Come by The Hills follows Cameron McNeish's popular 2018 memoir, There's Always the Hills, and celebrates his life on the Scottish hills, his many friendships with hill-goers, writers, broadcasters and active people of all kinds.
Cameron McNeish is an established figure on the Scottish and British outdoor scene. As editor of TGO he increased circulation and established the magazine as Britain’s premier walking publication. He is the author of many books and presenter of many outdoor television programmes including on long distance walks. He contributes a monthly column to The Scots Magazine.
Stuck in Glasgow by Covid travel restrictions I am pining to be out and about in the hills and mountains, and reading Cameron McNeish's latest book has allowed me the vicarious pleasure of enjoying Cameron's heartfelt delight in the great outdoors.
As well as the western Highlands that I am most familiar with the book travels all across Scotland, from Borders hills, to Shetland beaches. I was also glad to see Father Calum MacLellen mentioned when Cameron reached Eriskay. When I was working many years ago between Daliburgh and Eriskay, Father MacLellan encouraged me to accidentally miss the ferry that was to take me back to work on South Uist and he gave me his tour of the island. A lovely man, warmly remembered in these pages.
The stories he weaves in and about his descriptions of walking, cycling and campervan days out, the interesting people he introduces us to, and the recollections of the early working class pioneers of Scottish hillwalking and climbing make this a endlessly fascinating book. On the back of it I have ordered a cd and a book by a writer and a musician I had not come across before. I have also added several names to my list of hills to tackle once the lockdown restrictions lift.
Having read and enjoyed Cameron's previous book I looked forward to this and it did not disappoint. Reading it in lockdown allowed me to imagine exploring some of Scotland 's finest landscapes but also made me wish even more to be out amongst them. I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters, I felt in them there was some more personal stories and folklore. 'Thin Places' is something that intrigues me. A book I will likely return to again to help plan adventures when we are in better times.