About

The Navigators Blog is about navigating between places of historical interest, with an emphasis on maps, forts, ships, navigation and artillery. I am especially fascinated by the Age of Discovery and the navigators of old making new tracks across the globe.

I also enjoy the challenge of navigating by landmarks along a coastline in daylight and watching star constellations orbit above while sailing offshore at night. And I like navigating around the world on travels to new and off-track destinations that have amazing landscapes, and an intriguing story. And I prefer to avoid crowds.

Some of my favourite journeys have been to remote places with few people around: the tip of Cape York as the thunderheads build just before the wet arrives; sailing a tall ship over the ghosts of Jutland; Tashkurgan – Ptolemy’s ‘stone tower’–and Kashgar on the Silk Road; the Heads of the Gods atop Nemrut Dagi; or forgotten hiking trails in the Allgau Alps.

But some of my fondest memories are touring around the crumbling ruins of the old bastions of the Spice Islands; taking in the stunning volcanic landscapes, and reflecting on the impact these forts had on the Age of Discovery and the history of our world.

I hope you enjoy navigating with me…

Simon Pratt