Ronald Turnbull

Ronald has been a full-time outdoor writer and photographer since 1995. He has published over 30 outdoor books, including guidebooks, picture books, and literary-environmental studies of Great Gable, Blencathra, Ben Macdui and the John Muir Trail. He has also written two books of popular (rather than technical) geology aimed at hillwalkers, along with geological essays for 4 other books and Radio 3's 'The Essay'. A former fell-runner, in 1994 he won the Fell Running Association’s Long-distance Trophy for a ten-day run over all the hills of Southern Scotland.

Professional Activities

Outdoor writer, photographer and editor. Frequent contributor to Trail, TGO, Lakeland Walker, UKhillwalking.com. Weekly newsletter 'About Mountains' on Substack.

Specialist knowledge of Scottish Highlands (Corbetts, Munros, through routes), Lake District and Cumbria generally, Southern Uplands/Galloway, Dorset/Somerset

Specialist topics apart from general hillwalking: geology; bivouacking; UK backpacking (including some long distance paths); various parts of Europe including recently Bavarian Alps, the Stubaital Höhenweg, the Tour of Monte Rosa; also the High Atlas of Morocco, Utah’s Canyonlands, John Muir Trail and Blue Ridge Mountains (USA)

Recent Publications

Full listing on my website (see above) or my Amazon author page https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ronald-Turnbull/e/B002IYV75S

The Hillwalking Bible (Conway/Bloomsbury 2024)
Walking in the Scottish Borders
Walking the Galloway Hills (Cicerone, 2019)
Walking the Jurassic Coast (Cicerone 2015)
Walking in the Southern Uplands (Cicerone 2014)
Walking Highland Perthshire (Cicerone 2013) republished as Walking Ben Lawers, Rannoch and Atholl (2021)
Sandstone and Sea Stacks: A Beachcomber’s Guide to Britain’s Coastal Geology (Frances Lincoln 2011)
NOT the West Highland Way (Cicerone 2010)
Blencathra – Portrait of a Mountain (Frances Lincoln 2010)
Walking Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (Cicerone 2009)
Granite and Grit – a walkers’ guide to the geology of the UK’s mountains (Frances Lincoln 2009, paperback ed 2011)
Muir and More – John Muir, his life and walks (Millrace 2008)
Contributor of geology essay to National Trust Book of the Coast (2015); Contributor of 4 chapters (Picos de Europa, Julian Alps Slovenia, High Tatras, Scotland coast to coast) to Trekking Atlas of the World (New Holland 2006)

Awards

2024 OWPG Awards for Excellence: Best Outdoor Book, for 'The Hillwalking Bible'
2021 OWPG Awards for Excellence (technical feature) for ‘How to Walk Across Scotland’ on ‘Cicerone Extra’
2016 Highly Commended OWPG Awards for Excellence (technical feature) for ‘flat rate VAT’ in ‘Outdoor Focus’
2014 OWPG Awards for Excellence (guidebook) for ‘Walking the Jurassic Coast’ published by Cicerone
2012 OWPG Awards for Excellence (outdoor book) for ‘Sandstone and Sea Stacks’ published by Frances Lincoln
2010 OWPG Awards for Excellence (outdoor book) for ‘Granite and Grit’ published by Frances Lincoln
2008 OWPG Awards for Excellence (outdoor book) for ‘The Life and Times of the Black Pig’ published by Millrace
2007 OWPG Awards for Excellence (words & pictures feature) for ‘Cairngorms Crag 'n’ Bag’ published in TGO
2005 OWG Awards for Excellence (series of articles) ‘Lakeland: Also Famous For’ in Lakeland Walker
2002 OWG Awards for Excellence (Outdoor Book) ‘The Book of the Bivvy’ (Cicerone Press)
2001 OWG Awards for Excellence (Outdoor Book) ‘Coast to Coasting’ (David & Charles: co-author with John Gillham)
1999 OWG Awards for Excellence (Guidebook) ‘Coast to Coast Trail Guide’ (Dalesman)
1999 Lakeland Book of the Year Awards: Highly Commended 'Long Days in Lakeland'
1994 Fell Running Association long-distance trophy.