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The Classification Index
Whether it’s a Munro in Scotland, a Wainwright in the Lakes, or a Hewitt in Wales, every UK summit belongs to a different list. This collection explains the logic, the legends, and the logistics behind the "rules of the game" we use to categorize our hills.
Why is it called that?
Ever wonder why one peak is a Pike and the next a Dodd? These names aren't random; they are a thousand-year-old language left by those who shaped these slopes. This collection explores the history of the fells to answer one simple question: Why is it called that?
Who Are They?
We all follow the routes and the digital maps, but we rarely think about the people who actually created them. This collection looks beyond the GPS coordinates to the explorers who built our UK mountain culture. It answers the one question we usually forget to ask: Who are they?
Staying on Track
From the invisible logic of prominence to the dark art of map reading, here is everything you need to know to keep your bearings when the mist rolls in. It’s the sort of knowledge that helps you stay confident about where you are, even when the hill stops giving you obvious clues.
Weather The Elements
The UK's mountain weather is as much a part of the route as the terrain itself. Understanding why a quiet morning develops into gale-force winds, or what atmospheric triggers create a cloud inversion and the elusive Brocken Spectre, is key to navigating the hills.
UK Mountain Rescue: When Help is a Volunteer
Most hikers never think about what happens after a 999 call until they’re the ones waiting on a ledge in the dark. These guides take you inside the teams—from the early pioneers who used barn doors as stretchers to the modern volunteers currently struggling with the surge of "TikTok tourism" on the fells.
Who looks after the Lake District Fells
Meet the teams and volunteers fixing the paths and protecting the fells we love to walk.
Sheep
You’re miles from the nearest pub, the mist is rolling in, and a sheep is giving you a look that says, "You’re lost, aren't you?" Don’t just stand there—know your audience. From the hardy locals of the Lakes to the coastal grazers, here is everything you didn’t know you needed to know about the UK's many breeds of sheep.
Aircraft Lost on the Hills
A twisted propeller, a weathered memorial or fragments scattered across a remote mountainside are often all that remain. These are the stories of the aircraft lost among Britain and Ireland’s hills—and the people who never made it home.
Beneath the Dales
The Yorkshire Dales are every bit as fascinating below ground as they are above it. Explore caves, potholes, underground rivers, limestone pavements and the remarkable hidden landscapes that lie beneath the hills.
Creepy-Crawlies: A Field Report
The hills are full of small things with too many legs, and most of them are far more interesting than they are irritating. From the midge swarms that materialise on still summer evenings to the dragonflies patrolling mountain tarns, understanding what they're doing—and why some of them want to bite you—makes every walk a bit less itchy and considerably more curious.
Dartmoor Tors & Legends
Towering granite tors are what most people associate with Dartmoor, but they're only part of the story. From ancient stone circles and Bronze Age settlements to letterboxing, prison history and centuries of folklore, discover what makes Dartmoor one of Britain's most fascinating landscapes.
Do You Actually Need That?
Guides about the kit and gear that walkers use out on the fells — not product reviews or buying guides, but genuinely informative articles that explore the why behind the gear. What do your feet actually need on a long day out? Do hiking poles make a real difference or are they just something people carry? How many layers is too many? This section looks at clothing, footwear, bags, poles, navigation tools, and all the other things walkers carry — examining what works, what doesn't, and what the
Dogs on the Hills
For many walkers, a day on the hill isn’t complete without four muddy paws leading the way. From livestock and leads to stiles, hot weather, ground-nesting birds and sore paws, this collection explores how to keep your dog safe, happy and welcome in the countryside.
Food for the Fells
What you eat on the hill matters, but it doesn’t need to involve energy gels, expensive powders or a degree in sports nutrition. From pocket snacks and packed lunches to hydration and the famous summit sandwich, this collection explores what actually keeps walkers going—and why everything tastes better when eaten behind a dry-stone wall.
From Force to Falls
Britain’s waterfalls range from thundering cascades in the Lake District to hidden forest falls in Scotland, each shaped by rainfall, rock type and gradient. Here’s where to find them, how they’ve carved the landscape, and what makes certain spots worth the walk.
