Joyce's energetic life has been dedicated to the natural world. But carry on reading, because she doesn't have a whimsical approach to writing, knowing that the outdoors can be a hard school. In her twelve years spent exploring the Swiss and French Alps, walking, skiing, sailing and rock climbing, there was ample opportunity to learn the skills, the plants, the animals, the perils - even the language - of that environment. Then, on her return to Durham in 1973, she renewed her acquaintance with British mountains. Analysis of pollen assemblages present in layers of Pennine peat gave her evidence about past climates and how the landscape has changed, together with the organisms which live there. This was serious stuff but there was time for outcrop climbing and a good deal of Munro-bagging, indulged in up to the point where her feet felt themselves to be in need of a rest. It seemed to be an appropriate moment to do something different, such as begin a career in writing. 

 Cairngorms