Scotland Outdoors

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.

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

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.

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

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’.

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

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.

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

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 role Paul 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.

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

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.

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

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

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 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

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.

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

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’.

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.

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.

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

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

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

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.

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

A topical guide to life in the Scottish outdoors.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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. 4Status:

Mark Stephen goes out sketching old trees at Haddo with artist 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Coinneach Rankin and Hamish Macleod are both climbers and filmmakers who make the series Dàna on BBC Alba in which they capture their adventures in the outdoors. They discuss their approach to adventuring, filmmaking and the Gaelic language and landscape.

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

Mark Stephen visits Culloden Battlefield to meet archaeologists involved in a recent dig there to find out what they have uncovered

The Mither Tap forms part of the range of hills collectively known as Bennachie in Aberdeenshire. Mark takes a stroll with Peter Stock and Alan Henderson of Bailies of Bennachie to discover plans to restore the path to the Mither Tap. Jenny Graham joins the Strong Mum Club baby hike near Inverness to find out how mums in the group are benefitting from getting outdoors and socialising together. In this week’s podcast excerpt, Rachel meets Tom Bowser, author of Waters of Life, Fighting for Scotland’s Beavers at his farm in Perthshire where in November 2021 a family of beavers were relocated. A new permanent exhibition which showcases the history and future of Shinty in Scotland opens this weekend in Inverness. Mark visits as the final touches are taking place and chats to artist and former Shinty player Tom Smith and Steven MacKenzie of the Camanachd Association. Rachel visits this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival and chats to Georgiana Keable who has written a book exploring Norwegian Folk Tales. Also appearing at the Festival is Beatrix Wood, the Director of Tim Stead: Magician with Wood. Rachel joins Beatrix and Tim’s former colleague and friend Eoin Cox from the Big Tree Society in Tim’s workshop in Jedburgh. Green Shores is a St Andrews University based initiative aiming to restore saltmarshes. Mark meets a volunteer group on the Tay Estuary and chats to Dr Clare Maynard, Dr Helena Simmons to discover why saltmarshes are so important. The Scottish Ploughing Championships take place this weekend and Rachel and Mark are joined by Chairperson Gordon Beattie who explains what it takes to impress the judges. Mark takes a wander up Ben Rinnes to admire the autumnal colours of a landscape in flux.

Rachel Stewart meets Tom Bowser, author of Waters of Life, Fighting for Scotland's Beavers at his farm in Perthshire where in November 2021 a family of beavers were relocated

Mark Stephen and Jenny Graham with stories from the great outdoors.

A conversation between geographer and writer Hayden Lorimer and Alec Finlay, in which Alec describes his creative practice around limit and how he came to appreciating and celebrating the View.

A multimedia installation which explores the role of beavers on an estate in Perthshire is part of this year’s soundfestival in the north east. Rachel joins composer and musician Dave Maric to learn more about Silent Architects. Mark takes a stroll in Falkirk with writer Rebecca Smith to appreciate the beauty of larch trees and new techniques to protect them. One of Shetland's small outer Isles recently saw the first working tractor in over thirty years tend to the land. Eva Runciman meets Ethan Arthur, who grew up in Skerries, to find out how an old Massey Ferguson left its shed and was put to work on wildlife crop. Mark meets conservationist Roy Dennis at an innovative project in Moray, where the introduction of highland cows could be helping to restore Scotland’s capercaillie population. Rachel meets gardeners Mark Armour and Euan Shelley to find out about the unusual pumpkin varieties at The National Trust for Scotland’s Hill of Tarvit in Fife. Mark is in Glasgow to explore Hamiltonhill Claypits, an inner-city Local Nature Reserve. The Reserve's Julieanne Levett, Bob Alston and Scott Milligan explain the benefits to local communities. A new book reveals results of a major archaeological project at Finlaggan, the site of a medieval kingdom’s centre of power. Mark and Rachel are joined by author of The Archaeology of Finlaggan, Islay, Dr David Caldwell. Rachel is off to Tamala Farm in Aberdeenshire to try her hand at tattie howking and to catch a glimpse of harvest life before machinery took over. Mark checks out the ‘The Air We Breathe’ exhibition in Glasgow. Ingrid Shearer, Heritage Engagement Manager at Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, shares the history of Glasgow’s air quality and just how far the city has come.

Mark Stephen meets conservationist Roy Dennis to explore an innovative project in Moray, where the introduction of Highland cows to a wooded landscape is helping to restore Scotland's capercaillie population.

Since 2021, Argyll Hope Spot’s Snorkelling Artists Residency has been offering artists the opportunity to explore the marine habitats of Argyll and create artwork inspired by what they find beneath the waves. Mark dons his wetsuit to join printmaker Louise Scammell and artist and writer Jane Smith who are helping to run the residency. Last week, Scottish Ministers approved a new seasonal byelaw to ban campfires and barbecues in the Cairngorms National Park at the most high risk times of the year. Rachel meets the Park’s Grant Moir to chat about how the byelaw will work. Producer Phil heads to Inverness Marina to talk to former professional rugby player Iain Sinclair about becoming the first person to swim the entire length of the Caledonian canal. Mark catches up with Ramblers Scotland Director Brendan Paddy in Edinburgh to discuss the challenges and opportunities for walking, paths and access rights in the country. Rachel visits an oak woodland and speaks to Eilidh Mair from Woodland Trust Scotland about why this appears to be a mast year. In this week's podcast excerpt, we hear about the Bessie Ellen, a unique sailing ship that has been lovingly restored by Nikki Alford. Writer Linda Cracknell has a personal association with the ship and Helen Needham joins her on board in Inverness to hear about her new book ‘Sea Marked’. With a focus on responsible access this week, Mark and Rachel are joined by Senior Lecturer in Law Malcolm Combe to explore more about what our rights are. Walter Micklethwait lives at Inshriach in the Highlands and has been noticing some negative impacts of tourism in the area. Rachel talks to him about what he’s been seeing, including a bit of an unpleasant poo related discovery.

The Bessie Ellen is a unique sailing ship which has been lovingly restored by Nikki Alford. Originally from the South West of England, she spends most of her time sailing in Scottish waters. Writer Linda Cracknell has a personal association with the ship after she started looking into her family history and discovered that she comes from a long line of sea farers. Helen Needham gets a tour of this beautiful ship whilst she was moored up in Inverness and hears about Linda's book 'Sea Marked'.

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

'Upsetting content warning' - Juliet talks very openly about her terminal illness which some people may find upsetting.

Leslie Heritage Group in Fife came up with an ambitious project designed to unearth more information about the ancient village’s history and raised money for an archaeological dig. Rachel went along to day one of the excavation to learn more from Group members Bill Carr and Bill Fiet and archaeologist Philip Karsgaard. Woodland Trust Scotland has developed a database which maps social depravation against canopy cover and gives each neighbourhood a ‘tree equity score.’ Kevin Keane meets the Trust’s Anna Perks to talk about the scores and how many trees need to be planted to create urban equality. In this week’s midweek podcast excerpt Mark is in Dundee to hear how a consignment of teak salvaged from a sunken steamer is being used in the RRS Discovery restoration project. Hedgehogs are currently searching for food before their winter hibernation. It’s a busy time for rescue centres and Rachel visits Ballumbie Hedgehog Rescue in Dundee, a centre Dawn Airlie has created at her own home. The Keith and Dufftown Railway maintains an eleven mile line linking Dufftown with the historic town of Keith. The Railway celebrates its 25th anniversary this week. Mark joins volunteers to discover how the railway has been restored and continues to run today. Chris Cathrine is an expert in all things spiders. Chris joins Mark and Rachel to explain why we see more spiders at this time of year and why we shouldn’t pop them outside. Nature artist Jane Smith has written a new book – ‘Community: People and Wildlife on the West Coast of Scotland’. Starting from her own garden in Argyll, Jane travels to ten locations in the west of Scotland to explore the interaction between people and wildlife. Mark chats to Jane in Argyll about some of the stories she uncovered.

Mark Stephen visits Dundee to hear how a consignment of teak which was salvaged from a sunken steamer ship in the Irish Sea is now being used as part of the RRS Discovery restoration project

The North East Open Studios allows people to meet artists and makers, often in their own workspaces. Rachel is welcomed by Marguerite Fleming from Westfield Croft in Aberdeenshire who has a rare breed fibre flock which she uses to create hand woven rugs and yarns. Around this time last year, Mark visited Scott Campbell on his farm at Kinellar in Aberdeenshire when the rain that had played havoc with his crops. Mark catches up with Scott to find out how the barley has fared this year. The results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count are out and Rachel and Mark are joined by Apithanny Bourne, Species-rich Grassland Project Officer at Butterfly Conservation Scotland, to find out why butterfly numbers are average despite our sunny summer. In this week’s midweek podcast extract, Mark heads to RSPB Insh Marshes near Aviemore to meet moth experts Mick Acourt and Pete Moore and to discover the contents of the moth trap they set the night before. This year marks 50 years of Carriage Driving for the Riding for the Disabled Association. Phil Sime takes a trip to Castle Fraser, near Inverurie to hear from the coaches, volunteers and participants involved in their 50th anniversary event. A 12-week public consultation on Edinburgh's proposed North-South tramline has begun. One proposed route would see one of the city’s green spaces, the Roseburn Path, turned into a tramway. Mark takes a walk with Save The Roseburn Path’s Euan Baxter to learn about the campaign to protect the path. Set in a spectacular location in the Highlands, Moniack Mhor is Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre. Rachel joins the Centre’s nature writing course and chats to two published authors Mark Cocker and Karen Lloyd and some of those on the course hoping to learn more about the genre.

