Sam Pyrah 's Avatar

Sam Pyrah

@timeonfeet.bsky.social

Journalist and author, runner and walker, writing about movement, mind and place. Cairngorms, Scotland. The Guardian | BBC Countryfile | Runner's World. Formerly @SamMurphyRuns Website: www.sampyrah.com Substack: https://timeonfeet.substack.com/

854 Followers  |  318 Following  |  118 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  1.6407

Latest posts by timeonfeet.bsky.social on Bluesky

My new local hill - Sgor Gaoithe (the windy peak) - the most southerly of the Cromdale Hills.

My new local hill - Sgor Gaoithe (the windy peak) - the most southerly of the Cromdale Hills.

My new local hill - Sgor Gaoithe (the windy peak) - the most southerly of the Cromdale Hills.

06.10.2025 21:34 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Sometimes, I only want half a slice of bread. I can’t understand why my husband finds this annoying πŸ˜‚

06.09.2025 13:22 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

In this month's Substack, I've written about the strange compulsion to pick up and pocket nature finds when I'm out walking...

02.09.2025 17:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Vibrant rowan berries. The trees seem very early to fruit this year…. #wildflowerhour

31.08.2025 20:01 β€” πŸ‘ 41    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Sneezewort 🀧 in Irvine, on recent visit to the Nature Library #wildflowerhour #daisyfamily

17.08.2025 20:00 β€” πŸ‘ 87    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Morning from the Cairngorms. Mist on the hills today and a hint of autumn in the blustery wind…

11.08.2025 08:46 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Green Veined White on Devil’s Bit Scabious. Plus photo-bomber! Cairngorms. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

10.08.2025 19:39 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Just as the birds fall quiet, my latest Substack on birdsong... open.substack.com/pub/timeonfe... #naturewriting

04.08.2025 15:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

A Scottish toad enjoying the sunshine in Glen Tromie today. #cairngorms

16.07.2025 21:01 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

Glorious Glen Feshie today. Walking, watching and learning. Sightings of Golden Eagle, Crossbill, Common Lizard and Pygmy Shrew.#scotlandbigpicture #rewilding

13.07.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A pair of Heath Spotted Orchids

A pair of Heath Spotted Orchids

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social No helleborines but a lovely couple of Heath Spotted Orchids, along the boardwalk across the bog at Forsinard Flows in the far north of Scotland. #wildflowers

06.07.2025 18:11 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Kudos. This is the coffin I made for my resident spider

03.07.2025 18:54 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
View over Abernethy Forest, in smoke filled air

View over Abernethy Forest, in smoke filled air

It was like nightfall here earlier this evening. Smoke-filled yellow air… such devastation. 😞

30.06.2025 21:01 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social Not an aquatic plant I’m afraid but this week’s exciting spot was a patch of twinflower - within walking distance of home - in the Cairngorms. Beautiful, but smaller than I’d imagined. #wildflowerhour

22.06.2025 19:55 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

@ukrunchat.bsky.social I'm writing about getting older and slower and how we can still find joy and meaning in running in the absence of improvement/PBs. I'd love to hear any of your thoughts, runners. What motivates you once you're past your peak? #running

19.06.2025 15:39 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes, it worked really well.

19.06.2025 15:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them From turning out the lights to letting leaves rot, these small steps can create big changes at home or in the wild

So many easy wins here... great piece www.theguardian.com/environment/...

19.06.2025 14:27 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Feverfew in a pavement gap on a walk in Blackheath, where I was walking down memory lane (my old route to school) #wildflowerhour

15.06.2025 19:47 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The secret psychology of dogs and cats: do we ever really know what they are thinking? Pets have long been a source of comfort and companionship for humans. But are they really trying to console us when we’re distressed or do they just want their dinner?

My piece on dog (and cat) empathy for @theguardian.com heavily features my terrier Morris… www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

15.06.2025 18:35 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

My first mountain bumblebee (Bombus monticola) seen today on Cairngorm plateau. On bird’s foot trefoil.

08.06.2025 18:44 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

In my latest Substack, I wrote about trees as individuals, rather than as a species… #naturewriting #trees Find the link in my bio. Free to read!

04.06.2025 07:33 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes… and chilly, despite looking tropical!

18.05.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Loch Garten, Scotland. Yes, really…

18.05.2025 09:16 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

These two… friends for life

13.05.2025 20:29 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

It was announced today by the European Commission that Coca-Cola will change some of its labelling practices to remove misleading recycling claims, after BEUC - The European Consumer Organisation and its members lodged a greenwashing complaint to the Commission in 2023 which we supported. (1/5)

06.05.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 94    πŸ” 96    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 8
Preview
Watching narrowly On losing yourself in nature...

Just published this month's Substack. It was Gilbert White, 18th-century naturalist, who coined the phrase 'watching narrowly'. I think he watched a lot more narrowly than me, but the zooming in on detail is what matters... #naturewriting timeonfeet.substack.com/p/watching-n...

01.05.2025 16:59 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

One moment it’s bare twigs scratching the sky, the next, everything is coming into leaf. It can’t happen overnight, but it feels that way… #naturewriting

25.04.2025 09:51 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So the emotional tone is… controlling?!

18.04.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

We’ve got a pair nesting in an old steading right opposite the kitchen window. They are so industrious… and positive!

18.04.2025 17:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

This is my dog-nephew, Dexter. He’s definitely trying to tell us something, but what? I’m writing a feature for the Guardian on to what extent we can read our dogs’ emotions. And what about cats? Thoughts appreciated 🐢 🐱

17.04.2025 18:48 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

@timeonfeet is following 19 prominent accounts