About:

My name is Ian and I come originally from the Stirling area, in the heart of Scotland – where the “wilder” landscapes of the Scottish Highlands meet the tamer Scottish Lowlands. I have a professional background in environmental management and I’ve worked in many different parts of the UK and overseas. Now, well over a decade ago, I moved over to Aachen on the border of  Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Since then, I’ve been exploring new parts of Europe and been learning to cope with a different language, cultural challenges and to adapt my career to a new set of circumstances.

The concept of this blog has evolved considerably since I first started writing, but broadly follows themes around landscapes, nature and people; in my day job, I work on some of the big environmental and sustainability challenges which increasingly confront our society, including a major one which some people don’t even believe exists ;-). By contrast, this blog is intended more as a wee bit of “light relief” and a distraction (for me, if no-one else). Initially it was intended to be more an account of day-to-day experiences of living close to the heart of Europe. However, as time’s gone by, I’ve started to throw in other bits and pieces, about places where I’ve spent time over the years – though, no doubt, some of these places will have changed beyond recognition since I was there last. Anyhow, rest assured, I’m no proper “influencer” type; so you can therefore enjoy ad-free content (and without the dubious pleasure of being invited to rush off to trash the latest “last chance” destinations).

I’m captivated by discovering places which are “off the beaten track”; often low key locations with a quirky story that have managed to preserve a sense of place and connectedness, in a rapidly changing world. These lesser-known localities are the places which still make our world fascinating to explore. Mountains, coasts, woods and disserted places also have a special place in my heart; particularly the “wilder” landscapes of the Scottish Highlands or the European Alps. That said, many urban areas here in Europe also boast fascinating, unknown corners to discover, well away from the normal tourist haunts.

I’m also fascinated by the changes occurring in places which I have visited over the years (though not always for the best), reflecting my own concerns about sustainable development, planning and the environment – often you can see the cumulative effect of these changes simply by looking at google maps and satellite images. On an “Attenborough” note, I believe that the worst excesses of inappropriate development need to be regulated, or we risk destroying the very life support systems provided by our natural world.

Finally, for me, being “Off the Beaten Track” is as much about a state of mind as it is about being in any particular geographical location; it’s about being open to new ideas, forever asking questions (critical thinking) and not always just buying into the mainstream narratives and latest societal trends offered to us. I also believe that there are small adventures to be had around every corner and that the places which we so usually take for granted, often have an interesting story of their own to tell when we dig down a little deeper; we simply just need to get outside with an open mind and look.

Anyway, I do hope you enjoy reading about the journey…