Mark Stephen visits Insh Marshes near Aviemore in the early hours to meet a couple of moth enthusiasts and discover the contents of the moth trap they had set the night before

The University of St Andrews is using ancient rocks from Torridon to test instruments that will be used on the Mars Rover to look for evidence of life. Mark meets Dr Claire Cousins in the lab. Rod and Niccy Angus opened the Scottish Owl Centre in West Lothian in 2012 and are now looking for new people to take over the attraction. It’s the largest collection of owls in the world and Rachel hears how the origins of the venture can be traced back to one species. Phil Sime takes a trip to Inverness Botanic Gardens to catch up with artist Nigel Goldie, exploring the striking sculptures featured in his Out of the Ground exhibition. Naturalist Mark Cocker has written a book Crow Country exploring the complex seasonal cycle of corvids. Rachel hears how rooks now start to roost in large numbers, creating quite a spectacle. Disc Golf is a sport which is rapidly growing in popularity throughout Scotland so with discs in hand, Mark Stephen met up with some of the professionals involved in the Glasgow Disc Golf team. Rosie Steer, author of Slow Seasons, shares her top tips for embracing the change of season into autumn with craft and cooking ideas inspired by mindful observation of nature. Sea Change is a project running in Montrose where artists engage with the community to create awareness of how climate change is affecting the area. Mark Stephen met up with Resident artist, Eve Mosher. Rachel joins a bat walk in Strathpeffer with High Life Highland Countryside Ranger Marcia O’Hara. Wormit Boating Club in Newport-on-Tay is the first in the UK to take delivery of a fully electric training and rescue vessel. Mark goes on board with Evelyn Hardie and Andrew Lumsden and hears about the many benefits.

Rachel Stewart meets the owners of the Scottish Owl Centre as they prepare for retirement

The Bikery in Huntly, Aberdeenshire aims to repair and resell old bikes to stop them ending up in landfill. Rachel chats to team members Stuart Pow and Laura McNeil about the Bikery’s mission, before heading to the workshop to learn how the project teaches mechanical skills. Josh Donaldson from Arbroath became an internet sensation after posting videos clearing up litter from his local forests, beaches and streets. In an excerpt from our midweek podcast, Mark joins Josh to find out how he is motivating others to do the same. ‘Beneath the Waves’ is a current exhibition at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine and includes the work of award winning underwater photographer Lawson Wood. Rachel meets him in Eyemouth to talk about his passion for marine life. Mark catches up with Finavon Castle Water Estate Ghillie and Manager Iain MacMaster to chat about Sea Trout fishing and why it’s best done at night. Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone take to the high seas in Findhorn with Chief Sailing Instructor Leon Ward. Scientists at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have been tapping into the expertise of young people across Edinburgh to find out their perspectives on nature and green space in the city. Mark visits the Gardens to chat to Dr Emma Bush about the ‘The Good City’ research project. This month commemorates the 95th anniversary of the evacuation of St Kilda. Mark and Rachel are joined by the St Kilda Ranger to find out about life on St Kilda now Mark is in Kelty, Fife discovering what it takes to train for the annual Scottish Coal Carrying Championships. Mark meets race Founder Michael Boyle to learn how the race started and its links to Kelty’s mining heritage.

Mark Stephen speaks to Josh Donaldson from Arbroath who became a Tick Tock sensation after posting videos of him clearing up litter from his local forests, beaches and streets. As well as coming across the usual litter such as plastic bottles, cans and crisp packets, he’s even found a grenade. Now with a following of 1.5 million fans as far as the USA and Vietnam, Josh is motivating thousands to do the same.

Mark is back with Heritage Engagement Manager Ingrid Shearer on the banks of the River Clyde to discuss one of Scotland’s first access rights success stories, the case of Harvie’s Dyke. Also on the Clyde, Helen Needham takes a wander with author Louise Welsh and architect Jude Barber, who are asking for recognition of the legal personhood status of the river. Helen and Mark are joined by Chris Romer-Lee who co-founded Swimmable Cities to discuss how we can swim in our urban waterways once more and the benefits of cleaning up our rivers for both people and nature. It’s the 25th edition of the Strathaven Hot Air Balloon Festival this weekend and Mark heads along to find out what it takes to bring 25 hot air balloons together for a show and how they are recovered after they float away with the wind. Festival Secretary Les Hoggan confides that the secret lies in whisky. In an excerpt of the midweek podcast, Helen catches up with Robert Macfarlane at the Edinburgh Festival to talk about the ‘aliveness’ of rivers. How can nature influence more responsible AI systems? Mark finds out when he visits the exhibition Tipping Point: Artists Responses to AI in Edinburgh with Gavin Leuzzi, Lead, Fellowships at Edinburgh University’s Bridging Responsible AI Divides. Ghillie and Manager Iain MacMaster has worked at Finavon Castle Water Estate for 10 years and he knows the land inside out. He takes Mark for a walk of the South Esk River and explains the changes in weather patterns he has been experiencing. Helen learns about the legacy of Scottish geologist Hugh Miller who grew up in Cromarty. She joins Bob Davidson and Sidney Johnston of the Friends of Hugh Miller Society to go fossil hunting on the beach at Cromarty.

Helen Needham discusses the 'aliveness' of rivers with writer Robert Macfarlane

Mark is in Aberdeenshire with RSPB’s Hywel Maggs to try to catch a glimpse of the Common crane and to find out why numbers of the birds are increasing in North East Scotland. Naturalist and Educator Dan Puplett reads the Scottish landscape to track wildlife. Jenny Graham meets him Rafford, near Forres to search for evidence of local species. ‘Clouds’, a new book by Dr Edward Graham explores cloud formations, the science behind them and even the famous artists who have painted them. Mark meets author Eddy to take a look at the formations floating in the sky above Glasgow Green. Crafted entirely from upcycled materials, a new statue by Helen Denerley is bringing the story of one of Scotland’s most notorious historical figures back to life. Phil Sime joins Shirley Neild in Kingussie to chat about the history of Alexander Stewart marked by the structure. On a recent trip to Norway, Jenny Graham hopped on her bike in the Fosen district to adventure through Fjord territory. The Balmoral Estate is home to a series of Royal commemorative cairns, including a structure that’s more reminiscent of ancient Egypt than Scotland. Mark explores with Heraldist Gordon Casely. Red grouse numbers continue to be low in Scotland. Mark and Jenny are joined by Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Director for Scotland Dr Nick Hesford to talk about their latest research on the grouse population. Every summer the Woodland Trust announces its shortlist for UK Tree of the Year. The National Contest aims to highlight how vital trees are. Mark meets instrument maker Steve Burnett at Napier’s Craiglockhart Campus in Edinburgh to discover the history behind a sycamore with connections to famous war poet Wilfred Owen.

Mark Stephen meets Eddy Graham, a lecturer/researcher in atmospheric science.

Comedian Dion Owen is at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to combine his two passions, cycling and stand-up. Mark meets Dion before his show to find out more about his free bike programme for Fringe artists. Gardening expert Julie-Ann Henderson is trying to encourage more young people to consider horticulture as a career. She established the first North of Scotland garden show this year and Rachel catches up with her at her home near Keith. Ingrid Shearer is co-author of the A-Z of Rowing on the Clyde, an ebook that tells a myriad of stories about rowing, sport, Glasgow and the River Clyde. Mark meets Ingrid on the banks of the Clyde to discover more about the river that’s been home to the city’s rowing community for over 200 years. Our mid-week podcast excerpt this week comes from the final section of the Whithorn Way, as Rachel and Mark reach Whithorn Priory. Rachel joins a workshop organised by the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership which is all about identifying wildflowers and harvesting their seeds. She chats to John Malster in Newtonhill close to Aberdeen on a plot which is slowly being transformed to become more nature friendly. Buglife’s Paul Hetherington joins Mark and Rachel to talk about why we might be seeing more wasps this year and the importance of the insects to our environment. Mark dons his life vest and joins Pete Mowforth and Kat Kjos of Glasgow Rowing Club to learn about race rowing on the Club’s training boat. For the last few years, Stonehaven’s land train has been out of action. Now, it’s back in business and Rachel hops aboard to find out how the Stoney Express got back on the road.

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this final episode, Mark and Rachel walk some of the Ayrshire Coastal Path south of Girvan. Then Mark takes to his bike for the final section to Whithorn. They reach Whithorn Priory where the relics of St Ninian were kept, and the place where pilgrims would seek atonement. Their final destination is the beach next to St Ninian's cave where he is said to have spent a considerable amount of time in the darkness praying.

