Heart UK

Scotland Outdoors

<p>A topical guide to life in the Scottish outdoors.</p>

BBC Radio Scotland

Mark Stephen visits Stobs Military Camp near Hawick to discover the importance of this site from a training camp in the early 1900s to a resettlement camp after the second world war.   Andrew Jepson of Archaeology Scotland is his guide

Stobs Military Camp, Hawick

The Arbroath Signal Tower Museum is set to benefit from more than £300,000 of funding to develop its outdoor space. Mark went for a visit to hear about their plans to transform the garden into an accessible, multi-functional public space for education, community activities and events.Rachel Bell and her family try their hand at orienteering in Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen. They see if they can follow the map to complete the course and have fun at the same time.Ardestie Earth House is a souterrain, an ancient underground structure, near Monifieth. Mark goes along to explore and try to solve the puzzle of what it might have been used for.When Mark was in Glasgow a few weeks ago, something interesting caught his eye. The Cameron Fountain in Charing Cross is rather unique, as it sits on something of a lean. Glasgow sculpture historian Gary Nisbet tells Mark about this intriguing piece of Glasgow’s past. And they also visit the Doulton Fountain outside the People’s Palace and discover that it hasn’t always been in the same place in the city.Rachel Bell takes some time to slow down and immerse herself in the outdoors at a forest therapy session led by Sarah Stevens. Sarah guides her through the forest at Birsemore near Aboyne and tells her about the different ways we can connect with nature.We hear live from Finland, where Hiljaa Fest, the world's first nature listening festival, is happening right now. Hiljaa Fest, which translates as ‘Quietly Fest’, is happening in Valkmusa National Park and showcases things like black grouse, the wind and the bog moss as performers.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel Stewart meets poet and storyteller Tony Bonning. Tony, known as the Man with the Horse, undertakes treks across the country with his horse Chief to collect folklore and tales along the way. He tells Rachel a bit about his life and a wee tale or two as well.And Rachel Bell meets Shetland fiddler and Fetlar resident Maurice Henderson, who tells her about his love of traditional straw crafting and how it ties into the island’s local folklore.

The World's Quietest Festival, Ardestie Earth House and Arbroath Signal Tower Museum

Rachel Stewart meets poet and story teller, Tony Bonning.   Tony, known as the Man with the Horse, undertakes treks across the country with his horse Chief to collect folklore and tales along the way

The Man with the Horse, Poet and Storyteller, Tony Bonning

It’s the time of year when we celebrate leaves as Autumn unfolds.  Mark meets up with leaf expert Professor Jonathan Silvertown who’s written a book about them called Nature’s Magicians.  Did you know that way back when there were no leaves on trees at all?  Rachel’s been to the Carse of Gowrie to find out about the ancient pear orchards of the area, and the attempt to bring back Scottish pear varieties that have largely been forgotten. Neil Clapperton of Buglife is her guideMark meets some of those taking part in a recent international translocation conference on a field day in the Cairngorms. He hears from delegates from Australia, Kenya and UK about translocating everything from mosses to rhinosMark visits the St Cyrus National Nature Reserve near Montrose where he finds out about their brand new bird hide.Corncrakes were once common in Western Europe.  Now their populations are mostly confined to the Western Isles and Skye.  Shelagh Parlane of the RSPB describes how they've been advising crofters on how to adapt their land management techniques to encourage these rare birds to nest.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone visit a youth club with a difference. In Alness, the club sits in the middle of two acre field. Jannette Douglas is the club coordinatorAnd most people who have livestock will have their own unique way of calling them in.  In Finland it is an art known as kuhning.  Rachel finds out more from Finnish storyteller and Highland cow breeder Riika Palonen ahead of the Scottish Storytelling Festival.

Pears, Corncrakes and Cow Calling

Mark Stephen meets Professor Jonathan Silvertown whose book Nature Magicians is all about leaves and why they matter

The Hidden Powers of Leaves

Funding is being made available to improve core paths in Aberdeen over the next few years and Rachel joined Chris York from environmental consultancy Walking the Talk to find out what a core path actually isMark visits a surf resort and he’s not had to go that far! He’s at Lost Shore in Newbridge just outside Edinburgh to find out what’s available at the inland resort which boast Europe’s largest wavepoolThis week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast excerpt features Gabriella Bennett, author of How to Build a City. Helen Needham met up with Gabriella in Glenrothes where she spent part of her childhood to look at some of the New Town’s public artPink footed geese have returned to our shores and the Scottish Wildlife Trust are hosting Goosefest to highlight the influx of geese to Montrose Basin. Visitor centre manager Joanna Peaker gives Mark the rundown on the staggering number of geese descending on the BasinSecuring a job as a ranger is a tough task with each post attracting huge numbers of applicants. Rachel talks to apprentice ranger Jenna Ross to find out how she managed to land her dream role working on the diverse habitats surrounding a windfarm in MorayRefugia – A Celtic Rainforest is the name of new film exploring the temperate rainforests of South West Scotland. Colin Tennant is one of the film makers who spent a year filming the flora and fauna of the areaIn the late 1800s, Wallace, a collie-setter became well known as a fire dog who was adopted by Glasgow’s fire service. 104 years after his death, a statue of Wallace has recently been unveiled at Central Station. Mark hears the story of Wallace and some of his heroicsHow well do you know your wild plants? Rachel has been testing the knowledge of Amelie Mackrory-Bowden, a seasonal ranger with Cairngorms National park who has been researching this vast topic, uncovering some really interesting stories and factsIn memory of Scottish crime writer Peter May who passed away earlier this week, we go back to 2013 when Mark met Peter at Port of Ness close to the Butt of Lewis, the very place he took direct inspiration for the first of the trilogy, The Blackhouse

Edinburgh's Surf Resort, Wallace, Glasgow's Fire Dog and the Wild Plants of Deeside

Helen Needham meets up with writer Gabriella Bennett to discuss her book 'How to Build a City'.  They meet in Glenrothes in Fife where Gabriella spent part  of her childhood.

The Cities of the Future with an Eye to the Past

Up until now, access from the top station of the Cairngorm funicular railway onto the mountain was not allowed outside the winter snowsports season, unless visitors were accompanied by a guide. However, as Mark went to find out, a trial is underway to allow visitors carrying GPS handsets to explore an "approved zone" in the mountain's ski area. Mark hears how the system works.Rachel is on the Newhailes Estate near Musselburgh exploring a rather unusual shell grotto. Diane Martin from the National Trust for Scotland shows her around and tells her about the history of the once elaborately decorated building.After years of vital conservation work, the historic palm houses at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are just about ready to open their doors to the public. Mark went along to see how the impressive 19th century glasshouses are looking.During Mark’s visit to Dumfries House in Ayrshire last week he met Heather McPike, the Farming and Rural Skills Manager there. She tells him all about the different programmes they offer which aim to encourage young people from different backgrounds into farming.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Rachel is in Portsoy on the Banffshire Coast hearing about the village’s fascinating history connected with the quarrying of Portsoy Marble or serpentine. We hear an excerpt where Rachel finds out about a project to save and restore some of the historic listed buildings at the harbour once involved with the marble trade.Have you noticed a lack of wasps this summer? Is your house being taken over spiders? We chat live to Craig Macadam, Director of Conservation with the charity Buglife about how insects have fared over the summer and what the move into autumn means for them.Back near Musselburgh, Rachel is exploring another building on the Newhailes Estate. The restored doocot was a little too empty for staff, so some volunteers stepped up to create some rather cute residents.And Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone get up close and personal with some Highland Cows near Inverness who are proving rather popular with tourists and locals alike.

Wasps, Coos and Doos

Rachel Stewart finds out about a major heritage project linked to the distinctive stone.

The History of Portsoy Marble

The Denburn car park in Aberdeen city centre is well known by locals, but not many people might be as familiar with what sits on top of it. Around the derelict health centre, a community group, Upper Denburn Gardens, is working to improve the site and use it to hold events. Laura Guthrie catches up with one of the volunteers, Joe, and hears about their plans.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark spent time with former marine Jock Hutchison. Jock and his wife Emma run the charity Horseback UK from their Aberdeenshire farm. We hear an excerpt where Jock tells Mark about how the charity first started working with injured servicemen.Rachel explores the Alva Ice House in Clackmannanshire, which will soon be welcoming visitors as part of Doors Open Day. Susan Mills shows Rachel the restoration work that’s been carried out on the building.Earlier this week, Mark spent some time at Dumfries House, the headquarters of the charity The King’s Foundation. On Wednesday, some of the leading voices in food production and food security were attending a summit, alongside King Charles, to discuss the future of food production. Mark speaks to the organiser and some of the delegates, including Dr Chris van Tulleken, about what needs to happen to ensure a fair and sustainable future of food.This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Millenium Link project which reopened and reconnected Scotland’s lowland canals. As part of the anniversary, the Canal Listening Project has been gathering the rich sounds of the Forth and Clyde and Union canals. Rachel meets some of those involved in the project and hears some of the stories they have collected.We hear live from Dr Anna McGregor, one of the researchers involved in a University of Glasgow project which has rediscovered long-lost oyster beds on the west coast of Scotland thanks to research involving Gaelic and Scots.While he was at Dumfries House, Mark met up with a group of school pupils taking part in the King’s Foundation Food for the Future programme. The project starts off with the kids making compost, and eventually they will grow food and take what they’ve learned back to school. Mark hears how the project impacts the pupils involved.Rachel is on the Aberdeenshire coast hearing about a new food-tourism experience, the Cullen Skink Odyssey, which tells the story of the famous fish soup through a film.And Mark couldn’t resist stopping for a chat with Rosie the Ayrshire Dairy cow at Dumfries House. Although, as he discovered, she’s a bit quieter than your average cow...

