The Farthest Shore is a book documenting Alex’s hike along The Cape Wrath Trail in Highland Scotland. Unlike most explorers, who complete the gruelling route during spring and summer, Alex tackles his three hundred mile route during the middle of winter. He also started his journey on The Ardnamurchan Peninsula, which added a fair few miles extra to an already lengthy journey. Seeking solitude on his adventure, he is battered by wind, rain and a rollercoaster of emotions along the way. Alex is very honest in his account, discussing personal issues that have motivated him to take the walk in the first place. Having just finished the book, what I have come away thinking is that Alex offers a fine balance between descriptions of place and how an individual and others they meet along the way are impacted by it.

What I Liked

Every author has their own writing style. Some books are heavy going with word choices and a narrative that can be tough to follow. I never had this problem with this book and was genuinely sad when I reached the end. It was a thoroughly engaging read, yet it was still easy to digest and follow.

The structure of The Farthest Shore by Alex Roddie is also very engaging. Right near the start he documents the illness and death of his father as well as other struggles in life such as finding it very difficult to switch off from the world of social media. You may wonder why these details are included in a book about adventure, but it sets the scene brilliantly in showcasing what motivated Alex to complete such a challenge in the first place.

Like Alex, I believe many people who love the peace and solitude that the great outdoors offers do so because it is a way of reflecting on their current life and in some cases escaping from some of its challenges. It seems Alex was just as much at ease with his own company on the trail as he was when sharing small sections with others. This is another one of the book’s strengths. There is an excellent balance of solo walking and human companionship along the way. He shares some of the route with his brother James and is also joined by Chris Townsend- a man very well respected in the outdoor community. Then there is the contact he makes with his wife Hannah and his mum, who are both naturally concerned about his safety and wellbeing.

What is great is that Alex isn’t afraid to show his vulnerabilities. He explores the senses of guilt and anxiety he feels in leaving his new wife and widowed mum alone while he completes the walk, yet his honesty made me understand why he needed the challenge and why those closest to him supported him from afar.

Another real strength of the book are the descriptions of the places Alex passes through the remotest parts of The Highlands. Having been lucky enough to visit some of the same spots myself such as Knoydart, the way he describes them helps me almost transport myself back to those beautiful locations. It is very easy to picture the places he describes and he does it in such a way that it will probably motivate you to do something very similar if you haven’t done so already.

Photography is excellent in the book thanks to Alex’s brother James being a photographer.

Finally, Alex includes some sound practical advice at the end of the book, which is a helpful addition. A lot of it is common sense, but some details about shops you might find along the way are useful as is the information about winter hazards and how best to prepare for them.

Alex also offers some words of wisdom about how best to enjoy your experience in the great outdoors. Tips such as choosing connection rather than connectivity with technology is mentioned, as is leaving the smallest mark on the landscape you are passing through.

What Should Be Improved?

There really weren’t many weaknesses in this book, but my first criticism would be that twenty photos really wasn’t enough for such a lengthy route. It would have been nice to have seen more scattered throughout the book with some of the wildlife he mentions being captured on film.

I also felt it strange that one of the interactions he had with a couple at one of the hostels he stayed at ended up being a distillation of many other conversations he had with his family, friends and colleagues over the course of a year. Maybe it’s just me, but I would prefer dialogue included to be real rather than fabricated.

Final Words

I am a bit of an addict when it comes to outdoor books and so far The Farthest Shore by Alex Roddie is right up there as one of my favourites. It was hard to put the book down and I would suggest that you’ll likely very much enjoy it too if you love adventure in The Scottish Highlands. Click here to find the book for sale at a reasonable price on Amazon. I bought mine second hand and it was in great condition.