Since 1978 the Travelling Gallery has been bringing exhibitions to communities throughout Scotland by putting art inside a bus. Mark steps on board with curator Louise Briggs in Callendar Park, Falkirk, to explore the latest exhibition, Seedlings: Diasporic Imaginaries. Phil Sime speaks to blind farmer Mike Duxbury about Scotland’s first inclusive farm, a place where people with disabilities can gain the confidence, skills, and opportunities to pursue a career in agriculture. BBC’s Farmwatch is back to celebrate farming communities across the UK, with 24 hours of continuous broadcasting on BBC local stations on Thursday the 7th of August. Rachel and Mark are joined by producer Marie Lennon and Landward presenter and sheep farmer Cammy Wilson to chat farming life and Farmwatch stories. Rachel joins the annual Eyemouth Herring Queen celebration to meet this year’s newly crowned queen and to find out why the annual tradition is so important to the local community. New Arc Wildlife Rescue in Aberdeenshire is the largest rescue centre in the North East of Scotland. This summer, the team have seen their busiest months ever, partly due to the hot weather. Mark meets Paul Reynolds to find out how the centre is managing the increased numbers of fledgling rescues. Linda Sinclair catches up with Tracey Howe in Aberdeenshire as she nears the end of her 5,000 mile walk around the British coastline in memory of her wife Angela. Mark hops aboard one of Scotland’s smallest ferries and talks to skipper Dougie Robertson about the appeal of the Cromarty to Nigg crossing, a journey that takes only 10 minutes. Excisemen disappeared from distilleries in the 1980s, but Fettercairn Distillery in Angus still has a Customs and Excise office tucked inside one of the original warehouses. Rachel meets Claire Sabison and Kylie Anderson to have a look and to discover where the distillery gets its casks from.

Phil Sime visits a farm near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire to speak to blind farmer Mike Duxbury and his partner Ness Shillitto about creating Scotland’s first inclusive farm. This is a place where people with disabilities will gain the confidence, skills and opportunity to pursue a career in agriculture.

The rare Dark Bordered Beauty moth is found in only two sites in Scotland and one in England. Mark joins Dark Bordered Beauty Moth Champion Pete Moore at RSPB Insh Marshes nature reserve to find out more about attempts to reintroduce the moth to other areas in Scotland. Dark Bordered Beauty moths in Scotland are reliant on aspen suckers - shoots that sprout from the roots of an aspen tree, acting as a form of vegetative reproduction. Mark catches up with Conservation Manager Shaila Rao at Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms to discover how the team are restoring aspen in the area. Rachel is in Dornoch to meet a group of women training for the traditional heavy events at the Highland Games. Mark and Rachel have a wander with David Coid and local historian Alasdair Malcolm on the coast of Prestwick, Ayrshire to explore a group of Grade-A listed houses built in the 1700s for the salt boiling industry. Phil Sime heads to a Creative Summer School with Cairngorms Connect to discover how the project helps local school children to explore art and creativity through different landscapes, habitats and species. Ben Saunders, Senior Marine Archaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, returns to the programme to update the team on exciting new information on the identity of the shipwreck found on Sanday, Orkney last year. Rachel meets Andrew Bateman who runs hiking tours in the Cairngorms with the comfort of a heated Nordic tipi at night. Andrew’s highland ponies join the trek to carry the camping equipment. Mark and Rachel have a gander around Girvan as they continue to explore the Whithorn Way pilgrimage.

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, Mark and Rachel begin at Crossraguel Abbey at Maybole, once a significant stopping off point for pilgrims. Then it's off to the once very popular holiday destination of Girvan to learn about a new community led tourism initiative. And they are given the grand tour of the town ending at the jail.

It’s anchors aweigh for Out of Doors as we are live from the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen.

Mark Stephen meets Harold Murray, veteran cattle breeder and author from North East Scotland. Now in his nineties, Harold has spent his life working with cattle and more recently has turned his hand to writing and poetry

In a couple of weeks, swifts will leave our skies and depart for their wintering grounds in Africa. Author and naturalist Mark Cocker has spent a lifetime observing them and Rachel meets him in Crail to chat about the migrating birds and his new book One Midsummer’s Day - Swifts and the Story of Life on Earth. Never a stranger to getting his hands dirty, Mark grabs a trowel and joins community volunteers on an archaeological dig on East Lomond Hill in Fife. Chairman of the Falkland Stewardship Trust Joe Fitzpatrick unearths the history behind some significant Pictish findings on the hill and chats to Mark about the importance of volunteer excavators. Producer Phil gets on the saddle with the Highland Blind Tandem Club for a cycle along the canal tow path in Inverness. Rachel’s on a hunt for the egg cases of the critically endangered flapper skate. She meets marine biologist Dr Lauren Smith at Cairnbulg Harbour near Fraserburgh to hear about the work going on to safeguard these huge creatures and map exactly where they are. Mark visits the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh to discover how changes at the site are supporting the local urban biodiversity. We hear how the Museum is monitoring wildlife around the Centre from Curator of Entomology Ashleigh Whiffin. An Irish teenager has just become the youngest person to swim the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland solo. 15-year-old Oscar Black joins Rachel and Mark to share his experience battling the currents to reach Scottish shores While following the Whithorn Way, Mark and Rachel stop at Prestwick, Ayrshire to visit Bruce’s Well, named after Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329. They meet Julia Muir Watt of the Whithorn Way Trust and local historian Alasdair Malcolm to explore King Robert’s connection to the well. In 2003, part of a sea wall at Nigg Bay on the Cromarty Firth was deliberately breached to reconnect an area of land to the sea. Rachel catches up with Steph Elliot from the RSPB to discover how the intertidal habitat created is now benefiting bird life.

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, we begin on the waterfront at Irvine looking at the unique remains of an automatic tide signalling apparatus - we learn more about it at the Scottish Maritime Museum. This is followed by a walk along Irvine beach which can only be described as 'hoaching'. As they wander along the beach to Troon, Mark and Rachel contemplate the appeal of modern day pilgrimage. We also hear some reading recommendations from Christina Riley of the Nature Library. Then it's off to Prestwick to visit Bruce's Well and the site of the leper colony there. We end at St John's Tower in Ayr, a building that has seen many a significant event within its walls.

Mark visits a Moray estate to hear about the incredible rescue of 3 osprey chicks after wildfires raged through vast areas of the Highlands and neighbouring Moray Campaigner David Brown specialises in removing fishing debris from our beaches, Rachel pops along to Cairnbulg Harbour by Fraserburgh to find out about his ghost net campaign Mark visits the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. He speaks to curator Ian Brown about the Avro Vulcan bomber and gets himself a 1st class seat onboard Concorde. In Dundee, a new digital Whalers’ Memory Bank has been launched sharing stories from folk who were involved in the industry during the 50’s and 60’s. One of the contributors, former whaler John Alexander shares some of his experiences with Rachel alongside Helen Balfour, assistant curator from the South Georgia Museum. The rare bordered brown lacewing, is celebrating 200 years of first being discovered in Scotland. Conservation Officer from Species on The Edge, Fiona Basford joins Mark and Rachel to tell them about a special challenge looking for volunteers to report shared sightings of the invertebrate over 200 hours. Helen Needham is in a field near Dumbarton, with Maisie the horse and her owner Josie Vallely (also known as Quinie) an artist based in Glasgow. Josie spends her free time journeying with Maisie, enjoying the countryside of Scotland at Maisie’s pace. Stranraer is hosting this year’s Skiffie Worlds – an international rowing competition. Rachel is in Anstruther to meet some of those involved in what will be the largest gathering ever of St Ayles Skiffs to date!

Josie Vallely - also known as Quinie - is a multi disciplinary artist based in Glasgow. She also loves horses and spends her free time exploring the Scottish countryside - mostly on foot - with her horse Maisie. Helen goes out for a walk with Josie and Maisie near Dumbarton and tunes into their slow approach to moving through the world.

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, Mark and Rachel visit the Lochwinnoch Community Larder where food waste from supermarkets is re-distributed to the community. This is followed by a refreshing visit to the Lynn Sprout waterfall. Then it's off to Kilwinning to meet the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers. Mark and Helen then take the Garnock Valley Cycle Way to Irvine, whilst Rachel stops off at the Garnock Floods Wildlife Reserve. We end on the waterfront in Irvine with ice cream and sunshine.

Mark and Helen visit Ingliston for this year’s Royal Highland Show. They meet a nurse with her prize winning Highland cow and They also explore the history of the Highland pony, and its enduring connection to Scotland’s rural heritage. A festival devoted entirely to composting is taking place in Fife. Rachel visits Cambo Gardens to discover what it's all about, with head gardener Callum Halstead as her guide. Mark and Rachel will be speaking to author Keli Tomlin about the significance of the summer solstice which marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. In Perthshire, Rachel meets scientist Dr Marion Bruce to learn about an exciting new project: The Wild Scottish Flavour Wheel. From seaweed to sticky willy, it’s a guide to the diverse—and often surprising—tastes found in Scotland’s wild landscape. Mark chats with Jim Wilson from Soil Essentials about how autonomous tractors are helping to ease the workload for farmers and transform the future of agriculture. Whatever the weather, a group of over-50s in West Lothian meets each week to take part in a variety of activities organised by the Xcite Ageing Well programme. This week, Rachel joins the Linlithgow walking group—some of whom have been coming for years—to find out what keeps them coming back.