Sounds of the Canal, Rosie the Cow and a Garden on a Carpark

Horseback UK is a charity run by Jock Hutchison and his wife Emma bringing together horses and humans to overcome some of the stresses of everyday life

The Healing Power of Horses with Jock Hutchison

Mark visits the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen where researchers are carrying out a project to restore, preserve and digitise irreplaceable soil and peat maps, aerial imagery, field notebooks and survey records collected since 1947. Mark hears why Hutton Unearthed: A New National Soils and Peat Map Archive is so important for the future of soil health.Stirling is busy this weekend as Radio 2 in the Park rolls into town but one of the other popular locations near the city is Dumyat. Rachel visited recently to see the work of the Future Forest Company which has been planting thousands of trees on the estate.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Mark spent a morning with wildlife photographer Karen Miller. They spent some time trying to spot voles.This week, a new path was officially opened at Ben Rinnes in Moray. Rachel went along to test out the new route, which was funded by a local windfarm, alongside Ella Grant from Friends of Ben Rinnes, Marion McDonald from Foundation Scotland and Ewan Watson from the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland.Becoming a worm farmer is perhaps not an obvious career choice, however Scott Baxter has turned a lifelong fascination with the invertebrates into his job. Mark went to visit his wormery near Balmedie in Aberdeenshire to hear how business is booming.We hear live about Earth Matters, the exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh which is a multidisciplinary salute to soil.Phil Sime is on Nairn beach trying out some outdoor cooking alongside influencer Etta May who tells him about moving from Harris to the mainland to launch her social media profile which aims to inspire other young people to get active in the outdoors.Mark is in Tranent visiting the Heugh Community Garden which is located on the site of an old gas works. He hears how the area has been transformed and meets some of those involved.And Rachel visits an exhibition at the National Library for Scotland which explores Scotland's relationship with rain. Curator Sarah Mackay shows her around.

Scottish Rain, Productive Worms and an Archive of Soil

Mark Stephen talks to former colleague Karen Miller about swapping her desk for wildlife.

Capturing the Wild with Photographer Karen Miller

Mark visits NatureScot’s Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire where little egrets have bred in north-east Scotland for the first time. They are a welcome addition to the reserve although as manager Catriona Reid tells him, climate change is thought to be the reason that these once Mediterranean birds have travelled further north.Rachel meets the fourth finalist in the environmental category of the BBC Scotland Make a Difference Awards. EPIC, Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire, volunteers are nominated for their efforts in improving biodiversity and access to nature across their area. Rachel catches up with some of them as they carry out work clearing pathways.With the impact of the Cairngorm wildfires still being felt, attention has turned to how similar scenarios might be tackled in the future. Earlier this week Mark met Wildfire Consultant Michael Bruce at his estate at Glentanar in Deeside. Michael is also Chair of the South Grampian Wildfire Group and was involved in tackling the Glenmore fire. He tells Mark about the different aspects involved in tackling wildfires and what we might have to consider in the future in terms of land management.Rachel is in Dunfermline meeting some of the famous peacocks of Pittencrieff Park. The avian celebrities are well looked after by a group of volunteers including warden Carlyn Cane who tells Rachel about how they came to call the park their home and what’s involved in looking after a muster of peacocks.Morven Livingstone visits North Kessock Primary School and meets up with Liaison teacher Laura Dorantt who's joined by JJ Gladwin founder of Go Flourish, a charity whose aim is to reconnect children with nature.This Saturday is the World Stone Skimming Championships on Easdale Island in the Inner Hebrides. We’re joined live by one of the competitors, Andy Reynolds, who came to stone skimming after suffering a stroke when he was just 44. He chats to Mark and Rachel about what it is about skimming stones that’s helped his recovery.Artist and outdoor enthusiast Steven Sinclair currently has a collection on display at Dundee Rep titled Landskein. It’s a term that was coined by an artist in the western isles and gained popularity through Robert McFarlane's work to unearth lost words to describe nature. Rachel met him to take a look at his work and hear more about what inspires him.And in this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham chats to illustrator and artist Jackie Morris about her latest work, The Book of Birds. We hear an excerpt where Jackie tells Helen about her admiration for the cuckoo.

Little Egrets, Popular Peacocks and The Book of Birds

Helen Needham discusses The Book of Birds with illustrator and artist Jackie Morris

The Book of Birds with Jackie Morris

Mark catches up with another of the finalists in BBC Scotland’s Make a Difference Award environmental category. Midlothian Wildflowers started as a small group of people from the Bonnyrigg and Rosewell community carrying out some guerilla gardening. Julia Pennycuik from the group tells Mark how it grew from there and why it’s been nominated for the award.This weekend Grantown on Spey in the Cairngorm National Park becomes Greentown on Spey as an environmental awareness festival is held in the town. Rachel spends some time with one of the groups involved, Wild Tribe Highlands who take children on outdoor adventures in the hope they can build a life-long connection with nature.Culbin Forest on the Moray Firth was one of the locations used recently in Christopher Nolan’s epic film adaptation of The Odyssey. Phil Sime went along to find out that it’s not just a dramatic film location, but also an important home to rare lichens and plants.The recent wildfires in the Cairngorms had a huge impact on the people living in the Glenmore area with initial evacuations and many businesses closed for the duration. The fires also obviously had a huge impact on the flora and fauna, and it will take some time for parts of it to recover. Earlier this week Mark went to meet Dr Sarah Henshall, Head of Conservation with the Cairngorms National Park to hear about how things look now.Balgone Estate in East Lothian grows a rather striking crop at this time of year, sunflowers. But as Rachel hears from general manager Alex Humphreys, they can be quite tricky to get right in our Scottish climate.We chat live to Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management with RSPB Scotland about a recent project to satellite tag Sea Eagles in Western Scotland to investigate how the eagles interact with livestock.Our Scotland Outdoors podcast this week features Mark’s trip inside the Tay Road Bridge as it marks its 60th anniversary. We hear an excerpt of him exploring the engineering of the impressive structure.And Rachel meets up with a group of Aberdeen surfers. Wavy Quines is a female only surfing group who tell Rachel about how they got started and try to show her the art of surfing on Aberdeen beach!

Surfing Quines, Sunflowers and Sea Eagles

Mark Stephen climbs inside the Tay Road Bridge to mark its 60th Birthday

60 Years of the Tay Road Bridge

Mark visits Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park in Wishaw.  The 100-hectare site contains many different habitats including ponds, wildflower meadows and woodlands.  He takes a tour with countryside ranger Derek. Deveron Wildland is a newly established rewilding estate in Aberdeenshire.  Rachel went for a visit to hear about what the plans are for the site as well as to try her hand at nature journalling. When Mark visited Maud Railway Museum earlier in the summer, he was surprised to find that one of their exhibits is a fully restored Peterhead Prison convict carriage.  He takes a look inside and hears about the interesting history of the prison wagon. The Scottish National Sheepdog Trials are being held in Perthshire at the moment.  These trials are a precursor to the World Sheepdog Trials coming to the Scottish Borders next month.  Rachel went along to Glenfarg to chat to some of those involved and watch the impressive dogs at work. 
 
And with sheepdogs and shepherds in mind, Stuart McFarlane recently went along to a workshop run by the Scottish Crookmakers Association in Durisdeer Village Hall.  The association is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and Stuart hears about the history and traditions of crook making.  Rachel meets another of the finalists in the Environmental category of BBC Scotland’s Make a Difference awards.   Alex Watson is a litter picker and social media filmmaker based in Dundee, and he tells Rachel about why he got involved in clearing up his local community. And as the Tay Road Bridge celebrates its 60th anniversary this week, Mark hears about the ferries which linked Dundee and Fife before the bridge was opened in 1966.  He meets Mairi Shiels from the Newport History Group who tells him about the various boats that ran the different routes across the Tay.And in this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham digs into the BBC Archive back to the 1960s to explore Snowy Owls on Fetlar, Thatching in Aberdeenshire and a Tree Loving Tramp in the Highlands. We hear an excerpt.

Nature Journaling, Ferries on the River Tay and The Art of Crookmaking

Helen Needham digs into the BBC Archive to share some audio gems from the past

A 1960's Archive Special featuring Snowy Owls on Fetlar, Thatching in Aberdeenshire and a Tree Loving Tramp in the Highlands

Mark visits Glasgow’s Queen’s Park Glasshouse which was threatened with closure earlier this summer. He speaks to some of those involved in the campaign to secure its future which seems to have been successful.Rachel tries her hand at Nordic Walking which may look gentle but actually involves a full body workout! She went along to a group in Blair Atholl run by Eilidh Paterson who explained what’s involved and showed Rachel the best techniques.Over the next few weeks on Out of Doors, we’ll be chatting to the finalists of the BBC Make a Difference Awards Scotland in the Environmental Category. The awards recognise people who give their time voluntarily to help others and make a difference in their communities. This week Mark met John Smillie who was nominated for his effort in clearing litter, supporting wildlife habitats and raising money for charity through recycling.Earlier this week Mark donned his eye protection to gaze skywards and try and get a good view of the solar eclipse. We find out if the clouds parted for him and hear a bit about the science behind an eclipse.The Scott Monument is one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable landmarks and this year it turns 180 years old. To mark the occasion, Edinburgh City Council are issuing 12 free tickets every day between 12th and 17th August for anyone wishing to climb the famous monument. Mark went along to scale the 221 steps to the top and hear about the monument’s history.The Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve south of Stonehaven is the largest mainland seabird colony on the East Coast of Scotland. Most people visit the reserve by walking along the cliff tops, but recently for a Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham was lucky enough to experience it from the water on a skiff belonging to the Catterline Coastal Rowing Club. We hear part of her row to take a look at the kittiwakes.Stonehaven Open Air Pool is the UK's only art deco Olympic sized sea water lido. It was opened in 1934 and is run by Aberdeenshire Council along with charity group, Friends of the Pool Stonehaven. Rachel went along to very popular ‘midnight swim’ and met Steve Harris from the Friends group to hear about what makes it such a popular attraction at 102 years old.And Mark meets naturalist, conservationist and author Polly Pullar at her farm in Perthshire to chat about her upcoming book, In the Company of Sheep. Polly tells Mark what it is about sheep that has fascinated her since she was a child.

