Work portfolio

Editorial

Sidetracked magazine: editor (2020–present; 2015–2020 as sub-editor). As editor, Alex is responsible for editing print stories, working with the rest of the team to commission new work, writing a range of material for both print and digital outlets, and working with brands to deliver sponsored content. This role involves extensive ghostwriting and developmental editing. He has also completed projects with an adventure component in the field, including Attitudes and Altitude (Montane and LEKI, 2022).
Like the Wind: editor (2024–present). Working with the rest of the team to commission and develop stories for this fantastic independent running magazine.
The Great Outdoors (TGO): feature writer and gear reviewer (2015–present; past roles include online editor, 2017–2019, and interim editor, 2019). With material published in most issues of the magazine for the past several years, Alex is currently mainly concerned with gear testing, skills advice, mapped walks, and story features. Past responsibilities at TGO have included running the website and social media accounts; developmental editing; magazine design, production, and proofreading; managing the annual TGO Reader and Gear Awards; and delivering brand projects.
Since 2014, Alex has worked on freelance editorial projects with a wide range of publishing clients including Vertebrate Publishing, gestalten, and Wanderlust magazine. He has also edited books by independently published authors including Andrew Terrill, John Burns, Keith Foskett, Mark Horrell, Graeme Harvey, Ellis J. Stewart, and others. Some have gone on to become bestsellers, such as The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales by John Burns. He contributed extensive developmental editing and copy-editing for both projects.

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‘Without Alex’s tireless support and editorial expertise my books would never have come into existence.’ —John Burns, author

Read more testimonials on this page.

Writing

Over the last decade Alex has written dozens of features and other pieces for TGO, including major sponsored brand projects with clients including Montane, LEKI, Haglöfs, Craghoppers, Rab, and the John Muir Trust. In an average year, most issues of the magazine will go to print with at least one of his articles. In 2024 alone TGO published more than 100,000 words and more than 100 images by Alex.

He has also written and ghostwritten countless articles for Sidetracked and Like the Wind. Other titles to have published Alex's work include UKHillwalking.com, Mountain Pro magazine, On Landscape, Trail, and Outdoor.

Sample PDF features to download

Alex's books:

Wanderlust British and Irish Isles (gestalten, September 2023)
Wanderlust Alps (gestalten, September 2021)
The Farthest Shore (Vertebrate Publishing, September 2021)
Wanderlust Europe (gestalten, September 2020)

Learn more about Alex's books here.

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'Alex instinctively understands what a project needs, and shapes his participation to match that.' —Andrew Mazibrada, former editor, Sidetracked magazine

Gear reviews

An experienced outdoor gear reviewer, Alex has been on the gear-testing team for The Great Outdoors for many years, and has been a judge for the magazine's annual Gear Awards since 2017. He is currently a judge for the OWPG Award for Technical Innovation, and has also been a judge for the Outdoor Industries Association Awards.

Awards and commendations

2025: Photograph of the Year plus Best Set of Photos, Forfar & District Hill Walking Club Annual Photography Award
2024: OWPG Award for Excellence. Highly Commended, Photography Award ('Winter Colour')
2022: Banff Mountain Book Competition. Finalist, Adventure Travel (The Farthest Shore, Vertebrate Publishing)
2021: OWPG Award for Excellence. Winner, Digital Award (alexroddie.com)
2021: The Great Outdoors Awards. Shortlisted, Outdoor Book of the Year (The Farthest Shore, Vertebrate Publishing)
2019: OWPG Award for Excellence. Winner, Outdoor/Travel Feature ('Summits and Skylarks', TGO)

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'A very satisfying portfolio of photos, with a narrative that flows from the first image through to the last. All the more impressive for the harsh winter conditions, with limitations on daylight available and the weight of wild-camping equipment.' —judges for OWPG Photography Award 2024 (Highly Commended, 'Winter Colour')