Outdoor
FOCUS
Spring 2023
Big Wee
Contents
2 4 6 8 10 11 12 13 14
Big Weekend Kevin Sene describes what ’ s in store for members at this year ’ s Big Weekend
Artificial Intelligence for Outdoor Writers
Julia Goodfellow-Smith ( machine ) learns about AI
You Might ( or Might Not ) Know … Chris Howes puts your knowledge of caving to the test
Austria and Liechtenstein with a little ‘ un
Chris Scaife takes his son Oscar across the Alps
Beach of Dreams Martyn Howe on a project to walk the coastline of the UK and Ireland in 2025
Inspirational outdoor books David Taylor nominates First Light by Joe Cornish
Gritstone Co-operative Andrew Bibby on a more communal approach to publishing
Picture … Nothing ! Paddy Dillon is forced to make a change ….
Book Reviews outdoor books
Roly Smith reviews the latest
This year ’ s Big Weekend will be from 13-16 October on the Isle of Cumbrae .
Isle of Cumbrae
Heading west from Glasgow , the River Clyde soon shakes off its shipbuilding past and opens out into the Firth of Clyde , a wilder area with spectacular island views .
Ferries for the short hop across to Cumbrae leave from the seaside resort of Largs . By road , Cumbrae ’ s one and only town , Millport , is then just a few minutes away , set attractively on the shores of a bay . It has most of the facilities that you would expect of a tourist destination including pubs , cafes , a chemist and a bank .
While many people visit for cycling and other outdoor activities , sights include the Cathedral of the Isles - the smallest cathedral in the British Isles - and Garrison House , a community centre that houses the Museum of the Cumbraes .
The island ’ s smaller neighbour , Little Cumbrae , lies across the bay and is widely known as ‘ Wee Cumbrae ’, while others nearby include the Isle of Arran and the Isle of Bute . Cumbrae itself also goes under the names of Great Cumbrae and Millport .
Cover David Forster
Bluebell Wood in County Durham , England . See more examples of David ’ s photography on his website : www . david-forster . com
The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild is the only UK-based association of media professionals working largely or entirely on outdoor subjects . Our members cover every �ield of activity and all corners of the globe . They include writers , journalists , �ilm makers , photographers , publishers and editors , all with a passionate interest in the outdoors . For more information visit www . owpg . org . uk .
All images and text copyright the authors . Unauthorised use and / or duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited .
Editing / design David Taylor ISSN 2043-8591 print ISSN 2043-8605 online
If you ’ d like to contribute to the next edition of Outdoor Focus please send an email with your article idea to davidtphoto @ gmail . com . The copy deadline is 15 May 2022 .
Millport with the spire of the Cathedral of the Isles rising above the trees
FSC Millport
The venue for this year ’ s Big Weekend is the Field Studies Council centre on the outskirts of Millport . Reception is in a grand old building that used to be a marine biological research station making this perhaps the only Big Weekend destination ever to have its own aquarium , slipway and scienti�ic library . The aquarium and a small marine-themed museum alongside are another tourist destination .
2 outdoor focus / spring 2023