Inside The Scott Monument, Midnight Swimming and Nordic Walking

Mark Stephen meets naturalist and author Polly Pullar in the sheep shed of her farm in Perthshire.  Polly's latest book In The Company of Sheep describes her fascination with them

In The Company of Sheep

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with a special programme from the Scottish Crannog Centre

Living Our Best Iron Age Life on the Banks of Loch Tay

Helen Needham visits the spectacular seabird colony on a skiff

Rowing to Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve with the Catterline Coastal Rowing Club

A few weeks ago, Mark went along to a conference at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen. Under the banner of Living Labs, the institute brought together folk living in rural or island communities, and Mark chatted to Phyl Meyer from Tiree and Euan Maclachlan from Assynt to find out what sort of challenges they face in everyday life.The island of Fetlar is known as The Garden of Shetland due it being a very fertile and green. This week’s presenter Rachel Bell took a trip there and visited the dilapidated Brough Lodge. It's a striking structure with a complicated past. But as Rachel hears, plans are in place to restore it to its former glory.As North Berwick’s Fringe by the Sea festival kicks off this weekend, Mark got an early look at an immersive installation called the Nest. The project celebrates North Berwick and the northern gannet with new music composed by award-winning composer Erland Cooper and has been designed by artist Naomi McIntosh.Work is underway to preserve one of Scotland's only hill figures. The white stag on the side of Mormond Hill near Strichen in Aberdeenshire lay hidden for years, until the area was cleared by volunteers. Rachel went along to join in with the group called the 'Strichen Staggers', who are undertaking back-breaking work to keep the stag in good condition.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark visits the island of Lismore with Iris Smith from Explore Lismore. We hear an excerpt where they chat about what life is like on the small island off the coast of Oban.And this week’s presenter Rachel Bell packs up her whole family and takes a few ferries to visit the island of Fetlar. We hear a snapshot of their day adventure to explore the beaches of the island.

Island Life, Fringe by the Sea and the Strichen Staggers

Mark Stephen takes a Land Rover tour of the Inner Hebridean island of Lismore to explore its history, wildlife and nature

Exploring the history and wildlife of the Island of Lismore

In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Mark meets author Cal Flyn, whose latest book is called The Savage Landscape – How we Made the Wilderness. We hear an excerpt of Cal explaining where her interest in exploring the meaning of wilderness came from.Rachel is on the North East coast on a seabird spotting safari run by the Aberdeen Countryside Ranger Service. The trips have become popular with visitors who arrive in the area by cruise ship.Over the last week the Glenmore area of the Cairngorm National Park has been severely impacted by wildfires. Mark went to speak with Duncan Ferguson, a resident of Glenmore who was evacuated to hear about his experience.Throughout the programme we also hear from Colin Simpson, Cairngorm National Park visitor experience manager about the response to the fires as well as Ben Jones from the RSPB who tells us about the impact on bird and wildlife in the area.For a few weeks every summer, you can experience the glorious sights and smells of lavender fields in Fife. Rachel went along to Scottish Lavender to hear about where the idea to grow lavender came from and what they use the plants for.The Johnshaven Heritage Museum on the Aberdeenshire coast are currently running an exhibition called Land and Sea. Mark went along to take a look and find out more about the fishing village and surrounding area.And as the Commonwealth Games kicks off in Glasgow, Mark went along to Pinkston Watersports to hear about Glasgow Canal Quest, one of the many family friendly events which are being held to celebrate the games.

A Lavender Farm in Fife, Cairngorm Wildfires and a Sealife Safari

Mark Stephen meets Cal Flyn, author of The Savage Landscape - How We Made The Wilderness in which she explores the meaning of wilderness in a journey into the forests, deserts and ocean floor

Cal Flyn - The Savage Landscape

Mark is in Forres to meet up with naturalist and educator Dan Puplett. Dan’s been running bird language courses, helping people understand what birds are really saying and how to interpret their different calls.Ardersier Common has officially become the Highlands' newest Local Nature Reserve after more than two decades of conservation work. Home to the rare small blue butterfly and one of the UK's rarest orchids, Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone joined High Life Highland countryside ranger John Orr to explore this remarkable wildlife haven for this week’s Scotland’s Outdoors PodcastDiseased trees in Callendar Park are set to be removed to protect the nearby Antonine Wall, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experts say the work is needed to safeguard the Roman monument, built almost 2,000 years ago. Rachel joined Falkirk Council Greenspace Team Leader Mike Ewart to hear why the work is so important.Also, in Callendar Park, plans are taking shape to honour one of the 20th century's greatest plant hunters. Falkirk-born George Forrest travelled extensively in China, collecting thousands of plant specimens, many of which are familiar in gardens today. Rachel and Mike Ewart are joined by Leonie Paterson from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to learn more about one of Scotland's most celebrated botanists.We love talking about the benefits of spending time outdoors on this programme, and few people believe in its healing power more than Pete Crane. A former Cairngorms National Park Authority employee, Pete became seriously ill a few years ago. Rachel met him in Nethy Bridge to hear how the outdoors helped him on his road to recovery.After an absence of several years, a familiar landmark has returned to the waterfront at Port Glasgow. The newest replica of The Comet, Europe’s first seagoing commercial paddle steamer, is once again a feature of the shoreline. Celebrating a story that helped shape the town's proud shipbuilding heritage, Paul English has been finding out more from local councillor Chris Curley.Mark heads to the banks of Loch Lomond to explore the East Loch Lomond Path, the only Scottish route nominated in The Ramblers' Britain's Favourite Path 2026 competition. The rugged stretch along the eastern shore is part of the iconic West Highland Way, and Danny Carden from Ramblers Scotland explains why it deserves your vote.And the Aberdeenshire village of Maud was once a thriving railway junction. While the station and railway closed many years ago, the former station now lives on as a museum. Mark paid a visit and even got the chance to ride one of its most popular attractions, a miniature railway that takes visitors on a short but memorable journey.

Callendar Park, Maud Railway Museum and Ardersier Common

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join High Life Highland countryside ranger John Orr at Ardersier Local Nature Reserve in search of one of the UK's rarest orchids.

Ardersier Local Nature Reserve

Next week, communities in Lochaber will be asked to share their views on beavers being reintroduced to the area. Kirsten Brewster from rewilding charity Scotland: The Big Picture tells Mark about the consultation process and why Lochaber might be a good area for beavers.Rachel meets an Aberdeen lecturer who has won an award from the Mammal Society for his innovative camera trap box designed specifically for small mammals. Nick Littlewood shows Rachel the Littlewood Box, which he developed alongside his wife.The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. It brings together people from all walks of life to take on an extraordinary 11-month adventure, racing across the world's oceans aboard 70-foot yachts. This weekend, the Clippers arrive in Oban, and earlier this week, Mark went to hear about the town’s preparations for them and what else is going on as part of the Festival of the Sea.This week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast features artist and sculptor Helen Denerley. She met Rachel in her Aberdeenshire studio to tell her where it all began and reflect on her near 50 years of work.We chat live to one of the Scottish crew members who have been taking part in this year’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The race is arriving in Oban this weekend before heading to Portsmouth on the last leg of the challenge. We hear about what life has been like at sea for the teams taking part.Rachel is back with Colin Bartholomew at RSPB Mersehead on the Solway Coast, trying to spot the rare Marsh Harrier which make their home on the reserve.We catch up with another endurance challenge team on the high seas. GB Row Challenge is working with the University of Portsmouth on real-world research to preserve marine environments and wildlife. We catch up with the team to hear how their journey is going and what they’ve observed so far.And producer Phil and his trusted colleague Morven Livingstone head to Hopeman on the Moray coast to try their hand at snorkelling. The two-day event, run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and a number of partner organisations called Snorkel for All, aims to make snorkelling more accessible for people like Phil, who is registered blind.

Rowing, Sailing, Beavers and a Hot Toddy

Rachel Stewart meets Helen in her workshop as she unveils her latest sculpture.

Helen Denerley - Life as a Scottish Sculptor

Mark hears about the preparation involved in setting up the Fettercairn Show which this weekend celebrates its 190th show, and the 200th anniversary of the Fettercairn Farmers Club which runs it. The committee tell him what sets it apart from other shows.Rachel is on the Solway coast exploring the RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve. Mersehead is home to one of the rarest amphibians in the UK and has a huge range of different habitats.This week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast features Mark learning about attempts to save the rare twinflower in the Abernethy Forest. We hear an excerpt of Sam Jones from charity Plantlife showing him some of the success they’ve had so far.If you’ve been in Edinburgh recently, you may have spotted the Floral Clock in West Princess Street Gardens. It’s the oldest one of its kind in the world and this year therapeutic horticulture charity Trellis are the organisation being celebrated by the clock. Rachel went to see it all being planted up and hear about its history.North 58 Sea Adventures run boat trips into the Moray Firth from Lossiemouth and Findhorn. Mark climbed aboard a trip from Findhorn with skipper Peter, and some enthusiastic dolphin spotters to see if they could catch a glimpse of any.We chat live to Pete Moore who is undertaking a challenge to see all of the 29 species of butterflies that are native to the Scottish Highlands. He’s cycling to all the different locations, and we hear how he’s been getting on so far.And we celebrate some unusual wildlife encounters and your wildlife poetry after last week’s story of an amorous grouse sparked you to get in touch.Rachel finds out about an Aberdeen University project which involves studying the sounds of two coastal areas, Torry in Aberdeen and North Yell in Shetland which are both undergoing economic and cultural transformations. She hears some of the sonic postcards being created at Greyhope Bay.

