Back in December I included Northern Horizons in the UKC/UKH Christmas Book List, which was a self-confessed curveball, because of one fairly significant detail - it wasn't actually out yet. In spite of this, it seemed insane not to include it, because from having pored over the PDFs I knew it was something incredibly special. Having subsequently received it in print I can say it's even better than I could have hoped for (and believe me, I had high hopes) and I don't think it would be unreasonable to say that this is my favourite book of 2025 - in spite of the fact it's still only winter.

Northern Horizons is many things. On the surface, it looks like it might be a guidebook, but - as John Fleetwood says so aptly in the foreword - "this is no guidebook in the traditional sense; rather, it is a series of memoirs that convey a keen sense of place and motivate the reader to make their own personal acquaintance with the hills described therein".

In its role as a guidebook, the author Will Herman successfully provides the reader with an inspirational and eclectic blend of routes, centred primarily around Scotland. These routes are far from spoon fed, so if you're after turn-by-turn descriptions, look elsewhere. The focus is firmly on the experience of being out there, in the elements, with map in hand, and it actively encourages you to do exactly that.

There is an ongoing interplay throughout Northern Horizons between what we, as people, bring to the mountains and what the mountains, in turn, present us with - adventure, challenges and memories. The author has a lifetime of such experiences to draw from, not just as a runner, but also as a climber, mountaineer, mountain biker and sea kayaker. These different activities are, in my mind, key to what gives the book such a unique feel. Each different discipline offers an alternative perspective on the mountain environment, and each is equally but differently enriching as a result. It may be billed as a running book, but any hill fan will get a lot out of it, and the routes could equally be treated as long hillwalks - perhaps over a weekend with a backpack.

Something else that resonated was the author's appreciation and understanding of the history of fell/hill running. Something I've noticed whilst climbing is that knowledge of who's gone before you can enrich an experience, turning what might have just been another route into something much more meaningful. There are plenty of examples of this in Northern Horizons, but personal favourites include the outlining of Eric Beard's achievements and the history of Skye's Cuillin Ridge records. It never ceases to amaze me how good runners from yesteryear were, but it also blows my mind how each generation makes that effort to go above and beyond what's come before them. When you're next up on the Cuillin Ridge, spend a moment trying to comprehend and contextualise the achievements of Eric Beard, Andy Hyslop, Martin Moran, Es Tressider, Finlay Wild, Anna Wells and Kelli Roberts. 

When it comes to production quality I don't think there's another publisher doing what Scottish Mountaineering Press are doing, as they seem to set a new standard with each and every title they produce. The Fox of Glencoe and One Man's Legacy both seemed like a significant step-up, but Northern Horizons is on a whole other level. It's beautifully and lavishly produced, exuding both quality and class, and would make for a fantastic present - either to yourself or for someone significant in your life. The author obviously plays a large part in this too, because without their insight - and superb photography - it wouldn't be a patch on what it is. Highly recommended.