The Perthshire scientist hopes the wheel will encourage people to rediscover some of the lost tastes and uses of our wild plants.

Rachel catches up with Nick Ray who previously kayaked around the coast of Scotland, sharing his journey and mental health challenges on social media throughout that year. He’s just completed another journey but walking this time, from far north to south via east and west. Rachel finds out why he decided to hang up his kayak for this challenge. Mark’s in Aberdeenshire and hears from Jim Wilson from Soil Essentials .who tells him how a spot sprayer is going to change the world! Bobby Motherwell, the poet in residence at RSPB Lochwinnoch has been keeping a close eye on the wildlife there. He shares a poem, inspired by his surroundings. The Mounthooly Roundabout in Aberdeen is one of the city’s busiest roundabouts and it’s a spot where hundreds, if not thousands of people pass by every day – But this is no ordinary green oasis! Recently a community group have been transforming the roundabout into a food forest – Last week, I took a wander down to Mounthooly to meet up with Graham Donald, community development officer along with some of the other folk involved in the project to see their progress. Mark and Rachel chat with Richard Reynolds, who, 21 years ago, was one of the UK’s first modern guerrilla gardeners, and ask how attitudes have changed over the years. Tucked away on the Moray Coast lies Culbin Sands, a remote stretch of fragile shoreline where the golden sands meet the crystal clear waters of Findhorn bay. It's not the easiest place to reach, unless you're up for a three-hour hike through the Culbin Forest, or you could go for the slightly less strenuous option which is to go by water taxi. Morven Livingstone and Phil Sime, along with guide dog Striker met up with Jane Campbell Morrison from Findhorn Water-Sports who gave them a tour around the bay. Sand in Your Eye are a sand sculpture group who depending on the tide are creating a sand sculpture of Beethoven on Elie Beach. Rachel pops along hoping to see the end result. Scotland’s last remaining Timeball has just been restored and is back in place at the top of Edinburgh’s iconic Nelson Monument. Once a vital tool for sailors navigating the Firth of Forth and Port of Leith, this Timeball helped ships set their clocks precisely to 1pm Greenwich Mean Time 365 days of the year. Earlier this week, Mark caught up with Karl Chapman, Head of Heritage at Cultural Venues, Museums and Galleries, to learn all about the fascinating restoration project and why this historic timekeeper still matters today.

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, Mark and Rachel start with a quick stop off at Renfrew to contemplate the motivation for pilgrimage in medieval times. Then they head to Paisley Cathedral to learn about the unearthing of a drain which revealed a slate containing musical notation from the 1400's. And they end up at the RSPB's Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve for a bit of wildlife watching and poetry.

A new initiative in Buchan called Sma Wids to encourage farmers and landowners to plant trees, the largest surviving ice house in the UK at Spey Bay, lapwing chick ringing in Upper Deeside, the rare dandelions of Shetland, the seabird village of Fowlsheugh near Stonehaven and the latest news from the osprey nest at Loch Garten plus the tale of a medieval drain at Paisley Abbey along with the dramatic demise of an orca whale at Spey Bay on the Moray Firth in the 1960s

Mark Stephen visits Auchnerran, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust farm on Deeside to watch some lapwing chicks being ringed by research assistant Max Wright and data collector Honor Jones

Dendrochronology is a niche field of study, used to work out the age of trees, forests and wooden objects. However, it is not only useful for looking at the past, but also for considering how to manage wooded areas in the future. Mark met with expert dendrochronologist Dr Coralie Mills, and Borders Forest Trust Project Officer, Catriona Patience, to find out more about more about these scientific methods, and how they have informed forest management. Drones can have a lot of potential for wildlife researchers, and one person who has found them incredibly useful is Claire Stainfield, a PhD student at Scotland’s Rural College. She is using drones to monitor the numbers and behaviour of seal colonies on Newburgh Seal Beach, and Rachel met with her to find out what her research is all about. In the week that The Salt Path film is released, we dig into our archive to hear an interview with Raynor Winn, who shares her incredible story which the film is based on. Climate change and environmental pollution has a significant impact all over the globe, something that Professor Alice Ma, an Environmental Studies lecturer at the University of Glasgow, knows very acutely. When visiting her ancestral village in China in 2018, she was struck not only by the issues of pollution, but also the ways in which regional traditions and folklore interact and are disrupted by the climate crisis. Rachel met her in Glasgow to here more about these revelations, and the book they have since inspired her to write. Tucked away along the River Ness is the UK’s most northerly botanic gardens, in Inverness. As well as caring for colourful tropical plants in their glasshouses, the garden is also taking part in a project to distribute thousands of hanging baskets to various towns and villages across the Highlands. Phil Sime met with garden manager Ewan Mackintosh to find out more Amy Dakin Harris is a professional dancer turned flower and herb farmer. She combines her two passions on her hilltop farm near Dunlop in East Ayrshire, offering specialist movement classes, alongside her flower arranging and foraging courses. Rachel joined her on site to hear more about her background, and how natural it feels for her to unite dance and nature. The government have announced this week that they have rejected the proposal to establish a national park in Galloway. Kevin Keane joins us live on the programme to tell us more about where this decision has come from, and what it means for the future of Scotland’s national parks.

The Whithorn Way follows an ancient pilgrim route from Glasgow to Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway. In this episode, Mark and Rachel focus on the start of the journey at Glasgow Cathedral. Mark and Helen cycle down to Glasgow Green and imagine how pilgrims would have crossed the River Clyde. They then follow the River westwards to the new Govan- Partick pedestrian bridge. In Govan, they meet up with Rachel and go to the Govan Old Kirk where there are some unique Viking graves.

Nature-based solutions are a key tool in solving environmental problems such as flooding. Rachel met with Dr Rebecca Wade from Abertay University, who is a big advocate for these solutions, to find out more about how they are actually implemented, and why they are so important. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s demonstration farm in Auchnerran near Logie Coldstone, is home to numerous species of wading birds, but has had significant issues in the past with nest predation from badgers and other animals. They are trialling an innovative new solution - specially designed cages to protect the nests from would-be predators. Mark met with researcher Max Wright to find out how successful this trial has been so far. The village of Kinnesswood near Kinross home to a very lively community of beekeepers. Stuart MacFarlane went along to find out more about how the community gained such an affinity for these pollinators. Capercaillie are one of our nations most beloved and yet endangered species, and during the breeding season rangers carry out regular patrols to try and prevent passers-by from disturbing the birds. Rachel joined a team from the Cairngorms National Park Authority for an early morning patrol. The Great Outdoors Coast to Coast Challenge has been running continuously for the last 45 years It is a non-competitive challenge encouraging walkers to plot and walk a route from West to East, connecting them with some of the amazing landscapes across the country. Mark met with several walkers as they near the end of their walk, to find out what attracted them to this challenge in the first place. The warm and dry weather across the country over the last few weeks has been welcomed by many. However, the impact on our rivers and fish has been very significant. Phil Sime and Morven Livingstone met with Director of Ness District Salmon Fisheries Board, Brian Shaw, to hear just how this dry spell has impacted the river. The Beach of Dreams Festival has been taking place across the UK for several weeks, emphasising the beauty, heritage, and possible futures of our coastlines. One of the most interesting projects has been taking place in Fife, and Rachel met with artist Julie Brook, who has spent several days on the coast there, building an ambitious tidal sculpture.

Rachel Stewart meets environmental scientist Dr Rebecca Wade from Abertay University.