Edinburgh's Floral Clock, A Moray Firth Sea Adventure and Sonic Postcards

Mark Stephen hears about attempts to save the twinflower in Abernethy Forest

Saving the Rare Twinflower of the Caledonian Pine Forest with Sam Jones of Plantlife

Mark is in Fettercairn in Aberdeenshire where a garden designed for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show has made its way to the local distillery. He finds out about the inspiration behind the Angel’s Share Garden which won a silver gilt medal at the show.Earlier this week a major world conference in agritourism was held in Aberdeen. The inaugural Global Agritourism Conference brought hundreds of delegates from all around the world to share data, research and their personal stories. They also went on several visits to locations across Scotland and Rachel caught up with some of them at Thorneybank farm shop near Inverurie.Mark Stevens is a model maker based in the Black Isle whose creations are made from junk and things that he finds on the roadside. Our Mark goes to visit him in his workspace to hear how he got into model making and see some of his latest creations.The village of Tomintoul in Moray, one of the highest villages in Scotland, is celebrating its 250th anniversary. To mark the occasion sculptor Helen Denerley has created three life size roe deer statues located in the middle of Tomintoul. Rachel went along to see them being installed and hear more about the project.Plantlife Scotland has carried out an emergency translocation of the rare Aspen Bristle Moss, after a fallen Aspen tree put the species’ Scottish population at risk. Deep in the Abernethy Forest Reserve in the Cairngorms, Mark heads out to look for it which proves rather tricky…We hear about Cycling UK’s newest multi-day bikepacking route, Gallovidean Gravel. It’s the charity’s first fully Scottish route and explores Dumfries and Galloway.Our Orkney colleague Evie McGowan spent a night in the UK’s most northerly bothy which has recently been renovated. The Rackwick bothy on Hoy is owned by the Hoy Development Trust and Evie hears about the work that they’ve carried out.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel is in the Trossachs with the Adaptive Riders Collective who empower people with physical disabilities to experience the freedom, joy, and connection that come from being out in nature. We hear an excerpt.

In Search of Moss, Rackwick's Bothy and Unusual Wildlife Encounters

Rachel Stewart visits the charity which aims to make off-road cycling open to all.

Breaking Down Barriers with the Adaptive Riders Collective

Ahead of next week’s Royal Highland Show being held at Ingliston just outside Edinburgh, Rachel catches up with farmer Anna Mitchell, who is one of this year’s vice presidents. This year’s presidential team are representing Aberdeenshire and Anna tells Rachel what visitors can expect from the show.Mark is in Newport-on-Tay with author Dr Erin Farley whose most recent book, Lighthouse Lives, tells the stories of the last generation to work on manned lighthouses across Scotland. She tells Mark about the experiences of some of the keepers and their families who she recorded with for the book.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone meet Allan MacKinnon of Highland Bird Control Services, to see how he's tackling the issues that gulls are causing at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.Two volumes of Birds of America by renowned artist and ornithologist John James Audubon are currently on show to the public at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The College has owned the art treasures for two centuries, and Mark went to meet their heritage lead, Claire McDade to hear a bit about their origins and take a look at the impressive books.Rachel is in Ayrshire meeting some of the farmers involved in the women in dairy initiative.As Scotland fans descend on Boston, Massachusetts in their thousands, we hear about the different birds that the discerning football supporter might be able to spot during their stay in the city. Erin Kelly from conservation charity Mass Audubon tells Rachel a bit about Boston birdlife and where to see it.The Glasgow Tandem Club has members who are both vision impaired and sighted. They are based in Ballahouston Park in Glasgow and Rachel went along to meet some of the members and chatted to founder, Anne Fraser.Mark heads to Cullen to meet the founder of Blue Lighthouse surf club, which was set up to offer tangible support for the health and wellbeing of members of the emergency services and care workers.And in this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark visits the Taliesin Community Woodland in Dumfries and Galloway which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. We hear an excerpt.

Glasgow Tandem Club, Boston Nature Centre and Surf Therapy

Mark Stephen visits the Taliesin Community Woodland in Dumfries and Galloway

A Place to Be at the Taliesin Community Woods

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.

Hugh MacDiarmid, KuneKune Pigs and The Sound of the Year

Rachel Stewart meets Luisa Hendry, better known as the Scottish Geologist on social media

Exploring the rocks of Fife with the Scottish Geologist

Right in the heart of London is one of the city’s most popular attractions, The Natural History Museum. Last week, Rachel met up with John Tweedie, head of the Centre for UK Nature and UK Nature Recovery, who explained why the museum’s ponds have become a hotspot for all kinds of insects, including the striking willow emerald damselfly.To celebrate the tercentenary of James Hutton's birth, a new Deep Time Trail at Siccar Point has been launched. It features a redeveloped 1.3km pathway, new seating, cycle racks, an arrival pillar and spectacular stone viewpoints to help visitors explore the birthplace of modern geology. Mark and geologist Dr Angus Miller visit the site on the Berwickshire Coastal Path.Only a tiny number of people have completed all 282 of Scotland’s Munros in a single winter. In 2024, Anna Wells became the first woman and only the fourth person on record to achieve the feat. She’s written a book about the challenge and spoke to Helen Needham about the experience. You can listen to the full podcast at Scotland OutdoorsStreet artist Mark Anthony, also known as ATM, has created murals across the country highlighting endangered bird species and the threat of extinction. When Rachel met him in London’s Regent’s Park, he told her about combining art with conservation, and whether he considers himself a birder.Parakeets are usually an exceptionally rare sight in the Highlands, so when reports emerged of one causing absolute chaos in the Lochardil neighbourhood of Inverness, producer Phil Sime and colleague Morven Livingstone set out to track down the feathered troublemaker.Mark joins Grant Stott for a walk along Edinburgh’s Hermitage Trail, where Grant reflects on his love for the area and shares his excitement about starting his new afternoon show on BBC Radio Scotland next week.John Hearns got in touch after we mentioned that last week’s programme was coming from London. He invited Rachel to join him and David Judson for a rendition of the Mingulay Sea Shanty with the London Sea Shanty Collective.Operating mainly from Glasgow, the Waverley now sails around the UK. Mark Stephen joined her first outing of the season alongside general manager Paul Semple and some crafty passengers.

Geology, PS Waverley and Parakeets

Mark Stephen climbs aboard the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, The Waverley

A Trip Doon the Watter on the Waverley

Mark and Rachel explore the flora and fauna of the capital and are joined by live guests as they broadcast from the balcony of Broadcasting House in London.Mark visits Mudchute Farm, one of the largest city farms in Europe. It comprises 32 acres of countryside, located a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of Canary Wharf. He hears about how the site was developed from derelict land in the 1970s to the busy farm and park that it is today.Right in the heart of the city centre at Kings Cross, Coal Drops Yard is another location which has seen many uses over the years. It’s now home to a vibrant shopping and dining district, which also includes a number of parks and outdoor spaces. Rachel goes for a wander to find out how the outdoors has been incorporated into the site.One of the most famous ships in the world, Cutty Sark has made her home at Greenwich since 1954. However, she was designed and built in Dumbarton in 1869 before sailing across the world transporting tea and other goods, at one point faster than any other ship. Mark goes aboard to hear about her incredible past.And sticking with boats, Rachel heads out on a London Water Bus canal trip. Skipper Ange tells her about all the different wildlife that pops up along the canal and operations director Rory tells her about the history of the canal.This week is London Rivers Week, and joining Mark and Rachel live to chat about it is Chris Coode from environmental charity Thames21. The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘know your local river’ and Chris tells them about the hundreds of miles of other rivers in London alongside the Thames.Lara Maiklem is an author and a mudlarker- a person who scavenges the banks and foreshores of tidal rivers to find historical artifacts, lost objects, and debris. She meets Mark to chat about what drew her to mudlarking and show him some of the finds she’s had over the years.Joining Mark and Rachel live on the balcony of Broadcasting House is Charlotte Benham from the Tree Council. Charlotte chats to them about the treescape of the city and why trees are so important for somewhere like London.Rachel hears about the flocks of ring-necked parakeets which have made the city their home. The non-native population has thrived at locations across London and Rachel hears how they ended up there and why they like it so much.

Mudlarking, Parakeets, Narrowboats and a City Farm all from London

Helen Needham speaks with Anna Wells, the first woman to complete the munros in a winter

Climbing the Winter Munros with Mountaineer Anna Wells

Mark visits the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s visitor centre, the Fair Maid’s House in Perth. The society has recently received hundreds of photographic slides from nature photographer Lorne Gill which are on display in the centre.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel has been out foraging in the company of expert Janice Clyne. Janice strongly believes that foraging and fermenting can have a really positive impact on our health, and that there’s an amazing amount that plants we usually consider weeds, which could be beneficial.Mark meets Eliza Coulson at Queen’s Park in Glasgow, a place that really helped her recovery from Lyme Disease. Her experience has encouraged her to campaign for fair access to green spaces in Scotland.Earlier this week Mark and Rachel were lucky enough to spend a bit of time at Argaty Red Kites near Doune. They spent some time in the hide watching the birds getting fed and chatted to Tom Bowser and ranger Ollie about the magnificent display of kites.Back at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in Perth, Mark goes exploring in the aptly named Explorers’ Room. It’s a room where visitors are encouraged to get their hands on the artefacts and even sit at Sir Ernest Shackleton’s desk.Helen Needham spends some time with Perth based poet Jim C. Mackintosh as they chat about his latest project Long Water Soft Shadows appearing at Perth Festival of the Arts soon.And as we gear up to cheer on the Scotland men’s team at the World Cup, Mark visits the site of the original Hampden Park as it is awarded protected status from Historic Environment Scotland.

Kites, Rivers and Maps

Rachel Stewart talks to Janice about foraging plants widely regarded as garden weeds.

Foraging and Fermenting with Janice Clyne

Mark heads to the New Pitsligo area of Aberdeenshire with Hywel Maggs from RSPB Scotland, on the trail of cranes. For a bird that can reach over a metre tall and with a wingspan of double that, they can be rather tricky to spot.The ranger service in Aberdeen is busy tackling an invasive plant which seems to be a growing problem. Rachel heads to Walker Dam in the city with countryside officer Simon Whitworth to hear all about American Skunk Cabbage.Claudia Zeiske is a walking artist. Her latest project has involved walking the Ayrshire Coast as a dedication to the geologist Elizabeth Anderson Gray. Mark met her at Girvan beach to hear more about Elizabeth and Claudia’s project.Every Tuesday, rangers in Moray lead what is known as a health walk in and around Dufftown. Rachel went along to join the group and chat to some of those who were taking part.Forager Mark Williams shows Mark more of the Galloway coastline and what can be found at this time of year, especially in rock pools.On Friday 8 May Sir David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday. To mark the occasion on Out of Doors, Rachel spoke to producer and director Alastair Fothergill, who has made some of Sir David’s most memorable series with him, including The Blue Planet and Planet Earth. He tells Rachel about the enormous impact Sir David has had on his life and career and some of the memorable moments they’ve shared together.In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen meets up with listener Marian Burrows-Smith, who got in touch to tell us about a project she works on in Nepal building toilets for remote communities. We hear how Marian, who lives in Nethybridge, got involved.Rachel is on Calton Hill in Edinburgh to hear about the 50th anniversary of the Architectural Heritage Fund. Trustee Audrey Carlin tells her about what the fund does and the kind of buildings it has supported.The RRS Discovery has been a popular tourist attraction in Dundee for over 30 years. And now visitors have a chance to experience a part of life onboard that they haven’t before. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Mark went to give it a go - climbing over 80 feet up the historic ship’s foremast, before ziplining back to the Dundee waterfront.

