Taylor St. John

Your go-to guide to prepare for a Scottish walking adventure. Continue reading at Horizonguides.com

The best regions to explore on foot in Scotland. Continue reading at Horizonguides.com.

It’s a gray January morning in Scotland’s Orkney Islands. I’m crouched in my bathing suit in the parking lot of a 17th century manor house, yanking a thick wetsuit over goose-bumped legs, in the company of seven other novice surfers. Hoods on and boards in neoprened hands, our group tiptoes across a grassy path leading … More Personal Journey: Wind and Rain and the “Best Place to Live”

The first image in my head after our eight-seater aircraft took off from Kirkwall Airport at 7:35am on a Friday morning in April was of the old War Room maps of Orkney hanging in my hallway in Stromness. Having so far ventured only to Hoy and South Ronaldsay, how often had I looked at the outlines on the map … More A Day in North Ronaldsay

As the days lengthen and you begin craving the delicate cocktails of warmer weather, perch yourself on a patio—Tom Collins in hand—and consider the following tale: It’s 1874, and a notorious slanderer has been running unbridled through the public houses of New York City. A friend informs you that you’ve been the latest victim of … More Drink Up: Tom Collins

At the lonely port of Scrabster and the very edge of mainland Britain, a large ferry waited. On her side a 7-deck-tall painted Viking pointed across the Pentland Firth towards where, according to the map, the southernmost of the Orkney Islands stood. But really all that lay in front of me was a wall of … More To Orkney…

Staying connected while on the road is an essential for me, whether it’s to finish a writing assignment for work, plan out my next trip, or just to stay in touch with family and friends back home. But a reliable internet connection is not always easy to find. A few years ago I landed in … More Field Test: Vision Global Portable WiFi Hotspot

Scotland’s Northern Highlands are perhaps the wildest, most dramatic cross-section of the entire country, and the now-famous North Coast 500 road trip provides direct access to this remote landscape. If you happen to be experiencing the route on a drive and hike tour, you’ll find your itinerary packed full as you attempt to artfully balance the miles of … More Favourite Finds on the North Coast 500

I stomped through the dusty Cambodian jungle in a line of 10 or so people, listening to the voice of our guide as he bushwhacked ahead. A mud-coated branch slapped me across the cheek, and I looked down to find little wisps of mud up and down my arms, a distinct trail left by the … More Walking with Giants

Three years ago, in the middle of a New Zealand winter, I was hanging out with a group of fellow ski bums in Queenstown discussing everyone’s plans for after the season when my good friend from Wales asked where I was headed next. I told him my year visa was up in a few months, … More A Different Kind of Working Holiday