Field Notes

Small observations on walking, weather and old maps.

Reading contour lines

A map tells you where the hill is; the contour lines tell you how much it will hurt. Lines bunched together mean a steep climb, wide gaps mean an easy stroll. After a while you start to see the land rising off the paper.

The best hour for a walk

Just after rain, when the paths are empty and the air smells of wet stone. Bring a second pair of socks.

On keeping a notebook

Write down the small things: the name of a village, the colour of a door, the way the wind changed at noon. Months later these notes are worth more than any photograph.