6 guides
More Than a Pile of Rocks: Understanding Cairns
Four thousand years ago, stacking a cairn wasn't about the scenery—it was about the summit.
The Language of Water
A guide to the ancient Norse and regional water terms that define the British uplands and help you navigate the hills like a local.
The Great British Hill Naming Crisis
Ever wondered why there are seven different Raven Crags in the Lake District? It turns out our ancestors weren't being uncreative—they just never expected you to show up with a map.
The Thousand-Year Misunderstanding
How a millennium of Vikings, Celts, and confused Victorians turned our most iconic peaks into a collection of half-forgotten secrets and accidental jokes.
Is it a hill, is it a fell, is it a mountain?
The UK's bewildering array of names for high places—hills, fells, mountains, tors—isn't just regional stubbornness but a fascinating mix of Viking settlers, Old English pragmatism, and an arbitrary 2,000-foot rule that turns a hill into a mountain with just twelve inches of extra height.
What Your Map is Trying to Tell You: Understanding UK Hill Names
One thousand years ago, naming a hill wasn't about the scenery—it was about survival.