Search results for ""author cameron mcneish""

Of all Scotland's islands none casts its spell quite as dramatically as the Isle of Skye. Celebrated in song and story, Eilean a'Cheo is a place of astonishing natural beauty and attracts climbers and walkers from all over the world. The 70-mile long Skye Trail connects two of the island's most extraordinary landscapes; the world-famous Cuillin, the most rugged mountain range in Britain, and the Trotternish ridge, a rolling escarpment of basalt hills that look over the sea to the tumbled landscapes of mainland Scotland. This long walk through the island, the 'Skitis' of the Celtic world, follows ancient byways, cattle drovers' routes, mountain footpaths and an old railway line, through a land where the first inhabitants sensed the presence of their gods in every nook and cranny, on every hill and crag, in every corrie and loch. Landscape and weather and an affinity with wild nature made up the very fabric of their lives. The route visits castles, takes in geological gems like the Quiraing and the Storr, follows rivers and loch-side paths and recalls those who were brutally removed from their homes during the Highland Clearances. It visits the site of the 'last battle on British soil' and climbs Bla Bheinn, surely the finest mountain on this island of fine mountains. The route then takes its finale along the old Marble Line to Broadford, and the end of a magnificent island journey. The Skye Trail is destined to be one of the most popular long distance walks in Britain. Adopted by the Highland Council as an official long distance walk, it was brought to life by BBC Scotland's often repeated "Skye Trail" presented by Cameron McNeish. This illustrated book is based on the broadcast and Cameron's experiences of the trail, the island, its people and its history and environment.

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"The Sutherland Trail - A Journey Through North-west Scotland", is the long awaited latest book by the UK's best known hillwalker and backpacker, Cameron McNeish. In partnership with award-winning photographer and film maker Richard Else, Cameron has developed a superb week-long walking route through one of the finest landscapes in Europe. Sutherland, in the far north-west of Scotland, has long been described as 'the empty lands'. Much of the land is magnificently untamed and unpopulated, and the grandeur of the landscape attracts hillwalkers and backpackers from throughout the world. The Sutherland Trail between Lochinver and Tongue follows ancient pathways, stalker's routes and hill tracks through one of the most geologically fascinating regions of the UK. It passes caves, chambered cairns and the remains of ancient shielings, follows river banks and loch-sides, climbs iconic hills and visits the highest waterfall in Britain. Along the way, the voices of the local people are heard loud and clear. The passions of the crofters, hoteliers, fishermen, climbers and hillwalkers give a new momentum to life in the region, looking forward to a positive future for these spectacular northern lands. Sutherland is revealed as a land rich in glorious scenery, wildlife and natural resources, a region that was once vastly more populated than it is today, but is slowly regaining some of its lost population - a region that belies its common perception as 'the empty lands'. This is the first guidebook to Scotland's latest long distance walking route. It is illustrated by top quality, original images. It is based on a highly successful BBC television programme. It features a foreword by Robert Macfarlane.

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In Come By The Hills Cameron McNeish shares his journeys through Scotland on foot, by bike and in his wee red campervan. He is still an adventurer, but these days things are a bit different. Reaching summits is still enjoyed, but no longer a priority. Instead, he takes us on a wide exploration of Scotland’s hills, forests, and coastlines, and the ancient tales that bring a turbulent history to life. He takes us into the loveliest of glens, Etive and Lyon, to our most distant islands in the Hebrides and Shetland, and reminisces on wonderful characters such as Dick Balharry, Finlay MacRae, and the early working-class climbers when they first took to the hills.

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From his home in the Cairngorms of Scotland, in There’s Always the Hills Cameron McNeish reflects on a life dedicated to the outdoors. A prolific author, McNeish has led treks in the Himalayas and Syria, edited The Great Outdoors magazine, establishing it as Britain’s premier walking publication, created new long-distance walks and made television series, contributed a monthly column to Scots Magazine, campaigned for Scottish independence and raised a family with his wife, Gina. In this long-awaited autobiography, he candidly recalls the ups and downs of a full life, much of it in the public eye, much of it until now unseen.

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For over four decades, Cameron McNeish has chronicled Scotland’s majestic landscapes and the outdoor communities who inhabit them. While much has changed, especially in terms of conservation and access, the hills themselves remain little altered, as do the reasons people visit them. In An Eye to the Hills, Cameron collates a collection of essays and diary entries, which shine the light of experience on memory and renew his vision, sharing his insights with the many people who love Scotland’s outdoors.

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