This week, we are coming to you from the village of Whithorn, in Galloway, broadcasting from the replica Iron Age Roundhouse in the village. Julia Muir Watt from the Whithorn Trust, and Shaun Thomson from Building Futures Galloway feature as live guests, to share the history of the area, and the importance of promoting heritage crafts and building techniques within the local area. Whithorn has a thriving community enterprise in the form of the organisation All Roads Lead to Whithorn. They have established a New Town Hall, complete with study facilities, bunkhouse, and boxing ring! Hazel Smith joins Mark and Rachel to tell them more about the importance of having a central community facility in this rural town. Galloway is full of natural beauty, but can often be overlooked due to its remote location. Christy Miles joins us on the programme to tell us about the stunning landscapes surrounding Whithorn, and also shares some of her expert willow weaving techniques with Mark and Rachel. Mark Williams is the owner of Wild Food Galloway, and is passionate about sharing the knowledge of our native edible species. Rachel met with him on the coast to forage for some local plants, and to ask him more about the importance of reconnecting with our local wild foods. Farmers are often seen as practical rather than creative types, but one Galloway farmer, Helen Ryman, is hoping to change that perspective with her artwork. Rachel went along to meet her at her farm, to find out how she became inspired to paint through her day job as a freelance farm hand. RSPB Lochwinnoch is a quiet nature reserve in Renfrewshire. The reserve plays host to their Poet in Residence, Bobby Motherwell, who has been writing from the reserve for the past two years. Mark and Rachel met with Bobby at the reserve to hear some of his poetry in the landscape that inspired it. The coastal villages surrounding Whithorn have a long maritime history, and there are many stories wrapped up within this history. A local expert on these stories is Gail McGarva, boatbuilder and storyteller. Gail is live on the programme to tell us how she first became involved in heritage boat building, and to share some of stories that accompany her craft. Mark and Rachel also meet with Alistair Scoular, who is a local to the Isle of Whithorn, and runs the local Steam Packet Inn. He shares his knowledge of the historic shipping industry that took place with, and why this peninsula is indeed called the "Isle" of Whithorn, despite its clear connection to the mainland! Galloway is well known for it's Dark Skies status, and visitors to the area can enjoy wonderful views of the stars on a clear night. Mike Alexander runs the local Galloway Astronomy Centre, and joins Mark and Rachel to tell them more about why the area is so well loved by astronomers, and the plans for a new astronomy centre nearby. Forsyth Galloway and his family have been running the local grocers in Whithorn for a number of years, and have become something of an institution. Forsyth joins Mark and Rachel, bringing along some of his local produce from the area.

Mo Wilde is a forager, herbalist and author who is also founder of the Wild Biome Project. In this podcast, Helen Needham meets her at Cambo Estate in Fife where they go foraging and discuss the benefits of a wild food diet.

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

Mark Stephen meets head of soil forensics at the James Hutton Institute, Professor Lorna Dawson. Mark meets Lorna at the Institute's research farm, Glensaugh in Aberdeenshire to find out what exactly her job entails

Peregrine falcons have been in residence at the University of Glasgow’s Gilbert Scott Tower for a number of years now, with a new clutch of chicks being born again this year. Rachel met with Clarke Elsby from the university and John Simpson, from the Scottish Ornithologists Club, to get a glimpse of these magnificent birds of prey. Solsgirth Home Farm near Dollar is home to a large variety of animals, from sheep, to pigs, to emu. Owned and run by veterinarian Jan Dixon, the farm is passionate about reconnecting people to the realities of farm life. Mark went along to find out more about the ethos behind the farm. Trees are a strong source of inspiration for many creative arts, and one such artist is harpist and singer Mary McMaster, who has been working on a new composition called For the Love of Trees. Helen Needham met with Mary in the Royal Botanic Gardens to find out how woodlands have shaped her work. The Moffat Spitfire has been a local landmark for several years now. The plane has long been located in the garden of retired local GP Dr Hamish MacLeod, and has raised money for several military charities. Now, it is being given new significance, as part of a memorial for Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding, who was instrumental in coordinating defensive measures during the Battle of Britain. Mark met with Hamish at his home in Moffat to hear more about Dowding, and the plane itself. Ospreys are back across Scotland, and people across the world are following along on live cameras hosted at sites such as RSPB Loch Garten. Mark and Rachel hear from the Visitor Experience Manager Clark Evans about what an exciting – and sometimes drama-filled - time of year it is on the reserve. The glasshouse and walled garden in the centre of Banff was once home to fruit trees and grapes, grown for the imposing Duff House. Now, it has been transformed into The Vinery - a local community employment hub, teaching classes on all manner of topics, including gardening. Mark met with the gardener, Michelle Walker, to hear more about the opportunities The Vinery is provides to the local community.

Rachel Stewart speaks to Dr Kenny Taylor at the Montrose Basin about 60 years of the SWT

Tennants of Elgin is a family quarrying business that has been operating out of the North East of Scotland for fifty years. They have had numerous impressive contracts across Europe, but have recently begun some work that’s a little closer to home – providing the granite for Aberdeen’s Union Street works. Mark went along to meet with Director Gavin Tennant, and find out more about the quarrying process. Muirburn is a polarising issue at the moment in Scotland, particularly in light of recent wildfires across the country. Helen Needham met with Stuart Smith from the James Hutton Institute to find out more about the latest research on these land management practices. Buckhaven on the East coast of Fife was once a thriving fishing port, although the town’s harbour has since been lost to time. Pupils at the Mountfleurie Primary School have been uncovering their local history in conjunction with the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. Rachel met up with the head curator Linda Fitzpatrick to find out more about the town’s hidden history. Rachel visited a community woodland in Gifford, East Lothian, to try her hand at some birch tapping. She met with Rupert Waites from Buck and Birch, who use birch sap in a number of ways, combining it with other foraged materials to make liquors and spirits, that harness the taste of the Scottish landscape. Kris King joins Mark and Rachel on the programme to tell us more about the Highland Ultra taking place next week. This race takes place in three stages, across the Knoydart Peninsula - what he calls the UK's last true wilderness. We hear more about what inspired the race, but also how the race aims to give back to the local rural community. The Corbenic Camphill Community is a residential care home for adults with learning disabilities. This year marks the 10th anniversary of their Poetry Path, which winds through the surrounding grounds and showcases the work of some of Scotland’s greatest poets, as well as the work of some of the care home’s residents. Mark met with Jon Plunkett, the Community Director, to find out more about the inspiration behind this project, and how they are celebrating this anniversary. Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club have begun their spring season of sailing upon the Loch of Skene. Mark headed out on the water with them, to find out more about the club, their history, and the exciting events they host throughout the year.

Mark Stephen visits the poetry path at Corbenic with its founder Jon Plunkett

The Elsick Mounth is an ancient trackway, linking the River Dee to the Mearns, and is one of the routes featured in the new Scotsways guide on hill tracks. Mark and Rachel both met up with Colin Young, a Scotsways volunteer, who guided them along part of the route to point out some of the important historical and archaeological sites that can be seen from the track. Scotland’s peatlands are an iconic part of the landscape, and have been undergoing targeted restoration across the country for the last fifteen years. Rachel visited Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and met with their Peatland Action Project Officer, Tasha Craven, to find out more about the importance of this habitat. Edinburgh’s New Town is full of important buildings and some exemplary stonework. Andrew McMillan is a member of the Edinburgh Geological Society, and has recently put together a guided tour of the area around St Andrew’s Square, and Mark met with him to hear more about the area’s impressive geoheritage. Lorraine McCall has an impressive list of mountain achievements to her name, having completed all the Corbetts and Munros, and being the first known woman to summit all the Grahams in a single journey – all while overcoming three separate cancer diagnoses. Rachel joined her on the Moray Coast to find out more about how she fared during these challenges. Mark and Rachel are joined by Iain Hepburn from Bright Spark Burning Techniques, to share his expertise on muirburn and it's use in fighting wild fires. Hedgehogs are beginning to emerge again in Scotland after their long hibernation, and the ‘Pledgehog’ project, based in Dunbar, are gearing up for another year of helping to raise awareness of the little garden mammals. Rachel went along to meet up with Jen Walker, to find out how they are utilising trail cameras as part of local conservation efforts.

Lorraine McCall from the Highlands has overcome cancer three times in recent years. She has previously climbed all of Scotland's 221 Corbetts and 282 Munros.

The Scottish Crannog Centre on the banks of Loch Tay is a bustling model Iron Age village, filled with various craftspeople to demonstrate ancient crafts and technologies. Mark went along to find out how the site has grown over the past few years, and how the construction of the crannog over the water is coming along. Jenny Graham follows the Postie’s Path – a route once taken by “Big John MacKenzie”, a post runner in the early 19th century, which runs along Strathconon Glen in the West Highlands, finishing at Achnasheen. The route used to take several days for the postman to complete on foot, but Jenny has opted to trace the route – or what remains of it – on her bike. Helen Needham has been out and about in the early morning to catch the best of the spring dawn chorus. Joining her is Ian Broadbent, the North East of Scotland’s specialist bird recorder from the British Trust for Ornithology. Passing through West Lothian, it is hard to miss the huge angular mounds dotted across the landscape. However, the history of these mounds, or bings – and the shale oil industry that created them – may be lesser known. Mark met up with Nicola Donaldson from the Shale Museum to find out more about the historic industry, and how it created these man made landmarks. The Torridon Mountain Rescue Team that has been operating in the West Highlands since 1972. Jenny Graham has herself been a member of the group for 10 years, and she met up with some of the other team members to find out about the history of the team, and how mountain rescue has changed in the past 50 years. The Inchindown Oil Tanks are a relic of WWII, located near Invergordon, and are the site of the world’s longest echo. Phil Sime went along to the vast underground space, to experience this echo for himself. Mark has been along to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, to have a look at their huge collection of pressed and preserved plants. The Herbarium is home to over three million species, and Mark meets up with Amy Porteous to find out how the collection is used.

