What is useful geomorphology? How do we do it (what methods do we use)? How can we help ensure that it is used, and it is used effectively? Here I share a few thoughts from the perspective of an applied fluvial geomorphologist. This is very much a personal, reflective contribution. Now at the ‘senior' end of professorial status (more than 10 years a full professor), I think it is interesting to reflect upon how methodological practices that I have used have changed during my career. In a sense, this is very much a record of my own journey, outlining decisions made along the way, and providing an account of some of the outcomes.