Cranes, Mast Climbing and Skunk Cabbage

Marian discusses her toilet project for girls with Helen Needham

From Nethybridge to Nepal with Marian Burrows-Smith

Stephen Rutt is a writer and naturalist based in Dumfries and Galloway and his latest book, The Waterlands, follows a raindrop as it falls to the ground in the Lowther Hills and travels through the landscape to the Firth of Clyde. Mark met him on a suitably wet day at Threave to record a Scotland Outdoors podcast and we hear an excerpt of their chat.Rachel visits a charity in Moray that offers guided rides for adults who want to start or get back into cycling. Stu Dick and Diane Maciver from Get on a Bike meet her at Elgin’s Cooper Park, where a group are just heading out on a cycle.On a stony slope in Glen Affric, hopes are high that one of Britain’s rarest ferns can regain a foothold and recover. Mark went to hear about the work of staff from Forestry and Land Scotland and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who have translocated and planted 250 oblong woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis) on a hillside in the glen.Mark is at the Highland Folk Museum near Kingussie. He hears about the history of the site which was founded by Dr Isabel F. Grant in 1936 and has grown into one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions. He takes a look around the open-air museum which shows how life changed in the Highlands from the 1700s to the 1900s.This Sunday, 3rd May, is International Dawn Chorus Day, and next weekend in Sweden, our Swedish radio friends at Sveriges Radio P1, will broadcast their Fågelsångsnatten or Bird song night. Presenter Jenny Berntson Djurvall joins us live to tell us all about the broadcast and what they are expecting to hear.Mark visits the only dairy farm in Banffshire, Lower Mill of Tynet Farm, which has a 24-hour farm shop, making it the only place between Aberdeen and Inverness that you can get a coffee, a pint of milk and an ice cream out of hours!A special event is being held later this month to celebrate the life and work of the Bard of Lochwinnoch. Now in her nineties, Betty McKellar has written extensively about nature and the environment in the Muirshiel Glen. Recently Rachel went to have a chat and hear some of her poems.

The Highland Folk Museum, Get On A Bike in Elgin and Fern Restoration in the Highlands

Mark Stephen chats to writer Stephen Rutt about his new book 'The Waterlands'

From Raindrop to Sea with Stephen Rutt

We hear more from Mark’s time with forager Mark Williams. They met up at Wigtown Bay on a rather wet and blustery day and headed along the coast to look for sea radish.Rachel meets up with Rosie Beetschen from Cairngorms Connect and Ross Watson from Forestry Land Scotland to hear all about some of the oldest and most interesting trees, Granny Pines. They take a wander in Glenmore to find a rather impressive specimen.About four years ago, fisherman Hans Unkles took the engine out of his boat, Lorna Jane, and replaced it with an electric motor and batteries. Mark caught up with Hans in Fraserburgh to hear how successful his electric boat has been and whether any other fisherman have been persuaded to copy him.Every week, poet and musician Bobby Motherwell visits RSPB Lochwinnoch to volunteer. He was also poet in residence at the reserve and has written a book all about his time there. Rachel met up with him in one of the hides and heard some of his tales and poems.The Ledge in Inverness is the Highland's largest climbing gym and a National Bouldering and Performance Centre which has been built on the foundations of community, inclusivity and positivity. Phil Sime headed along to hear all about the different activities on offer and push himself out of his comfort zone with a shot at climbing.Recently the RSPB issued new advice around feeding wild birds. The charity wants people to: Feed seasonally. Feed safely. We’re joined live by Ross Hunter from RSPB Scotland to hear what that means practically.Plus a tribute to the late George Skinner, Aberdeenshire Farmer and font of agricultural knowledge. We dip into the archive to share his knowledge on neeps.And in this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel hears the story of Ioana Ticu, an experienced mountaineer who found herself in a situation where she had to call Mountain Rescue at the summit of Ben More. We hear an excerpt of her story.

Spring Birds, Granny Pines and an Electric Boat

Rachel Stewart hears from an experienced mountaineer who had to call for help on Ben More

A Mountain Rescue Story with Ioana Ticu

Dr Shane Strachan has written a poem which encourages people to explore a new poetry and artwork trail along the 53-mile Formartine and Buchan Way. Rachel meets Shane to find out how he got involved.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark is in Glasgow with Professor Dee Heddon and Dr Rachel Clive of Glasgow University Theatre Studies to hear about the play Three Words for Forest. The play explores the challenges, hopes and fears of those working in the forestry industry at a time of climate crisis.Rachel joins photographer Richard Cook on the River Dee to search for dippers and to chat about his book Dippers on the Dee.Mark looks for lapwings with Warden Lorna Dow at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg and learns about how semi-feral conic ponies are helping manage the wetlands to encourage the birds to use the site.Mark is near Fort William to discover how a detection dog is sniffing out an invasive marine species known as ‘sea vomit’. Dr Texa Sim explains how her labrador, Uisge, tracks down the carpet-like sea squirt.Mark and Rachel are joined by Mark Greaves from Ordnance Survey to talk trig points as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the iconic pillars.Mark hops on a catamaran to check out the gannets on Bass Rock on the Firth of Forth and to chat to Emily Burton, conservation manager at Scottish Seabird Centre, about drone surveys that are helping to monitor how the birds are faring since the outbreak of avian flu in 2022.Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in Glenmoriston is offering those living with dementia and their carers the opportunity to experience nature through a residential course. Mark meets some of those participating, and Professor Ann Dennis of the University of the Highlands and Islands explains how the programme runs.

Trig Points at 90, Dippers, Gannets and Lapwings

Mark Stephen hears about the play Three Words for Forest which explores the challenges, hopes and fears of those working in the forestry industry at a time of climate crisis

Three Words for Forest

Mark is in Gatehouse of Fleet with Mark Williams who has a new book out called The Coastal Forager. The pair chat about identifying coastal plants and have a nibble of a few different species.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Rachel meets Arlene Stuart, one of the presenters of Landward, which is celebrating five decades on air.The 200 year old Falkirk Tunnel is the longest canal tunnel in Scotland. Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Canals, gives Rachel the guided tour.Mark joins dry-stone dyker, Alexis Zafiropoulos, in Alford, Aberdeenshire to talk about the sense of belonging Alexis has developed in the North-East through practising this ancient craft.Mark meets Mary Smith, Engagement Ranger at Threave Nature Reserve in Castle Douglas to discover more about The Threave Landscape Restoration Project which is designed on a 100 year ecological timescale.Poet Jim Carruth’s new book, Knockan, set in the far north west of Scotland, reflects his interest in geology and passion for farming. Rachel meets Jim in Renfrewshire to find out more.The acclaimed wildlife cameraman Doug Allan, from Dunfermline, Fife, has died after becoming unwell on a mountain trek in Nepal. Mark and Rachel are joined by wildlife filmmaker John Aitchison to pay tribute to Doug’s life and career bringing the wonders of the natural world to our screens.In collaboration with BBC L.A.B Scotland, pupils at Balwearie High School in Kirkaldy recorded an interview with Scottish wildlife filmmaker Libby Penman, who was once a pupil at the school.Mark stops at a viaduct which overlooks Loch Nan Uamh to learn about the story behind the name ‘Dead Horse Bridge’.

Dry Stane Dyking, the Longest Canal Tunnel in Scotland and Foraging in the South West

Rachel Stewart meets Arlene Stuart, one of the presenters of Landward, Scotland's Farming and Countryside TV programme which celebrates five decades on  air

50 Years of Landward, Scotland's Farming and Countryside TV programme

Calum Maclean meets Kerry MacPhee and Beth Legg of Bike Trossachs at the Gravelfoyle event in Aberfoyle, where the gravel bike racing season started with a race called the Gravelfoyle 10.The Nevis Range mountain bike season has just kicked off and the Mountain Bike Uplift is open. Mark meets John Sutherland to find out how the gondola works.Helen Needham joins artist Jane Frere as she puts the finishing touches to her latest exhibition The Ark, which is showing at The Barn in Banchory. At the centre of the exhibition is a giant pastel of a tree of life containing drawings of over 170 species facing extinction.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets Harry Fleming, owner of a cold war bunker on the Aberdeenshire coast. Mark hears the story of the bunker from the 1950s to the present day.Mark and Calum are joined by vintage cycling enthusiast Scott Simpson, who runs the Vintage Cycling Scotland Facebook group and repairs and refurbishes older models to get them out on the road once more.In 2022, Nick Gardner from Aultbea completed all of Scotland’s 282 Munros. When he set off he was 80 and he was 82 when he finished. A new film about Nick’s achievement has recently been released and Calum catches up with Nick and one of the film’s directors, Jay Golian, in Aberfeldy to find out more about The Oldest Munro Bagger.Mark is back at the Nevis Range near Fort William to make his way down the Blue Doon bike trail.

