From Dumyat to Mont Blanc

From Dumyat to Mont Blanc: Being Alive with Mountains

By Ian McNeish

ISBN: 978-1-9996962-2-1
Trade Paperback
274 Pages

Born in the Central Scotland town of Bonnybridge, Ian McNeish may have seemed an unlikely climbing enthusiast. The closest ‘peak’ to his home was Cowden Hill, which at an elevation of 55.4 metres is only the 14,650th highest in Britain! But from these early experiences on the hills, encouragement from friends and colleagues soon saw Ian embarking on a lifelong adventure which would see him climbing Munros and Corbetts alike.

Whether cycling through the Outer Hebrides for charity or white-water rafting in New Zealand, Ian is someone who has seen life. But nothing could have prepared him for facing the biggest climbing challenge of his career when he tackled the famous peak of Mont Blanc—the highest mountain in the Alps, with a summit 4,808 metres above sea level.

From his experiences in Mountain Rescue Teams to not one but two successful attempts at Scotland’s famous cross-country Ultimate Challenge, join Ian as he relates amazing stories of some of the most stunning places in the world. He will reveal what it means to truly be alive in the mountains.

A packed mountain of shared experiences where Ian takes the reader with him to each top, cringing, laughing and crawling every step of the journey. Gaelic names of mountains, hills and places are given warmth and respect. They seem to sit comfortably, like dear old friends. Ian writes with such an ease that each line flows along uninterrupted, then the rock that you have placed juts up to trip the reader with such surprise - it takes the breath away. His grasp of nature, animals and birds is powerful, and the sight in Gleann Fhiodhaig of those jets is never to be forgotten. You can see the entire scene with vivid clarity. Dreams are made of such sights.
Ian is a truly gifted writer who has a world of knowledge at his fingertips and has the ability to spellbind with the natural story of a life lived. I love this book - it's a treasure trove.

Jess Smith
Author of Jessie's Journey and Tales from the Tent