural heritage to be found in these places.
Published by Ithaka Press (Bonnier Books UK), in conjunction with Bokförlaget Max Ström and National Parks UK, this book commemorates the 75th anniversary of the law which enabled the creation of Britain’s first national parks. It is widely available to buy in UK retailers, both in-store and online, including these:
In connection with this book’s publication, I was interviewed for BBC Travel and given the tricky task of selecting the UK’s five most beautiful national parks.
The Guardian: country diary
Featuring tightly-written ‘vignettes’ on natural history and the countryside, often from one recurring place, the Guardian’s country diary is the longest-running column in the British media. I wrote more than 100 instalments over eight years. Here are a few of my favourites.
A mass hatching rises from the river
The two-week window has opened for the caddisfly to emerge, and fall upwards into spring.
A tidy forest floor betrays a lack of imagination (included in ‘North Country’ anthology, 2022)
We tend to be averse to untidiness in nature’s spaces: but it’s the best way to encourage biodiversity.
An ocean of cloud obscures the valleys and villages
In the Yorkshire Dales, the legacy of vast ice leviathans is still vividly evident.
Dawn light gilds the fells as a lone ring ouzel sings
Disturbance, predation, grazing patterns and climate change all pose a threat to the ‘mountain blackbird’.
The atmosphere in the hawthorn hedge is electric
The lavish blossom smells subversively of sex and death, but we only see a small part of what is really there.
Travel and adventure writing
Sky-high trekking: taking on California’s High Sierra Trail [The Guardian]
This demanding adventure amid granite domes and giant trees ends in a climb up Mount Whitney – and it’s worth every lung-busting step.
Rambling in Palestine [winner of OWPG Award for Excellence - The Great Outdoors, republished by Siraj Centre]
A group of Palestinians are using walking as a way of connecting with their countryside in the midst of occupation. Carey Davies joined them for a wonderful walk with a troubling end.
An alternative guide to Sheffield: a crucible for left-field culture and regeneration [The Guardian]
With a £470m redevelopment of the city centre, a feted documentary festival and a vibrant foodie scene, the former steel-making hub is showing its true mettle.
10 of the UK’s best alternative mountain and hill walks [The Guardian]
Snowdon, Helvellyn and Ben Nevis are great climbs, so long as you don’t mind the queues on the trails. These walks are just as challenging and scenic – but without the crowds.
How to see five national parks by public transport [The Guardian]
For National Parks Fortnight, we pick ways walkers can dodge the traffic and explore these areas in a more eco-friendly way.
The joy of wild swimming and wild camping in the Lake District [The Guardian]
The writer’s take on the Eskdale Horseshoe sees a climb of England’s highest peak, plus plenty of hidden bathing spots, waterfalls and other aquatic gems.
Outdoor and environmental journalism
Why we need more than ‘Be Nice’ from the updated Countryside Code [The Guardian]
The outdoors is more popular than ever, but there must be a well-funded, ambitious campaign to foster a love of the environment.
Five of the best online mapping apps [The Guardian]
Plan runs, rides and walks with this selection of navigation aids – all of which allow you create, follow and share hiking and cycling routes.
Concerns raised over crowdsourced maps used by popular mapping apps [The Great Outdoors]
‘Dangerous’ routes which led to two rescues in the Lake District are visible on many popular navigation apps, leading outdoor experts to call for apps to make more careful use of digital mapping data.
Campaigners ‘optimistic’ after Dartmoor wild camping appeal [The Great Outdoors]
Supporters of the appeal to have wild camping rights on Dartmoor ‘restored’ have expressed cautious optimism after a hearing at the high court in London today.
Haroon Mota interview: “Saying we’re not ‘proper walkers’ - that’s awful” [The Great Outdoors]
The founder of Muslim Hikers, Haroon Mota, talks to us about being on the receiving end of racism and the wider struggle to make the outdoors more inclusive.
Will we learn the lessons of the pandemic? [The Great Outdoors]
Enjoyment of the outdoors has helped millions of us get through the pandemic. The Great Outdoors editor Carey Davies wonders how it will shape the future as he introduces our new March edition.
Editing
Between early 2019 and late 2023 I was the editor of the UK’s longest-running hiking magazine, The Great Outdoors.
I edited 60 issues of The Great Outdoors. As well as compiling and editing the print magazine, I was also significantly involved in the title’s commercial strategy, online output and overall brand development. During my editorship, the brand bucked the industry trend by achieving growth. Its subscription base, digital readership and market share on newsstands all increased. The magazine rebranded in 2022, and the website saw traffic increases of up to 250% year on year with an SEO-led content strategy.
I played an instrumental role in restoring the profitability of the brand by developing and delivering an advertising strategy centred around creative-led sponsored content, run across print and online.
With a 45+ year history, the title has always had a dedicated following, a distinctive ethos, and an influential reach, both in Britain and beyond. My editorial approach was to retain what I saw as the brand’s core values of integrity, authenticity and community, while also refreshing the title’s image with strong design and photography, bringing in new voices, and broadening the contributor base. The experience of being editor taught me that, while it takes a lot of work, a ‘legacy brand’ with strong values and the right strategy can still be successful in today’s media landscape.
The role was a freelance ‘outsourced editor’ arrangement on a rolling annual contract, with my own editorial overheads, contributor payments and my own ‘salary’ encompassed within one annual fee. Careful financial management was an essential and often challenging part of the role, particularly during difficult phases like the covid lockdowns, where budget cuts were introduced.
Images on this page
Summits in the Scottish Highlands float like sky islands above a dawn cloud inversion, as seen from a wild camp on Aonach Beag near Ben Nevis. My own photo.
Flowers of the rare lady’s slipper orchid in the Yorkshire Dales. My own photo.
The towering granite formation of Angel Wings in Sequoia National Park, California. My own photo.
Discussing rewilding on BBC Sunday Morning Live, 2017.