The Oldest Munro Bagger, A Secret Bunker and Bikes Galore

Mark Stephen meets Harry Fleming, owner of a cold war bunker on the Aberdeenshire coast.  He hears the story of the bunker from the 1950s to present day

Bervie Brow Cold War Bunker

Mark recently visited the Solway Firth to find out more about some invasive species. Nic Coombey from the Solway Firth Partnership at Brighouse Bay, near Kirkcudbright explains how these species are being monitored.Rachel meets Fran Loots by the River Earn in Comrie to hear how a very special project called Nature Mingle is helping some housebound folk in the Strathearn area of Perthshire.In this week’s podcast excerpt Mark is joined by Professor Kate Britton to uncover the story behind a remarkable archaeological emergency on Lunan Bay in the northeast.A new bylaw has been approved for the Cairngorms National Park, coming into force in less than a week. Rachel finds out from Countryside Ranger Will George what this will mean for visitors to the area.Mark is in the East Lothian village of Aberlady to meet some of its newest residents known as the Aberlady Community Flock. Volunteers and co-founders John Harrison and David Fleetwood share how the sheep came to be there and how they’re bringing the community together.Curator at Benmore Botanic Gardens, Luke Senior joins Mark and Rachel to share the exciting news that saplings cloned from seeds and cuttings taken from the iconic sycamore gap tree were planted at Benmore Botanic Gardens on Thursday.Chris Lawlor has built a large social media following with short films capturing his travels and experiences. Ramblers Scotland have appointed him as their president. Rachel finds out how he feels about his new rolePaul English is with Kayleigh McGuinness to hear how a collaboration between the Tron Theatre, Sharmanka Kinetic Gallery and Glasgow City Heritage trust is bringing St Mungo back to life.

The Saint, The Sheep and The Sycamore

Mark Stephen speaks to Kate Britton about the race to preserve a 2000 year old footprint.

Lunan Bay Footsteps

Mark meets Gordon Whiteford at his farm in Buckie and finds out why white eggs are making a comeback.Bere barley is an ancient crop once grown all over the country, but today it’s mostly found in the Highlands and Islands. Scientists are now exploring whether it could thrive more widely again and if different varieties suit different areas. Rachel speaks with Tim George, Director of the International Barley Hub at the James Hutton Institute, to find out more.Mark visits the Castle Gallery in Inverness to speak to artist Jonathan Shearer about his current exhibition ‘A Life with Trees’ which features a collection of works that reflect Jonathan’s long-standing connection to the natural world.Mark and Rachel are joined by Keli Tomlin to discuss the Seasonal Wheel of the Year and the joy of Spring. Every spring, toads migrate to their breeding ponds, often crossing busy roads along the way. Volunteers and park rangers from Historic Environment Scotland, head out early each morning to help them stay safe. Ranger, Matt McCabe and Rachel are on the look out for any toads on the move at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Marcus Cordock chats to head miller Ali Harcus of Barony Mill, the last working watermill in Orkney and the only place on Earth still grinding bere.Dan Snowdon from RSPB Scotland and Rachel take a walk around the Lochwinnoch Reserve to enjoy the sounds and sights of Spring. In this week’s podcast excerpt, Helen Needham meets artist Ilana Halperin in Newlands Park, Glasgow and hears all about a very special volcano.

White Hens, Bere Barley and Migrating Toads

Helen Needham hears from artist Ilana Halperin in Newlands Park in Glasgow

Connecting with Deep Time, a Special Volcano and Planet Mars with Artist Ilana Halperin

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

Corbetts, Snowdrops and a Talkative Raven

Mark meets Christopher Valentine-Allan who is growing mushrooms for the restaurant market in a repurposed nuclear bunker in Edinburgh.Rachel learns the art of grass whistling with listener Mike Hendry and his sons, 7 year old Innes and 10 year old George.Mark and Rachel are joined by BBC China Correspondent Laura Bicker who has just returned from a trip sailing to Antarctica on the Bark Europa tall ship.Rab Anderson has recently released a fully revised and definitive edition of the Scottish Mountaineering Club’s original guidebook that describes the best walking routes on Scotland’s 222 Corbetts. Mark catches up with Rab near Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh to discuss The Corbetts.The Brechin Buccaneers have won Cricketer magazine’s UK’s Greenest Cricket Ground competition. Rachel chats to Tanya Aldred from the Cricketer and Grant Hutchison from the club.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark is near Glen Prosen with Amy Buckley and her Raven called Fable who has a large repertoire of vocalisations.Helen Needham chats to Sarah Morbey an organic farmer in Aberdeenshire who, after growing wheat successfully on her farm, would like to establish a local grain economy for people in her area.Last year, residents in Comrie in Perthshire got together to save thousands of snowdrops which they feared were about to be destroyed by new flood defence work in the area. Now, they plan to make Comrie the first snowdrop village. Rachel meets Andrew Ryalls who has become a bit of a master planter.

Mark Stephen meets Amy Buckley and her Raven called Fable

Living with Fable the Raven

The impact of cruise ship light pollution on bird species is the focus of research presented at Scotland’s Nature Student Conference at Stirling University. Rachel chats to Adam Woodward who explored the issue as part of his master’s degree.Cromarty is home to one of the world’s longest running bottlenose dolphin research programmes. Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join Research Fellow Dr Barbara Cheney from Aberdeen University to discover how AI is helping to uncover new insights into the dolphin population.In Milngavie, Mark talks to Dr Davide Dominoni of Glasgow University about how wildlife copes with and adapts to urban environments.Back at Scotland’s Nature Student Conference, Rachel talks to whale scientist Dr Penny Clarke about studying mass stranding from space.Mark is at Abernethy Forest Lodge with RSPB Residential Volunteer Catriona MacIntosh to find out how beetle surveys are contributing to a habitat disturbance and restoration project designed to improve capercaillie habitat and wider biodiversity.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Rachel speaks to poet Anne Wiseman about Crovie’s past and its fragile future.Queen bees are emerging from their hibernation into the spring sun. Rachel and Mark are joined by Paul Hetherington of BugLife to find out what bees are up to at this time of year and how we can support them in our own gardens.Dr Désirée Coral’s exhibition ‘Essays on Salt – The First Harvest’ incorporates salt alongside glass, clay, video, photography, and ready-made objects tied to salt harvesting and trade. Mark meets Désirée at the Worm Gallery in Aberdeen to find out how she harvested seawater and evaporated it herself in St Andrews and Aberdeen to create the exhibition.

A Cornucopia of Wildlife including Bees, Dolphins and Beetles

Rachel Stewart talks to poet Anne Wiseman about Crovie's past and its fragile future.

Crovie - A Village on the Edge

Cyclist Mark Wedgwood has completed some enormous challenges, including a journey from America to Scotland. Rachel meets him in Aberdeenshire to find out more about his adventures.People across the UK are being invited to celebrate the unsung heroes in their communities as the BBC launches the 2026 Make a Difference Awards. Last year, New Start Highland Garden in Inverness won the BBC Radio Scotland Green award. Mark visits the garden with James Dunbar and Marion Cordiner.New research from Stirling University suggests that walkers are increasing the popularity of Park Run events. Rachel takes a wander with parkwalkers Lynne Zabek and Andrew Aird and Dr Andre Gilburn who explains more about his research.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark’s in Glasgow to chat to cyclist and content creator Somhairle Johnston about his new BBC Alba series 'Somhairle Spins'.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join survival instructor Zeki Basan on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park to observe the delicate process of harvesting birch sap.Trees for Life Heritage and Gaelic Development Officer Eilidh Sykes joins Mark and Rachel to talk about the links between the Gaelic language and the landscape.A new children’s book, ‘Heather Munro's Race Against the Flames’, aims to raise wildfire safety awareness. Mark meets author and Director of The Heather Trust, Katrina Candy.Rachel meets Rosie Beetschen of Cairngorms Connect who has created a soundscape of her explorations of the Cairngorms landscape.One of the UK’s most experienced mountain rescue experts, David “Heavy” Whalley, has been remembered in a new book charting his life. Mark visits Strathblane to meet Bob Sharp who helped compile Heavy’s story in ‘A Heavy Affair with the Mountains’.

A Cairngorms Soundscape, Harvesting Sap and Cycling from Boring to Dull

Mark Stephen meets cyclist and content creator Somhairle Johnston to discuss his new series on BBC Alba 'Somhairle Spins' in which he undertakes five different bikepacking adventures in Scotland.

Bikepacking with Somhairle Johnston

The iconic ash tree on Glasgow’s Argyle street won UK Tree of the Year last year and is now nominated for European Tree of the Year. Mark looks up at the giant ash with arborist David Treanor and discovers why the 170-year-old tree is so cherished.Fresh efforts are underway to save critically endangered fresh water pearl mussels in the Cairngorms National Park. Rachel catches up with Freshwater Restoration Manager Dr Sally Mackenzie on the River Spey to discuss the fascinating life cycle of the species and the projects aiming to save it.New research suggests that tawny owls, which normally rely on sound to hunt, are adapting to noisy urban roadsides by hunting in areas lit by streetlights. Mark meets Glasgow University PhD Researcher Giuseppe Orlando in Milngavie to find out how he studied the bird’s nocturnal movements.In this week’s midweek podcast excerpt, Rachel takes a wander in the Kinrara Estate near Aviemore with storyteller Sarah Hobbs to discover how women have shaped the Cairngorms.A Brush with Fungi is a compilation of new watercolours produced by artist David Mitchell. Mark joins David in Kirriemuir to explore the process behind painting the intricate detail of hundreds of species of fungi.Glasgow Film Festival will host the Scottish premiere of nature documentary, Super Nature, directed by Ed Sayers. The film was shot collaboratively across 25 different countries using Super 8 cameras, including footage from Richard Davies who filmed Atlantic Salmon in Scotland. Rachel and Mark are joined by Director Ed Sayers.Fyrish Hill, close to Alness in the Highlands, entered the wider public consciousness recently when it featured in the Traitors. Morven Livingstone meets Fiona Stephenson who was inspired to write a poem about Fyrish.

Tawny Owls, Pearl Mussels and Jelly Ears

Rachel Stewart meets storyteller Sarah Hobbs to hear how women have shaped the landscape.