Helen Needham meets with bird recorder Ian Broadbent to capture the April dawn chorus

Potato Enthusiast Bob Donald talks to Rachel about a community growing project in Aberdeen which has led to libraries in the north east handing out seeds and seed tatties. Mark speaks with volunteers from a walking group in Govan, who share their personal experiences with homelessness and social hardship. They’re now involved in an innovative project that aims to turn them into city tour guides. As we enter British Summer Time, Professor Danny Smith from Edinburgh University joins us to explain the importance of daylight for our body’s circadian rhythm and its impact on our wellbeing. Phil Sime, who is completely blind, offers his perspective on life without the ability to tell if it’s light or dark, shedding light on the challenges of navigating the world without sight. Helen Needham heads to the Scottish Borders to meet writer and outdoor enthusiast Kerri Andrews, who shares insights from her book about motherhood and the identity shifts that come with it. Mark talks to young farmer Nicola Wordie about the pressures and demands of farming during lambing season. Nicola also discusses her involvement in a project aimed at tackling isolation within Scotland's farming and crofting communities. Rachel visits St Fillan’s Cave in Pittenweem, where she uncovers the history behind the cave’s name and discovers that Christian services are still held at its ancient stone altar today. Mark speaks to Mike Vass, Director of the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, to hear about his journey of blending music with maritime experiences, following an illness in 2013 that inspired him to compose music drawn from the high seas.

Kerri Andrews is the author of Pathfinding - On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom. She describes her own traumatic experience with pregnancy, birth and motherhood and draws on examples of other female writers and their experiences over the centuries. She also discusses the history of women and walking and her desire for a more communal child rearing experience in the UK.

Lambhill, in the North of Glasgow, is home to a thriving community hub, built out of an old stable block on the edge of the Forth and Clyde canal. Mark went along to visit their community garden, and find out more about what goes on there. Rachel is on the banks of Loch Lomond to find out about the issues of litter along the busy stretch of the A82, and what the local people have been doing to tackle it. Auchindoun Castle in Moray has recently reopened after some careful masonry repairs. Mark meets with Historic Environment Scotland’s District Architect for the North region, Mike Pendery, to find out more about what it takes to look after these remote ruins. Tarlair Outdoor Swimming Pool in the North East has been undergoing restoration for a number of years, but work has now been completed on the art deco pavilion. Mark met up with Pat Wain from the Friends of Tarlair community group to see the newly finished space, and find out more about the next stage of the restoration. A new multipurpose football stadium is in the planning stages in Dundee, but local people are concerned about the loss of old, established trees, and the impact this could have on the area’s wildlife. Rachel met up with Violet Fraser, one of the campaigners against this development. Mountain rescue veteran, David ‘Heavy’ Whalley, sadly passed away recently. He featured on the programme a number of times, and we pay tribute with a clip originally from 2015, where he joined Mark and Euan on a hike up Ben Wyvis. Midlothian Snow Sports has long been a hub for people with disabilities, or learning difficulties to come together and learn to ski. However, there has been a decline in uptake over recent years, which Disability Snowsport UK are hoping to change. Rachel went along to see what it is all about. Mark takes a wet and windy stroll along Coral Beach in Plockton, so called for its sand which is made up of calcified seaweed or maerl.

A shortage of volunteers means some clubs have struggled to restart following the Covid pandemic in 2020. Campaigners say more needs to be done to raise awareness of the issue.

The Cairngorm Funicular Railway is back up and running after some extensive structural works. Mark took a trip up to the snow-covered peak with the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Limited, Tim Hurst, to find out what impact the funicular has for the mountain resort. Farmers and land managers are working together in Moray to investigate how they can tackle environmental challenges such as flooding and decline of biodiversity in the area. Rachel is with Ron Oliveira from Shempton Farms and Charlie Davis from Sylvestris Land Management at Balormie Marsh to hear how their efforts are going. Duke Christie is an artist and cabinet maker based in Moray, who has featured his work in galleries and design showcases across the world and is renowned for his unique use of fire. Mark met up with him at his workshop to learn more about his craft. Historic Environment Scotland recently granted Category A Listed Status to the Glasgow Central Mosque. The building was the first in Scotland to utilise Islamic architectural traditions, articulating these with Glasgow’s typical red sandstone. Mark met up with Omar Afzal to hear more about the mosque’s design and the important role the mosque plays in Glasgow’s Muslim community. Rachel meets up with a colleague and regular Out of Doors contributor Linda Sinclair, after she has recently received a Police Scotland bravery award for her efforts in rescuing a woman from the sea in Orkney. Students from the Sculpture and Environmental Art course at Glasgow School of Art staged a pop-up exhibition at Lang Craigs in Dumbarton, utilising the landscape and environment in their installations. Rachel met up with the students to learn more about the inspiration for their projects and the history behind this transient exhibition. There have been reindeer on the slopes of Cairngorm for over 70 years, with the first animals being established in the area in 1952. Now, the centre has undergone significant renovations, moving into a purpose built centre, complete with paddocks and exhibitions. Mark met with Co-Director of the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre Tilly Smith to hear more about this project and how it feels to move the centre out from its original location - the front room of her house! David Atthowe of outdoor exploration company Reveal Nature is an expert in revealing some of the hidden markings and patterns of the world around us using the magic of UV light. Paul English went along to a late night tour in Bute Community Forest in Argyll to see some of this biofluorescence for himself

Mark Stephen visits Duke Christie at his studio in Moray

Many landowners across Scotland are engaging with large scale restoration projects. One such project, spanning 80 thousand acres, is Wildland, in the Scottish Highlands. They have a 200 year vision to help the land heal, grow and thrive, and Rachel is there to find out more about the project, and perhaps even spot some of birds of prey who are thriving in this landscape. HippFest, a silent film and live music festival based in Bo’Ness, is back this March, and one of the filmmakers, Moira Salt, has developed a silent film focusing on Scotland’s canals. Mark met up with her alongside the Forth and Clyde Canal to find out what exactly inspires her about these waterways. Bridgend Farmhouse is a community owned organisation in Edinburgh, focusing on a creating a sustainable and welcoming space for learning, eating and exercise. Helen Needham met with John Knox, who is Chair of the Board at Bridgend, to find out more about the philosophy behind the organisation. For villages on the West Coast of Scotland, boats and sailing are often part of the traditional way of life. However, in Plockton, the local high school is playing a key role in keeping this tradition alive, through teaching the heritage craft of boat building. Mark went along and spoke to some of the students about what learning this craft meant to them. Frogs and toads have begun to emerge all across Scotland, coming out of hibernation and entering the breeding season. But how can we tell which is which, and how can we get involved in their conservation? We speak to Nature.Scot Reserve Officer Danny Bean about how we can keep an eye out for our native amphibians. The Braemar Highland Games Centre is home to one of the world’s most famous lifting stones – the Inver Stone. Mark visited to hear the history behind the stone, where the traditions of lifting stones first began. In an excerpt from this week’s podcast, Rachel is joined by Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill, to find out about how their love of wild swimming began, and how that has grown through their BBC TV Series Jules and Greg’s Wild Swim

The actors have become regular wild swimmers in recent years. In their latest BBC Scotland TV series, they visit some of Scotland's islands and try out a whole host of different dipping spots in remote and rugged locations.

Golf courses are often criticised for their lack of biodiversity, but at The Plock, near Kyle of Lochalsh, a community project is reclaiming the local golf course and giving it back to the wild. Mark met up with the local ranger, Heather Beaton, to find out more about this rewilding initiative. A new award-winning footbridge has been built at Bracklinn Gorge near Callander. Mark visits the site and meets with advisor and architect Murray McKellar from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, to hear about the innovative design of this new bridge. The remote area of The Cabrach was once a hotbed for illicit whisky production, before falling into decline through the late 1800s. Now a new distillery has been built in the area, aiming to bring the historic whisky trade back, but reimagined through a sustainable and community focused lens. Mark meets up with members of The Cabrach Trust to find out about their efforts, and maybe even taste a wee dram. Rachel is on the West Highland Way, with Ian Alderman and his 10 year old daughter Eve. The pair, who are both autistic, have been walking together to raise money for charity, and have now successfully completed all of Scotland’s Great Trails. We are joined on the programme by Tracey Howe, who is now 1/3 of the way through her walk around the British Coast, to raise money for UK Cancer Charities. We speak to her just as she has reached Land's End, to find out how she is getting on. Fiona Finlayson is a needle felt artist who seeks out her materials across Scotland on her travels, and brings it back to her studio to craft models of pets and other wild animals. Rachel joins her in her studio, to find out how her passion for the craft first came about Mark met up with Graham Gillie, a conservation carpenter with the Antarctic Heritage Trust, before his 5th visit to Antarctica. He is responsible for maintaining some of the historic sites on the continent, and battling the harsh weather conditions. Mark found out what it is about such a challenging job that appeals for him.

