My Recommendations

General

All these links open in external pages. For general facts and figures about Greenland, you might start by looking at the following sites: Greenland Guide, Denmark's Guide to Greenland and Greenland statistics. The organization Nanok has been responsible for recording and restoring the trappers’ huts in north-east Greenland – they post annual reports in English about their activities.

Organised Travel

If you want a taste of the Arctic but are not able to organize an independent expedition, or simply don’t want the hassle, you might be tempted by two small scale specialist travel operators, Arcturus Expeditions and Tangent Expeditions. Both have a good track record of taking small groups to various parts of east Greenland for adventurous activities ranging from walking holidays to full on mountaineering. If you prefer to travel independently to north-east Greenland but still need some local help, contact Nanu – the tourist organization in Ittoqqortoormiit (formerly known as Scoresbysund).

Independent Travel

For truly independent expedition planning in the National Park region of north-east Greenland, you will need to contact Polog, the Danish Polar Centre and Air Islands Charters to arrange permissions, onward flights from Iceland to Greenland and logistical support once you arrive.

Reading

Read all about it! Armchair travellers, or those who cannot resist a good book, especially if it is about polar or mountain subjects, should check out Glacier Books – Chris Bartle is Scotland’s largest stockist of new, second-hand and antiquarian books on these subjects and runs a great mail-order/web catalogue.

Clubs

There is a long tradition of Scots’ interest in the Arctic regions. This is well represented in two “clubs”. The Arctic Club was founded at Cambridge in 1932 by James Wordie, the eminent Scots don who had been Shackleton’s chief scientist on the legendary “Endurance” Expedition. This institution occupies a unique place in Arctic matters and membership is strictly by invitation, however the more inclusive Scottish Arctic Club is open to anyone with an interest in the Arctic, not only those with expedition experience. Both clubs encourage and support young people to take an active interest in the Arctic.

Photography

If you have found my website, photographs and books of interest you might also like the work of my good friend and fellow photographer David Paterson, with whom I have twice ventured to the Himalayas. Dave runs Wild Country Photo-library and Press with an imprint that specialises in Himalayan and Scottish Highland landscape subjects.

Organisations

Regarding the landscape and natural history of the Scottish Highlands the following organisations should be relevant: The John Muir Trust, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club.

Campaigning

Locally at Ullapool, we have been fighting a campaign to stop the building of new high voltage power lines on 50 metre high towers across some of the last remaining tracts of unspoiled wild land in the UK. This is our Highlands Before Pylons site.

Accommodation

Where to stay? The north west highlands attract people from all round the world for a variety of reasons. I have listed below a spectrum of accommodation in my local area. I personally know these establishments all offer great value and will provide good highland hospitality during any stay in the “ancient foreland”, Europe’s oldest landscape. Many visitors to Ullapool will already know the legendary Ceilidh Place that offers not only hotel and bunkhouse accommodation and good food, but also hosts many cultural and musical events and has a first rate bookshop. For a superior bed and breakfast and/or self catering Braemore Square Country House is in an attractive rural/riverside setting at the foot of the Corrieshalloch Gorge. Eddie and Wendy are the hosts. Nearer to Ullapool, Anne Holloway’s Tanglewood House provides first class hospitality. In the village itself, guests at Woodlands B and B can look forward to some excellent home cooking from Ike and Ann Gibson. Two miles from Ullapool, at Rhue, Irene and Barry at Suilven offer vegetarians something a little different, with fine views across Lochbroom thrown in: BvegB. For those wanting to climb An Teallach, Easter Badbea is conveniently close on Little Lochbroom and has a modern guest suite. Phil and Paula are your hosts. If you are seeking tranquillity, away from it all in a quiet unspoiled glen, you might find what you are looking for on the Rhiddorroch Estate which offers a variety of holiday cottage lettings. Many geology field groups use the superior hostel at Inchnadamph Lodge, in the heart of some of the finest landscape in the UK. The Lodge offers a variety of accommodation, meeting rooms and bed and breakfast.