Home for the Night
Hidden away in some of Scotland's most remote landscapes, bothies have been offering shelter to walkers for generations. Discover the history behind these simple mountain refuges, the stories of individual bothies and the etiquette that helps keep them open for everyone.
How the Hills Got Here
Long before we named, climbed and classified them, Britain and Ireland’s hills were shaped by fire, ice and water. From Lakeland volcanoes and Yorkshire limestone to Peak District gritstone and Dartmoor granite, this collection reveals how the landscapes beneath our boots came to look the way they do.
In the Company of Cows
Whether it's a shaggy Highland staring you down or a herd of Friesians blocking your stile, cattle are part of walking in Britain. Here's how to read their behaviour, understand the breeds that shaped our grazing landscapes, and cross a field without losing your nerve or your right of way.
Long Distance Walking
Whether you're planning your first National Trail or taking on a coast-to-coast adventure, Britain's long-distance routes offer some of the country's finest walking. Discover the history, highlights and challenges of the UK's best-loved trails, from weekend escapes to epic multi-day journeys.
Meet the Wild Locals
Britain's hills are home to far more than sheep. From red deer and mountain hares to adders, wild goats and elusive pine martens, discover the wildlife that shares the trails with us.
Not Just Loch Ness
Scotland is home to thousands of lochs, from vast inland waters and sea lochs to tiny mountain lochans hidden among the peaks. Discover the stories, history, wildlife and landscapes behind Scotland's most famous — and most overlooked — lochs.
Starring: The Landscape
Some landscapes were never going to settle for being a backdrop. Step into the real-world settings of famous films and television programmes, and discover how familiar hills, lochs, forests and coastlines were transformed for the screen.
The Exmoor Story
Exmoor is a place of rugged coastlines, deep wooded valleys, open moorland and remarkable wildlife. From Exmoor ponies and red deer to hidden villages, ancient landmarks and local legends, discover the places and stories that make this unique landscape so special.
The Landscape We Built
Britain's landscapes may look wild, but people have been shaping them for thousands of years. From dry stone walls and ancient trackways to reservoirs, quarries and forgotten industries, discover the stories behind the features that have become part of the countryside itself.
The Lost Villages
Not every village survived the passage of time. Some were flooded, some abandoned, and others simply faded away. Explore the stories of Britain's lost communities and the landscapes that still carry their memory.
The Peak District Pioneers
The Peak District is more than Britain's first National Park. It was the birthplace of the modern right to roam. Discover the people, protests and places that helped shape the future of walking and public access across Britain.
The Pennine Reservoirs
Most people associate the Pennines with the Pennine Way, but they're also home to some of Britain's most spectacular reservoirs. From flooded valleys and remarkable Victorian engineering to the wildlife and walking routes they've created, discover the waters that have helped shape the Pennine landscape.
The Welsh Legends
Wales is a land of dragons, giants, enchanted lakes and kingdoms said to lie beneath the sea. Explore the myths and legends woven into its mountains, valleys and coastlines, and discover the real places behind some of the country's most enduring stories.
Think the Lakes Are Special? Meet the Tarns
Most people come to the Lake District for the lakes. What they don't realise is that the tarns are the ones worth the climb.
Under Your Boots
The ground beneath your feet is alive with far more than grass. From delicate alpine flowers and colourful fungi to ancient mosses and hardy lichens, discover the plants that help make Britain's landscapes so unique.
When is a Lake District Lake Not A Lake
Every year, millions of people visit the Lake District to see its famous lakes. Most of them leave without seeing one. Windermere is a mere. Ullswater is a water. Coniston Water, to its credit, at least admits it. There is exactly one lake in the Lake District. This collection is about that and what everything else actually is.
Winging It
From soaring birds of prey to tiny upland specialists, Britain's skies are full of remarkable wildlife. Learn how to identify the birds you're most likely to spot while exploring the hills, mountains and open countryside.