Mark Stephen hears from Graham Gillie about his extraordinary working life in Antarctica

Mark visits the Montrose Air Station Museum to hear about a new addition to their collection, part of a Halifax Bomber, which crashed in the Angus glens in 1944. Shan Brewis tells us the story behind the plane crash, and how the piece of wreckage came to be discovered exactly 80 years after the tragedy. Red Squirrels in Scotland are often under threat, but Rachel finds out about the newest concern for our native population. Speaking to Meja Vesterlund from Saving Scotland's Squirrels, she hears about the threat of squirrel pox. Global celebrations have been taking place this week for World Gaelic Week. Mark spoke to Robyn Ireland, Gaelic Officer with Nature.Scot, about the Forgotten Woodlands project, which mapped Gaelic place names in order to show historically wooded areas across Scotland, demonstrating both the ecological and cultural relevance of the Gaelic language. Roslin Glen Country Park is something of a hidden gem, close by to the well-known Rosslyn Chapel. Mark is shown around by park ranger Alan Krumholds, who divulges the interesting industrial past of the area, and its present day, flourishing flora and fauna. Erected in 2014, the Tom Weir Statue in Balmaha is a fitting tribute to the popular mountaineer, author and broadcaster. Rachel talks to John Urquhart, from the conservation charity ‘Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs’, to reflect on the decade since the statue’s installation and the new campaign to upgrade the signage and information in the area. Professor Catherine Heymans joins us on the programme, reflecting on the Planetary Parade phenomena that has gripped the UK over the past week, and shares her thoughts on the benefits of getting out to gaze up at the night sky. Lossiemouth Community Council has discovered an innovative use for last year’s Christmas trees. Phil visits the beach where these discarded trees are being repurposed as a defence against coastal erosion. Rachel is out on the Water of Leith with wildlife photographer Tom Kelly, to find out about the rich variety of species that he captures on a daily basis at his patch along the river.

During the Covid lockdown, Tom Kelly decided to stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway every single day and take photographs of the wildlife in the area. The photographer from Edinburgh has always had a keen interest in nature and he wanted to explore what was living in his own neighbourhood. The result is a huge collection of photographs showcasing what lives on and near the river at different times of the year.

Winchburgh in West Lothian is expanding rapidly, with several new housing developments underway. At the heart of these new developments is the 85 acre Authcaldie Park, where Mark visits a group of volunteers who are building a new centre piece for the area – a model cathedral made entirely out of willow. RSPB Loch Leven has recently hosted the Convention of Migratory Species, a UN convention with 130 member states involved. Rachel meets up Sarah Scott and Professor Des Thompson to find out about the aims of this convention, and the impact that climate change is having on our migratory birds. The Glasgow Seed Library is an initiative which aims to collect and share seeds within the wider community. Helen Needham went along with one of the seed librarians Rowan Lear, to find out more about the purposes of a seed library, and the huge diversity of seeds they have in store. Back at the Convention of Migratory Species, Rachel hears from some of the international experts present at the meeting, and what their worries are for other migratory animals worldwide. The Ballogie Souter Shop was once a humble timber shack where generations of Deeside villagers went to get shoes made and repaired. Since its closure in 1941, the shop has been stuck in time, almost completely untouched. Now owned by the Birse Community Trust, Mark heads along to see what artefacts he can discover, and the plans to preserve and protect the collection. The Scottish Mountaineering Trust has announced they are the sole beneficiary of the estate of Scottish mountaineer and innovator, Hamish MacInnes. Mark and Rachel are joined by the John Hutchinson from the trust to find out how they hope to honour Hamish’s legacy. The work of Scottish biologist and polymath Sir Patrick Geddes is being explored and celebrated this weekend as part of the Edinburgh 900 events calendar. Helen Needham met up with the Director of the Scottish Storytelling Festival Donald Smith to learn more about him, and his impact on the study of natural sciences. Ian Redmond is a biologist and conservationist best known for his work with mountain gorillas and elephants, but was also one of the delegates at the Convention of Migratory Species. He explains to Rachel why people in Scotland should still be concerned about the impact of climate change on animals like apes, that live thousands of miles away from us.

Helen Needham meets seed librarian Rowan Lear

Auchnerran Farm is run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust as a demonstration farm to test and trial conservation and land management strategies. Mark visits the farm to hear about their projects and how they manage these alongside a profitable enterprise of sheep farming. It is the 20th anniversary of the opening of Five Sister’s Zoo this year, and the facility has grown from very small beginnings to now housing over 160 species on site in West Calder. Rachel chats to Brian and Gary Curran about their growth over the last two decades and their recent attempts to rescue zoo animals from Ukraine. 2025 marks 20 years since the Scottish Outdoor Access Code came into force, and Mark is joined by journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch to look at exactly how this has impacted Scotland’s relationship with the outdoors. Rachel is on the banks of Loch Lomond visiting a project attempting to combat erosion on one of Scotland’s most popular hills. Conic Hill has undergone a £900,000 path restoration, and access officer Dave Robinson meets her to explain why such a project is so necessary. Mark is at Dunnottar Castle, one of the locations featured in Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s novel Sunset Song. Speaking to Emily Cruickshank, Mark finds out the history of the castle and spots some of the wildlife that surrounds it. Mark and Rachel are joined by a lifelong scholar of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s work, Bill Malcolm, to find out more about the author’s background and the incredible impact he has made on Scottish literature, even 90 years on from his death. It is the height of Snowdrop season, with many gardens across Scotland opening their gates for visitors to enjoy the carpet of white flowers. Mark visits Bruckhills Croft in Rothienorman and meets Helen Rushton, whose garden boasts nearly 600 different varieties of the plant. Back at Five Sister’s Zoo, Rachel finds out about the important work the zoo does in partnership with the Beavers Trust, managing populations across Scotland. Mark heads to Charlesfield Farm and meets Trevor and Lorna Jackson, the couple behind Border’s Bubbly, who are hoping to be the first sparkling wine producers in Scotland

The 7th February 2025 marks 90 years since the death of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song. In 2016, it was voted Scotland's favourite novel. In this archive programme, Mark Stephen explores the area it was set in, the Mearns.

The National Farmers Union of Scotland Conference has been underway this week, and Kevin Keane is there, joined by Professor Colin Campbell from the James Hutton Institute, to hear his advice on how farms can become more resilient in the face of climate change. Muiravonside, Falkirk’s only country park, features several attractions, from a sculpture and poetry trail to the Avon aqueduct. Rachel catches up with the park’s ranger, Claire Martin, to hear about the history and appeal of the estate. Otters have been making a comeback along the Water of Leith, deep in the heart of Edinburgh. Rachel meets with Helen Brown from the Water of Leith Conservation Trust to hear about the lives of these metropolitan mammals. Sunset Song was written by Lewis Grassic Gibbon in 1932, and in 1971 was brought to TV screens across the UK by the BBC, in what is still claimed as one of the finest BBC dramas ever made. Mark learns about the history of the novel, and how the landscape of East Coast of Scotland, ahead of the re-release of the drama for the 90th Anniversary of the author’s death. Phil heads out with the Highland VIP group in Inverness, who work to increase the mobility of visually impaired people by bringing them together with sighted volunteers to take part in walks and other outdoor activities. And the Turra Coo, the infamous symbol of a dispute between Turriff townspeople and the government over national insurance and rising taxes, received a shout out from the newly crowned BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Ellie Beaton, at the competition’s final last Sunday. Rachel heads to Turriff to hear all about the cow and her role in the protests. The River Tweed’s salmon fishing has begun once again, and Mark heads down to see how the fish are faring at the beginning of this year’s season. We also hear from Anne Woodcock about how important fishing is for the local communities on the banks of the Tweed, and the positive impact it can have on your mental and physical health.

The 7th February 2025 marks 90 years since the death of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, author of Sunset Song. In 2016, it was voted Scotland's favourite novel. In this archive programme, Mark and Euan explore the area it was set in, the Mearns.

Parts of the country are still recovering after last week’s Storm Eowyn including Jupiter Artland. The 100-acre sculpture garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh suffered quite a bit of storm damage as Mark saw when he visited earlier this week. Rachel meets a group of volunteers from a whole variety of backgrounds who have come together to help restore the HMS Unicorn, a 200-year-old ship which is docked in Dundee. Next Friday sees the start of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s annual Big Farmland Bird Count. Mark headed to their demonstration Farm on Deeside to find out why the Trust wants farmers and land managers to take part in the count, and what they do with the data that’s gathered. We celebrate World Wetlands Day on Out of Doors as Mark visits Frankfield Loch on the outskirts of Glasgow. The site is part of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park and Mark explores an area he hadn’t visited before. At 11am on 31st January people in Stranraer gather to mark the sinking of the car ferry, The Princess Victoria. This year marks 72 years since the disaster and Rachel heard the story from historian Elaine Barton as they met up at the site of the memorial to the sinking. This weekend is also Imbolc or Saint Brigid's Day, the Gaelic traditional festival which marks the beginning of spring. We chat live to author and celebrant Keri Tomlin about the origins of Imbolc and its significance. And Rachel also recently spent time with Anna Neubert-Wood of Edinburgh based Wander Women to find out what Imbolc means to her and how she’ll be marking it this weekend. Earlier this week a film celebrating the globally vital landscape of The Flow Country being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was shown in Scotland for the first time. When Fish Begin to Crawl features specially shot footage with archive and new film by Flow Country residents. It also features an award-winning musical score. We’re joined live by its co-creators, composer Jim Sutherland and film maker Morag McKinnon.

