Northern Horizons wins at Banff

We are delighted to announce that Northern Horizons, by debut author Will Herman, has won the Guidebook category at the 2025 Banff Mountain Book Festival in Alberta, Canada.

Northern Horizons is much more than a conventional guidebook; it is a rich blend of route descriptions, technical notes, gorgeous imagery and evocative essays about running in the mountains of Scotland and the fells of Cumbria. Avoiding rigid instructions in favour of encouraging active engagement with the terrain, it is a dialogue between runner and mountain, reflecting on ethics, route finding, wild landscapes, and how a lifetime’s experience informs every journey.

“A lyrical and inspiring journey into the heart of the Cumbrian and Scottish mountains. Will Herman’s beautifully crafted work is as much a memoir as it is a guidebook — a seamless blend of essays and exploration. With stunning photographs and evocative descriptions, it invites readers not just to see the landscape, but to feel it. At its core, the book centres the deep and evolving relationship between person and place, encouraging a reflective, almost meditative engagement with the mountains. It stirs a longing for wild spaces and makes you dream of setting off into the hills yourself.” – Paul Scully, 2025 Banff Mountain Festival Book Competition Jury

The Banff Mountain Book Festival is one of the most prestigious events in mountain literature, attracting submissions from around the world. Winning the Guidebook category acknowledges not only technical excellence, but narrative voice, originality and the capacity to inspire others.

“It is humbling to receive such an accolade and to see Northern Horizons recognised alongside the work of so many talented authors featured in the 2025 Banff Mountain Book Competition.

My hope is that all who love wild places will find something of value within Northern Horizons—but more importantly, that those inspired to follow in the footsteps of those who write about these spaces will, in turn, be inspired to accord our mountains their due, learning of them and the skills they demand, to accept the challenge they offer.” – Will Herman

Will will be in Banff to receive his award on the 6 November, where the Grand Prize (overall winner of the book competition) will also be announced.