Women of the Cairngorms

Here Comes the Sun, Europe's First Feminist Bird Club and Eating Jellyfish

Mark Stephen visits the Murmurs of Spring art exhibition at the Scottish Ornithologists Club in East Lothian

Murmurs of Spring

The swift population has seen a significant decline in recent years. Now, Scotland has become the first country in the UK to introduce a legal requirement to install swift bricks in all new buildings. Rachel meets Cally Smith of North East Scotland Swifts to discover how the bricks will help to protect the birds.The historic Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh are newly restored and the team are beginning to move the plant specimens inside, starting with the largest. Mark meets Glasshouse Manager Fiona Inches to find out what it takes to move hundreds of specimens.Rachel is at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting in Glasgow to find out about the work being done to help our reptiles and amphibians. She chats to volunteer Cally Ullman-Smith and his mum Janet of Saving Scotland’s Amphibians and Reptiles.Recent stormy weather is causing puffins and other seabirds to struggle and many are being washed up on Scotland’s coastlines. Rachel and Mark are joined by Paul Reynolds of New Arc Wildlife Rescue, Aberdeenshire, to discuss the pressures seabirds face.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets master wood carver David Robinson at his studio in East Lothian to learn more about how his work is inspired by nature.Back at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting, Rachel speaks to ecologist and survey volunteer Stephen Corcoran whose work is related to adders and restoring peatland.Orkney based artist Anna Charlotta Gardiner is undertaking a month long residency in Aberdeen as part of the Royal Scottish Academy’s 200th anniversary. Mark meets Anna near Aberdeen harbour to explore how her work takes inspiration from the city’s maritime heritage.Mark takes a wander in Aberdeenshire to check out potholes exacerbated by stormy weather.

Swift Bricks, Palm Houses and Potholes

Mark Stephen meets master wood carver David Robinson at his studio in East Lothian.    David's works mainly feature nature and wildlife

Master Wood Carver, David Robinson

A topical guide to life in the Scottish outdoors.

Harmony in Nature, a Festival of Light and the World's Toughest Row

Mark Stephen speaks to Professor Will Cresswell about the welcome rise in corn buntings.

The Role of the Corn Bunting in Scotland's Ecology

Rachel meets Director Robbie Synge to learn about a new film featuring young people at work and play in the landscapes of the Cairngorms. ‘Tha Sinn an Seo’ (We Are Here), made throughout 2025, explores habitat restoration work of Cairngorms Connect.The National Trust for Scotland has purchased new land around the Drum Estate, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire to help expand the ancient tree population. Mark takes a wander with Gardens and Designed Landscape Manager, Chris Wardle.Scientists at Aberdeen University and the James Hutton Institute are examining whether a compound found in part of the potato plant could be used in the cosmetics industry. Near Montrose, Rachel joins Grampian Growers Project Manager Sofia Alexiou and Managing Director Kirsty Spink in a tattie shed.A stakeholder discussion on the potential reintroduction of lynx is being launched this month. Mark meets Lisa Chilton, CEO of Scotland the Big Picture, in Aviemore to find out how events across Highland and Moray will gather local views.Rachel chats to Professor Pete Iannetta from the James Hutton Institute who explains what a large part of our diet would have consisted of in days of old.Mark joins Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service and volunteers keeping an area of land on the outskirts of Aberdeen free of gorse.Rare seagrass "fairy circles" have been discovered in the Sound of Barra. Rachel and Mark are joined by Sarah Cunningham of NatureScot to discuss the seagrass doughnuts.Helen Needham meets interdisciplinary plant Researcher Em Merrin May Armstrong in Glasgow to explore Queer Ecology.Mother and daughter Mhairi and Maisie Watson volunteer as lifeboat crew for RNLI Anstruther. Mark catches up with the pair to discover what lifeboat training involves.

Seagrass Fairy Circles, Peas and Beans and an Invasion of Gorse

Mark Stephen meets the countryside rangers and volunteers keeping a large area of land on the outskirts of Aberdeen free of gorse

The Rangers and Volunteers Keeping Gorse at Bay in Aberdeen

This week we’re live from Cairngorm Mountain and joined by a myriad of guests connected by the adventures of the slopes. Snowboarder, mountain biker and climate activist Lauren MacCallum joins Mark and Rachel to talk about Cairngorm 2030, the groundbreaking programme aiming to make the Cairngorms the UK’s first net-zero national park.Rachel takes to the slopes with Cairngorm ski-patrol to hear about how they keep skiers safe on the mountain. Mark catches up with Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team as they enter their busiest season and discovers how rescues have changed with advances in technology. Cairngorm Mountain CEO Mike Gifford joins Mark and Rachel to talk about the challenges of running one of Scotland’s leading ski-resorts and his vision to transform Cairngorm Mountain into a thriving, year-round destination.Retired geography teacher Helen Rennie chats to Mark and Rachel about the record she set in 2019 by skiing on Scottish snow every year for 120 consecutive months.Rachel meets Director Robbie Synge to learn about a new film which features young people at work and play in the landscapes of the Cairngorms. ‘Tha Sinn an Seo’ (We Are Here) was made throughout 2025 and explores how the next generation participate in the habitat restoration work of Cairngorms Connect.Montane woodland is set to return to the slopes of Cairngorm Mountain through the Coire na Ciste Montane Woodland Project, an initiative that has recently planted thousands of native trees and shrubs. Mark meets David Hetherington of the Cairngorms National Park Authority to find out more about the first high-altitude woodland restoration project of this scale on the mountain. 
Helen Needham takes to the slopes at Glenshee to experience a very Scottish winter’s ski.

Cairngorm Mountain Ski Resort

Helen Needham meets interdisciplinary plant resercher Em Merrin May Armstrong in Glasgow

Queer Ecology with Dr Em Merrin May Armstrong

Some people have found themselves unable to get out and about due to heavy snowfall this week. Rachel meets Cameron Black based in Inverurie in Aberdeenshire who has been voluntarily clearing streets with his own plough.Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance has unveiled the most advanced helicopter air ambulance of its type in the UK, which operates from a base in Aberdeen. The new helicopter offers greater range and night vision technology. Mark heads to Dyce to chat to the crew.Community Off-Road Transport Action Group is a group of volunteers in 4x4s who have been helping to deliver medication and get NHS staff to work in the snowy conditions. Rachel joins volunteer Calum Auld to learn how the group have been helping those most in need in the Northeast of Scotland.Birds don’t have access to the same quantities of food and water in the wintery weather. Mark and Rachel are joined by Richard Humpidge, Site Manager at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve in Aberdeenshire, to discuss what we can do to help garden birds at this time of year.Rachel is in Govanhill in Glasgow to discover how new project Creative Canopies is aiming to create a dispersed orchard. Rachel meets Simone Stewart from Govanhill Baths Community Trust who explains how the project contributes to tree equity.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark sketches old trees in Haddo Country Park, Aberdeenshire with artist Tansy Lee Moir.Fiona MacBaine from Inverness is known online as Fiona In The Wild where she documents her solo wild camping adventures. Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone wrap up to track Fiona down on the banks of Loch Ness.Mark takes a wander through his local area to contemplate the wintery scene and the potential impacts on people and wildlife.
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Snow, Camping in Winter and a New Air Ambulance

Mark Stephen goes out sketching old trees at Haddo with artist Tansy Lee Moir

Drawing Ancient Trees with Tansy Lee Moir

he Quadrantid meteor shower will be peaking in the UK around 3rd and 4th January. Elizabeth Tindall shares her experience of observing fireball meteors which are associated with this type of shower.Rachel catches up with Milli Abram as she undertakes a solo rowing adventure across the Atlantic Ocean.The Atlantic Salmon is now classified as an endangered species in the UK. Mark hears about the Save the Spring project being undertaken by the Dee District Salmon Fisheries Board to translocate fish and help improve breeding success.Writer Neil Ansell discusses his hearing loss and quest to hear endangered birds before it's too late.Graeme Johncock of Scotland's Stories shares some old tales from around the country.Survival Expert Zeki Basan goes winter foraging with Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone.And Mark visits the unique Finzean Bucket Mill in Aberdeenshire which is undergoing restoration by the Birse Community Trust.

A Bucket Mill, Yule Day and Rowing the Atlantic

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone go wild foraging in the Highlands with outdoor survival instructor Zeki Basan. Along the way, Zeki introduces them to essential bushcraft skills, from food preservation and shelter building to the ancient art of fire-lighting using stone.

A Walk on the Wild Side with Zeki Basan

Mark and Rachel celebrate 60 Years of the Mountain Bothy Association with a trip to Ryvoan Bothy to get a sense of the very lively bothy culture in Scotland.

A Ryvoan Bothy Special

Helen Needham discusses hearing loss and his search for bird song with writer Neil Ansell

In Search of Bird Song with Neil Ansell

Farmer Simon Johnson offers tours and experiences with alpacas. Rachel heads to Bowbridge Alpacas in Fife and begins by taking a look at some alpaca babies sheltering from the cold.It’s National Robin Day on the 21st of December. Mark meets Ian Broadbent in Aberdeenshire to chat about the songbird and its small but mighty reputation.Rachel joins Dr Andrew Hoolachan in Glasgow, the wettest city in the UK. Andrew explains why it’s important to consider how we live with the rain and shares findings from his report: ‘Living with rain – planning for everyday life in Glasgow.’Mark takes the Cairngorm Mountain funicular to a windy plateau and examines snow with Mark Diggins of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service. Mark discusses the changing conditions in the Cairngorms.The Spey Viaduct near Garmouth in Moray has partially collapsed. Rachel visits the bridge with Melanie Newbould of the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust to find out why it is so important to the outdoors community.Maud Start and Sarah Wann explore the streets of Edinburgh on a festive treasure hunt.In Sweden, Out of Doors has a counterpart in Naturmorgon, an nature and ecology focused radio programme. Rachel and Mark are joined by one of the presenters, Jenny Berntson Djurvall to discuss how Naturmorgon tells Sweden’s stories.Mark travels to Fife to meet Johnnie Balfour, who is reducing emissions on his farm by grazing cattle all year round and moving them regularly.Calum Maclean has been swimming the length of the River Tay, one day per month across 2025. Linda Sinclair kayaks alongside Calum for his final swim of the challenge.

