During a recent canoe trip to Glen Affric our clients commented on several of meals we had, but one stood out as a fast, calorie high lunch with a punch of flavour. What is in all honesty a very simple recipe, transforms during a hard hike or canoe trip into an aromatic bread that restores your energy and warms you from within.

High above the vistas to the sea I feel again the familiar mountain winds, but unlike those from home these have blown over the ocean from the continent. Having spent the last week in unrelenting sun the cold night zephyrs were unexpected.

What I look for in a warm weather top then is something light and breathable to keep me cool, fast drying so a summer downpour is quickly forgotten, tough and durable to handle the adventurous nature of this lifestyle, and something that’ll help protect against those biting insects.

For several years now I have been using Summiteer backpacks for outdoor use. The packs I use are customised to my own specifications but are closest to: the Crag Rocket and the Rhino.

During some time at Howl HQ I finally managed to get around to making my own hammock for bushcraft and wilderness trips.

I’ve used willow bark for many years in the classic way, by separating out the inner bark from the outer and then slicing it into thin strips in several ways, processing it to produce fine twisted cordage. But here I like to share the method I learnt from Adam about how to get the bark off into strips easily, and then to make a simple and functional cordage which works especially well in a braided strap.

Ramsons and Hedge Garlic:

Here a quick and easy way to use those amazing but short lived wild garlic flavours to make long life salt for the store cupboard.

As Spring explodes around us, it’s a wonderful time of year to interact with your local environment and get to know your neighbourhood plants.

In this micro blog I wanted to share with you a quick nature fix I took, by collecting some wild strawberry leaves on my walk with the family and making a simple cup of wild green tea.

The third of a monthly series we are creating here at Howl: A Bow drill set from scratch in the wild. Crafting a set, and taking ember to flame with tinder available on the day.