Category Archives: Uncategorized

Galapagos – Fragile paradise on the edge

Posted on June 1, 2022 by moselman

In reality, many places around the planet never quite match up to the expectations and preconceptions that we have for these places. Glossy tourist brochures and websites, churn out endless images of unspoiled nature, friendly locals, incredible food and culture … Continue reading →

Posted in Canoe Trips, Uncategorized, Wild Places, World | Tagged biodiversity, Charles Darwin, Ecuador, Galapagos, Giant Tortoises, Iguanas, Oceanic islands, Overtourism, Pacific Ocean, Pollution, Sangay 89 Expedition, Sea turtles, Sealions, Theory of Evolution by Natural Section | Leave a comment

Rough Tracks from the Andes to the Sea

Posted on May 29, 2022 by moselman

Sometimes I’ll start writing a post or a story and then get completely distracted with other stuff, with the good intention of revisiting it sometime later – could just be a case of writers block or a lack of inspiration … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, World | Tagged Avenue of the Volcanoes, Central Valley of the Ecuadorian Andes, Ecuadorian Andes, Ibarra, Ibarra to San Lorenzo train, Mangroves, Otavalo, Pacific Coast, Quito, San Lorenzo, Sangay 89 Expedition | Leave a comment

Ouch – an unexpected Easter break !

Posted on May 6, 2022 by moselman

When you go out for a straightforward hike with your family, you don’t expect to have to be carried out on a stretcher by the local mountain rescue team, bundled into a waiting ambulance, undergo emergency surgery and then spend … Continue reading →

Posted in In Europe, Mountain Treks, Uncategorized, Wild Places | Tagged Bavarian Alps, Garmisch, Karwendel, Krün, Mittenwald | Leave a comment

Trees and People in the City:

Posted on April 9, 2021 by moselman

Normally when you think about the cultural heritage of a city you tend to think about famous buildings, public squares and streets rather than about greenspaces and trees. However this needn’t be the case. Trees in urban areas are increasingly … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Scotland, Trees & Greenspaces, Uncategorized, Urbanism | Tagged Admiral Adam Duncan, Camperdown Elm, City of Dundee, community woodlands, cultural heritage, Dundee's Tree and Woodland Heritage, exotic tree species, greenspaces, street trees, Tree of Liberty, trees, Wych Elm | Leave a comment

Hell & High Water: Ecuadorian Andes to Amazon – Part 1

Posted on March 13, 2021 by moselman

This post covers part 1 of the “Sangay’89” Research Expedition – The expedition surveyed the natural ecosystems and biodiversity of Volcan Sangay National Park in Ecuador, from the high Andes to the rainforests of the upper Amazon Basin. With … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountain Treks, Trees & Greenspaces, Uncategorized, Wild Places, World | Tagged Amazon, Avenue of the Volcanoes, biodiversity, Chimbarazo, cloud forests, Ecuadorian Andes, Edward Whymper, El Altar, forest ecology, jaguars, mountain tapir, páramo, Polylepis, pumas, puyas, Riobamba, Sangay 89 Expedition, spectacled bear, Tungurahua, UNESCO World Heritage, Volcan Sangay National Park | Leave a comment

Amongst Scotland’s Ancient Caledonian Pinewoods:

Posted on April 26, 2020 by moselman

One of my favourite places to be in the World must be Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Pinewoods. Although now reduced to a few remnants, these distinctive forests used to cover more extensive tracts of the Scottish Highlands. In the words of … Continue reading →

Posted in In Scotland, Trees & Greenspaces, Uncategorized, Wild Places | Tagged ancient woodland, Cairngorms, Caledonian Pine Woods, Forest Habitat Networks, Glenmore Forest, nature, nature conservation, Pass of Ryvoan, street trees | 2 Comments

South Tyrol – “Slow tourism” without the crowds:

Posted on March 23, 2020 by moselman

South Tyrol, or Südtirol, is certainly in the news at the moment, but sadly for all the wrong reasons, with Northern Italy particularly suffering the brunt of the corona virus infection. However, last summer we spent a couple of magical … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Europe, Mountain Treks, Uncategorized, Wild Places | Tagged alps, Austria, Green Tourism, Italy, Südtirol | Leave a comment

Monschau: A hidden gem in the Eifel

Posted on February 4, 2018 by moselman

The old weaving town of Monschau is a real hidden gem tucked away in the Rur Valley within the Eifel Region to the South of Aachen. I love the old half timbered houses and the rambling streets of the old … Continue reading →

Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe, Uncategorized | Tagged Aachen, Eifel, Euregio, medieval architecture, Monschau, Red House | Leave a comment

In the Höhe Tauern

Posted on July 15, 2017 by moselman

Time flies.. although it seems like yesterday, it’s almost a year ago now since we spent an interesting couple of weeks exploring the Pinzgau region of Austria’s Salzburger Land, a mountainous area which includes part of the Höhe Tauern range of the Central Alps. Höhe Tauern National Park is one … Continue reading →

Posted in In Europe, Mountain Treks, Uncategorized, Wild Places | Tagged Bramberg im Wildkögel, Großvenediger, Hachbachtal, Höhe Tauern, Krimml, Neukirchen, Obersulzbachtal, Pinzgau, Salzburger Land, Wildkögel | Leave a comment

Neuschwanstein – In the Fantasy World of the “Fairytale King”

Posted on November 13, 2016 by moselman

With 1.3 million visitors annually, King Ludwig II’s fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein certainly isn’t “off the beaten track” by any stretch of the imagination. The iconic Castle is one of the Europe’s best known tourist haunts and has provided and inspired the backdrop for many a … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Europe, Mountain Treks, Uncategorized, Wild Places | Tagged Allgäu, Alpsee, bavaria, Burg Falkenstein, Füssen, Hohenschwangau, Loengrin, Ludwig II, mass tourism, Nesselwang, Neuschwanstein, Oberbayern, Pfronten, Starnberger See, Tannheimertal, Tristan and Isolde, Wagner, Walt Disney | Leave a comment