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Permanent Tourist

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Niesen, Switzerland

Welcome to

Permanent Tourist

This is the personal website of Mark Howells-Mead, a British photographer and WordPress web developer/designer in Switzerland.

Photo: Niesenbahn funicular railway, Switzerland, September 2017

Hiking sign post at Gemmenalphorn

Out and about

Hiking and walking

After a working week in front of computer screens, I can’t wait to strap on my walking boots and get out into the landscape.

View blog posts
  • Sgùrr a' Choire-rainich, Achanalt

    Exploring and photographing

    Northern and Western Scotland

    An exceptionally beautiful part of the British Isles, to which I’ve been returning with my camera as often as I can for over fifteen years.

    View gallery

Latest blog posts

The blog is the heart of this website, with content on a wide range of topics which interest me. The archives contain entries going back to 2004.

  • Grimsel Pass to Trübtensee and back

    Published in

    September 2026

    An autumn hike in the Grimsel Pass area with glaciated ridges, reservoirs and tremendous views to the high Alps.

    Read more

  • Quinag from the A894

    Published in

    September 2026

    A summer hike following the well-marked approach to Quinag, climbing steeply to its saddles for wide views across Assynt, Kylesku and the northwest coast.

    Read more

  • Succulent arrangement in a dark metal pot on a sunlit wooden surface

    Succulent miniature landscapes

    Published in

    August 2026

    Succulents thrive on our balcony.

    Read more

  • Trachsellauenen from Stechelberg

    Published in

    August 2026

    A steady hike from Stechelberg to Trachsellauenen on a quiet afternoon, with waterfalls, mountain views and a reassuring test of improving fitness.

    Read more

All blog posts

Blog posts about hiking and walking

All posts about hiking and walking
  • Grimsel Pass to Trübtensee and back

    Published in

    September 2026

    An autumn hike in the Grimsel Pass area with glaciated ridges, reservoirs and tremendous views to the high Alps.

    Read more

  • Quinag from the A894

    Published in

    September 2026

    A summer hike following the well-marked approach to Quinag, climbing steeply to its saddles for wide views across Assynt, Kylesku and the northwest coast.

    Read more

  • Trachsellauenen from Stechelberg

    Published in

    August 2026

    A steady hike from Stechelberg to Trachsellauenen on a quiet afternoon, with waterfalls, mountain views and a reassuring test of improving fitness.

    Read more

  • A wake-up call on the Niederhorn ridge

    Published in

    June 2026

    Returning to the Gemmenalphorn for a timely reminder of the importance of staying fit.

    Read more

All posts about hiking and walking

Videos

  • 2019 in the air

    2019 in the air

    October 2025

    Years of photography and drone flying have filled my archives with memories. This short film combines some of my best 2019 clips from Switzerland, Wales, and England.

    Watch the video

  • Oronsay Island

    Oronsay Island

    September 2025

    A picturesque dog walk to the tidal island of Oronsay, off the coast of the Isle of Skye.

    Watch the video

  • Part of the Grand Bisse d'Ayent irrigation system

    Random things in July 2023

    September 2023

    Lots of work stopped me from going out so much, but we did get in a great trip to canton Wallis.

    Watch the video

  • Random things in June 2023

    Random things in June 2023

    July 2023

    Making more of an effort to publish moving pictures, including one from Dartmoor in June.

    Watch the video

Video overview
My YouTube channel

Mark Howells-Mead is a WordPress designer and developer based in Switzerland. Mark has been building websites and web-apps for over 30 years and has over 23 years of experience building websites for small and medium-sized businesses using WordPress. He is fluent in English, German and Swiss German, having moved to the Swiss Alps in 2001. As you can see by the contents of this, his personal website, his free-time passions are photography, film-making and hiking.

This website and its content is © 2004 – 2026 Mark Howells-Mead

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