The Great Outdoors - UK (2021-08)

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Postal address The Editor, The Great Outdoors, KelseyPublishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs
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LETTERS

The hills in summer are truly something

special, and whether you love orloathe

the influx of new and/or casual walkers,

there’s no denying the hillwalking

community blooms in the warmer

weather. This month, spectacular

sunsets and blazing summer climbs

have flooded our social media inboxes.

Here’s a few of our favourites:

Social media

I wonder if I may saya few words in
tribute to the founding editor ofe Great
Outdoors, Roger Smith, as he makes way
for othervoices 30 years on from being
appointed as a columnist bythen editor
Cameron McNeish.
I was lucky enough to train on
e Great Outdoorsas a magazine editor
and writer,joining in February 1979
and leaving Glasgowfor the brightlights
of Londonin December 1982. Working
for Roger when he was editor was a
brilliant experience – never a cross
word, ideas always buzzing around.
I can’trememberhim ever being in a
bad mood or saying an unkind word.
Truly one of life’sgentlemen.
e fact thate Great Outdoorsis
still going strong in 2021 has a lotto do
with the groundwork putin during those
early days, as we built circulationand
advertisingrevenues froma standing start.
Back in the dayI was lucky enough
to interview Stephen Morton, one of the
leaders of the 1932 Kinder Scout Mass
Trespass, while
40 years onI was
thrilled to see e
Great Outdoors
continue to mark
another milestone
in a way that
celebrated both
multi-culturalism
and the braveryof
those who stood
their ground and
foughtfor the
right toroam

[see the September 2020 edition].

Roger’srecentthoughts on the Lakes

and the Cairngormsremind me that in

the 2020s the issues are more pernicious

than ever as we negotiate our individual

and collective love affair with the British

landscape. Get it wrong and, in the words

of JoniMitchell, we won’tknow what we’ve

got till it’sgone. I salute Roger as he gives

up his watch while eagerly awaiting the

voices ofthe next generation.

Alan Reid (The Great OutdoorsAssistant Editor

1979-1982)

Ed: Alan’s letter was sent some months ago

but a postal hiccup meant we only received it

recently – sorry Alan! Roger is still an active

part of the TGOteam but we’re grateful to

Alan for these thoughts.

In tribute to Roger Smith

This month we had some heated discussions
on our Twitter about the UK’s best ridge.
We asked: IsCrib Goch the UK’s best ridge?
If not, what do you rate higher?
Robin Wallace, @WalkWithWallace (Twitter):It’s
good fun, but Crib Goch is way down the pecking
order: Skye Cuillin, An Teallach, Liathach, Aonach
Eagach, Forcan Ridge then maybe Crib Goch.
Richard Middleton, @Richard56830486

(Twitter): Nowhere near the best. Youhave any

ridge on Skye, the Aonagh Eagach in Glen Coe,

the Forcan Ridge in Glen Shiel, which are all ahead

of Crib Goch in my opinion.

Ty Solomon, @ty_solomon1(Twitter):*Skye

Cuillin looks to camera*

Ian Beswick @Beswickian(Twitter): There is only

one ‘great’ ridge and that’s in the Peak District.

I’m also a lot less likely to fall off that one! ;-)

Daniel Toal (@danieljtoal, Twitter):“Taking in

a beautiful sunrise and some big views in the

Arrochar Alps, The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) in

the distance.”

Andrew Beavers (@beavo77, Twitter):“Red

Pike summit Lake District a few days ago.”

Louise Baillie (@ActiveLouise, Twitter):

“I didn’t scramble to the official peak of

The Cobbler, but I thought the views I got

were quite nice anyway!”

Your adventures this month

26 The Great OutdoorsAugust 2021