Alpacas, Robins and a Christmas Treasure Hunt

Mark Stephen goes out in search of snow with Mark Diggins of SAIS

Crystal Hunting on Cairngorm with Mark Diggins of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has just acquired a piece of land which will double the size of one of its wildlife reserves. Rachel joins Reserves Manager Rab Potter at Gight Wood near Methlick to discover why the site is so significant.A new survey has revealed that the number of peregrine pairs in the breeding season within Cairngorms National Park has declined by 56% since 2002. Mark meets Chief Executive Grant Moir near Grantown to discuss the pattern.Cattle droving was once commonplace in Scotland, moving animals on foot to market and to higher fields for grazing. Rachel meets farmer and ecologist Richard Lockett near Dingwall to discover how he led a modern-day cattle drove across the Highlands.The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team in the North East are working with specially trained dogs and their handlers to detect the last remaining grey squirrels in the city and surrounds. Mark visits a search and signal demonstration.Rachel heads to the open air swimming pool in Stonehaven, host of the International Ice Swimming Association GB Championships. She gets pool side with Stephen Gould from IIS GB and Gillian Wood from Aberdeenshire Council.Mark takes a wander in Aberdeenshire to consider the nuances in the colours of squirrels' fur.Mark and Rachel are joined by Joanna Peaker of Montrose Basin Visitor Centre to chat winter wildlife behaviour.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone join Jonathan Caddy to discover how an extraordinary chain of events led to the founding of the world-renowned Findhorn Foundation.Forestry and Land Scotland’s Newton Nursery near Elgin has recently opened a glasshouse which could more than double the number of trees they can grow. Mark explores with Glasshouse Team Leader Emma Ritchie.

Squirrel Detection, Ice Swimming and Cattle Droving

Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone meet up with Jonathan Caddy at the Findhorn Foundation.

The Findhorn Foundation

In the summer, Mark met Euan Tomes, Assistant Woodlands Manager at Moray Estates, in the aftermath of a wildfire that spread through Dava Moor. Mark catches up with Euan to find out how the land has been recovering and what happened to the osprey chicks Euan helped to save.In the heart of Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway is an organisation called A’ the Airts. Rachel meets Aileen Sim and Kate Sloan to find out how it's working to protect the craft of knitting.Mills Observatory in Dundee has reopened for this year’s season and the historic dome is also celebrating its 90th anniversary. Mark meets Anna Day of Leisure and Culture Dundee to find out how the Observatory was recently saved after it risked closure.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network Conference near Perth.In Aberdeenshire, craters left by a WWII decoy airfield form the basis of a successful rewilding project. Mark meets Gavin Drummond on his farm Harestone Moss to discover how he’s giving parts of the land back to nature.Back in the south west, Rachel takes a trip to Wanlockhead - the highest village in Scotland. Rachel joins Jon Evans, chair of Wanlockhead Museum Trust, to explore a miner’s subscription library.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone head to the Cairngorms to meet outdoor survival expert Zeki Basan who introduces the ancient craft of using urine to extract vibrant natural dyes from lichen.In Glen Prosen, Mark takes a wander with Molecular Fungal Ecologist Dr Andy Taylor to explore the fungal species found in the area.Rachel and Mark are joined by Anna Grunden of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to talk about Sweden’s approach to outdoor access and shared challenges with Scotland.

The Super Moon, Fungus and the Highest Village in Scotland

Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.

Twenty Years of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code

The Spirit of Adventure Festival is hosted this weekend by Paralympic champion Karen Darke and features Claire Alldritt, who embarked on a 1000 mile trek with her horses in 2022. Rachel joins them to chat next adventures.In this week’s podcast excerpt, Mark meets climber Guy Robertson whose latest book, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland, co-produced with photographer Hamish Frost, highlights winter climbs in the country.In a few days, Milli Abrams of Tribe Yarns in East Neuk, will start a 3000 mile solo row across the Atlantic. Milli joins Mark and Rachel before the adventure begins.Few patches of Caledonian pinewoods remain in Scotland. Near Glenmore Lodge, Mark talks to author Dr Ron Summers about future conservation of the pinewoods.The UNESCO Trail links Scotland's 16 UNESCO sites. Rachel chats about the trail's highlights with Ed Forrest, the Director of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, at the Crawick Water.A new exhibition at National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait features Alfred Buckham, an aerial photographer who pushed the boundaries of 20th Century photography and aviation. Mark meets curator Louise Pearson to explore his death defying adventures and innovative techniques.The North Bridge, Edinburgh is currently under repair. In 2024, Maud Start met Benn Isherwood, Technical Advisor for the North Bridge Refurbishment Project, in Leith, where parts of the bridge were being painted.Rachel joins Brian Johnson at the Crawick Multiverse to discover how the land art installation was created.Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's lease at demonstration farm Auchnerran in Aberdeenshire has recently ended. Mark joins Director Dr Nick Hesford at the farm to discuss its legacy of achievements.

A Daredevil Photographer, a Winter Climber and an Atlantic Rower

Mark Stephen meets Scottish based winter climber Guy Robertson.   Guy's latest book, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland, co-produced with photographer Hamish Frost highlights the best winter climbs in the country.  Mark also finds out what it takes to be a winter climber

Winter Climbing with Guy Robertson

Forvie Nature Reserve is known for its seal population. Ythan Seal Watch are a volunteer group who promote responsible viewing of seals, Mark met up with them to find out more.Rachel heads to the beach at Broughty Ferry to chat with Isla Fowler and Jessica Giannotti about SeaDyes, a young company working with the James Hutton Institute to create natural dyes from seaweed.”Listener and professional dog walker, Liz Merchant challenged Mark to join her and two of her dogs for a walk in a very wet Edinburgh.Just outside Glasgow, the Salvation Army is turning its outdoor space into a spot for gardening and recovery. Mark visits the Eva Burrows 1st Stop project in Cambuslang, where programme manager Rosie Kehoe is ready to give him a tour.On the Finzean Estate in Aberdeenshire, Mark joins stalker Hedge Shand who has been teaching chef Sanjay Bhattacharya the art of stalking.Elizabeth Cameron, Director at Blairgowrie Vets joins Mark and Rachel to discuss loupin ill and how we can protect our dogs.In Eyemouth, a sculpture called The Wives and Bairns tells the story of those left behind when 189 fishermen, most of them local, died in the storm of October 1881.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone speak to Auctioneer Daniel Urquhart from Dingwall Auction Mart at Scotland’s only live sheepdog sale.

A Doggy Special - Sheep Dogs, Dog Walkers and a Deathly Disease

Mark Stephen goes out on the hill at Finzean in Aberdeenshire with stalker Hedge Shand and Chef Sanjay Bhattacharya to discuss deer management and venison.

The Stalker and the Chef

Photographer, filmmaker and researcher Jill de Fresnes has encapsulated the experiences of twelve Scottish women who worked as herring gutters from the 1920s to the 1960s in a new exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. Mark meets Jill there to chat about Silver, Salt and Stories – Images and Memories of the Scots Herring Women.Two friends in Fife set up the Wild Scottish Sauna during lockdown after seeing the popularity of wild swimming. In this week’s podcast excerpt, Rachel visits one of their sites at Kingsbarns beach near St Andrews to speak to some of the regulars and co-founder Jayne McGhie.A groundbreaking soil survey in Glen Prosen, Cairngorms National Park, has unearthed a staggering number of species living beneath the ground. Mark is in the Glen with Plant Ecologist Dr Andrea Britton, Molecular Fungal Ecologist Dr Andy Taylor and Forestry and Land Scotland Programme Manager Christine Reid to discover how the findings will inform the rebuilding of native woodlands in the area.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone take a trip to the Black Isle Library of Things which encourages people to borrow and not buy. The pair join Martin Sherring and Allan Tailor to dig into what’s available to hire, including lawn-mowers, welding helmets, cots and even a polar bear suit. Rachel meets Rose Benoy for a goat walk at Rose’s small holding near Forfar in Angus to discover the benefits of taking a stroll with these four legged companions.Mark admires a big raft of Eider ducks at Forvie Nature Reserve with Reserve Manager Catriona Reid. Project One Wave aims to unite Scotland’s ocean conservation groups, businesses, creatives, and policymakers to collaborate on marine debris cleanup efforts. Mark and Rachel are joined by co-founder David Brown to discuss the Project One Wave summit that took place in Glasgow this week and the importance of gathering data on the health of our coastlines. In 2024, Jude Harper closed their business, sold their house and moved to Aberdeenshire to try to live as self-sufficiently as possible on an acre of land. Jude posts on YouTube under Rewilding Jude and Rachel visits him and some rescue hens he’s just adopted to find out more.

Outdoor Saunas, Walking with Goats and A Library of Things

Two working mothers in Fife set up Wild Scottish Sauna during lockdown after seeing the popularity of wild swimming.

Saunas and the Sea

Cairngorms Pride is a new nature-led organisation set up in Cairngorms National Park with the motto: “here for the planet, queer for the planet”. Rachel chats to Dan Cottam and Kath Pierce about the social enterprise.Coinneach Rankin and Hamish Macleod are climbers and filmmakers who make the series Dàna on BBC Alba in which they capture their adventures in the outdoors. Helen Needham joins them in Lochaber to discuss their approach to adventuring, filmmaking and the Gaelic language.The first grey seal pups of the season are at Forvie National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire. Mark meets Reserve Manager Catriona Reid to discover how to observe the seals without disturbing them.Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone take to the Caledonian canal to speak to Robert Gordon from Inverness Rowing Club about how the club is making the sport more accessible.A mother-daughter duo are co-authoring a memoir called Sea Legs. The book follows 11-year-old competitive para swimmer Oona Dooks and her mother Eleanor Thom in their travels across the UK coast and beyond. Mark joins the pair at Montrose Basin to discover what they’ve learnt about caring through the lens of the natural world.Rachel meets Biosphere Dark Sky ranger Elizabeth Tindal at Crawick Multiverse in Dumfries and Galloway to find out how best to adjust our eyes to the dark and observe the stars.The Woodland Carbon Code is the UK’s standard for woodland creation projects that aim to generate credible carbon credits. Mark and Rachel are joined by Pat Snowdon of Scottish Forestry to find out how to code is contributing towards Scotland’s net zero targets.Mark discusses the often misunderstood magpie with author Esther Woolfson, who shared her home with a magpie for eight years.