We celebrate Burns Day on Out of Doors on the 265th anniversary of his birth. Mark chats to Professor Fiona Stafford from University of Oxford who writes about Burns ‘the bard of nature’. They chat about his understanding of ecology and how that comes through in his poetry. Rachel hears the good news story about Goldeneye Ducks in the Cairngorms. Goldeneyes are a protected species that have suffered severe population declines, with only around 200 pairs in the UK. But recent work has seen their numbers increase. She finds out what’s behind the success. In our Scotland Outdoors podcast this week Helen Needham headed up Morven, a Corbett in Aberdeenshire with artist and adventurer Morven Stewart. We hear an excerpt where they chat about where her passion from sketching came from. No Burns Day would be complete without a haggis. Rachel heads to Glenesk where every year the locals make their own for the Tarfside Rural Burns supper. Anne Littlejohn lets Rachel into her kitchen to see the process- guts and all! We get a live update from the team at Ellisland Farm. Ellisland near Dumfries was built by Robert Burns in 1788 for his young wife Jean Armour and their family and it’s where he penned some of his most famous work. The team at the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust was awarded funding last year which has allowed them to make plans to secure the property’s future. We hear about what they’ve got in store. There are ambitious plans to completely transform a former opencast mine site at St Ninians in Fife. The land was purchased by community interest company National Pride over three years ago. Mark met chair of the company, Irene Bisset, at the site to hear about their hopes to create a facility that enables visitors to enjoy being close to the natural world. And we delve into the archive to hear a piece from 2020 where Mark and Euan visited the famous Globe Inn in Dumfries, a pub frequented by Burns after his move to Ellisland in 1788.

Helen Needham walks up Morven in Aberdeenshire with Morven Stewart

Rachel is in Lochaber where one of the biggest nature restoration projects in the country is underway. The Nevis Nature Network Project covers 22 thousand acres which includes fragments of Scottish rainforest and rare montane scrub. She met project manager Ellie Corsie for a walk to hear about their restoration vision. Mark is on Calton Hill in Edinburgh hearing about the challenges of repairing our historical buildings. Many of our famous landmarks were built using stone that is no longer quarried in Scotland. Imogen Shaw from the British Geological Survey tells him about their desire for more buildings to be built using Scottish stone to allow quarries to open here. Rachel delves into the history of the Newburgh on Ythan lifeboat, the oldest lifeboat station in Scotland. Charlie Catto has written a book about its history, and she met him at the station to hear about his research. She also hears about the plans of the Newburgh and Ythan Community Trust to take on the building and hopefully restore it to the condition it was in when it was first built in 1877. In the week where competitors took part in the 268-mile Montane Spine Race between Derbyshire and the Scottish Borders, we chat live to world record endurance cyclist Jenny Graham about why people want to take part in these kind of events and how she prepares for them. Mark is on Royal Deeside where a recent collaboration between Aberdeenshire Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority has resulted in a new stretch of path being built. The Charter Chest Path links up the existing path network and keeps cyclists and pedestrians off the busy road. He went for a wander with Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel with the National Park. Back to the Nevis Nature Network Project where Rachel continues her walk with Ellie Corsie to one of the areas of montane scrub they want to protect. Phil Sime takes a walk around Ness Islands in Inverness in the company of historian Norman Newton. Norman tells him about the areas interesting past including being home to a very popular outdoor arena and a dog cemetery.

Mark Stephen chooses some Burns favourites including his rendition of Tam O' Shanter

The weather has certainly been a big talking point for a lot of us this week. And it’s also the theme of a new exhibition at the McManus Art Gallery and Museum in Dundee. Rachel went to take a look at A Weather Eye along with curator Kirsty Matheson. We hear from Paul Hetherington of charity Buglife about the impact the mild weather before Christmas, and now the very cold weather, is having on our bees. Sadly, it’s not great news. A second pair of lynx has been captured after being found near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park. Two other lynx, released illegally, were caught in the same area on Thursday. We get the latest from BBC Scotland’s Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Correspondent Kevin Keane. Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre in Aberdeenshire is Britain's only purpose-built all-weather facility for cross-country skiing and roller skiing. And since there was a bit of snow on the ground, Mark went along to try his hand at cross-country skiing. We speak live to Donald MacRae, vice chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue about the conditions the teams across the country have been facing so far this year. We also hear advice on heading to the hills at this time of year and how prepared you need to be. Staying in the hills, the Glenmore Visitor Centre and Café near Loch Morlich has had a bit of a facelift in recent weeks. It’s now owned by the community, who have big plans for the centre. Rachel went along for a visit to hear about what they’ve done so far, and what’s yet to come. The wintry weather prompted Mark to think about the extreme winter weather of the recent past, including low temperatures in Braemar of -27.2 degrees Celsius. Photographer and Landward presenter Shahbaz Majeed has a new book out which explores Scotland’s landscapes from a slightly different perspective. Recently, Rachel caught up with Shahbaz in his home city of Dundee for the Scotland Outdoors podcast. He told Rachel the story of how a rather unexpected request led to him making a name for himself behind the lens. And when Mark visited the Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre, he couldn’t say no when he was offered the chance to go tubing. The simple pastime of sliding down a hill in an inflatable ring is pretty popular at the centre with kids and big kids too!

Rachel Stewart speaks to photographer and Landward presenter Shahbaz Majeed

Helen Needham meets musician and composer Cosmo Sheldrake

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart spend a day on the island of Jura to get a sense of life on the Ardlussa Estate where the Fletcher family have lived for five generations. Mark also visits Barnhill, the house where George Orwell wrote 1984 which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year

Mark Stephen gets a tour of the Palace with Curators Deborah Clarke and Emma Stead

Mark and Rachel are joined by the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor Catherine Heymans who can tell us what’s actually happening to earth to make the days so short. Mark finds out whether our garden birds are impacted by the short days, and he also visits the Nature Scot Forvie National Nature Reserve where despite the dark and cold, new life is arriving as seal pups are being born. While we’re experiencing our shortest day, Antarctica will be marking their Summer Solstice. Rachel chats to Maggie Coll, a wildlife monitor with the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust who manage Port Lockroy. She tells us what conditions are like there and tips to cope with 24-hour daylight. Joining us in the car park is Professor of Human Geography at University of Edinburgh, Hayden Lorimer. We chat to Hayden about the different ways people have marked the winter solstice throughout time. And we also discuss the best ways to cope with the short days and lack of light. Our Scotland Outdoors podcast this week features the last instalment of our Kidnapped series. We hear an excerpt as Mark nears the end of his journey along the Stevenson Way. And Rachel meets storyteller Jackie Ross at the East Aquhorthies Stone Circle near Inverurie to hear some tales of the winter solstice and some superstitions linked to this time of year.

Mark Stephen follows the route from Balquhidder to Corstorphine in Edinburgh

Mark meets builder and artist Becky Little whose work is being displayed as part of an exhibition called A Fragile Correspondence at the V&A in Dundee. Her work involves using soil from different areas in Orkney made into cubes. A WWF Scotland scheme which is aiming to create seagrass meadows and restore oysters to the Forth has reached a major milestone. Rachel visits the Restoration Forth project to hear about what they’ve achieved so far and what their plans are for the future. Mark is in The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum where there’s currently an exhibition all about the Dundee Naturalists’ Society which is marking its 150th anniversary this year. Mark met up with some of the members to hear about the group’s history and what they get up to now. Listeners have been getting in touch with Out of Doors to tell us they aren’t seeing the usual numbers of garden birds at their bird feeders and tables. Mark met up with Ian Broadbent, North-East Scotland recorder for the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, to chat about whether numbers of garden visitors are down, and what might be the cause. They also speak about what we can do to help encourage birds and get them through the winter. We’re joined live by Dr Julie Oswald from the University of St Andrews who has developed a groundbreaking tool that uses machine learning to identify dolphin species based on their calls. We hear some examples of what dolphins sound like and find out why identifying them is important. It’s the time of year to coorie down and listen to some folktales and we have just the thing with two tales from our recent trip to Islay, an island full of myths and legends. There’s a new eye-catching steel sculpture in Callendar Park in Falkirk. It’s been created by artist Caspar J Wilson and is a memorial to those who experienced loss in the Covid pandemic. Rachel met Caspar and heard how he spoke to hundreds of people in the local community before creating the sculpture. And our Scotland Outdoors podcast this week features Helen Needham looking through some audio gems from BBC Scotland's archive including an Orkney Hurricane, Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster in the 1930's and Terrifying Sounds from the Hamilton Mausoleum which is what we hear an excerpt of.

Helen Needham presents some audio gems from BBC Scotland's archive

Last week Rachel was in Aberfoyle where the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association was celebrating their 50th anniversary. The organisation brings rangers together to share ideas and highlight potential challenges facing the sector. She chatted to some of those who’ve recently retired, and those who are still working, about the history of the association and the importance of rangers across the country. Mark catches up with photographer Frank McElhinney whose work forms part of an exhibition called A Fragile Correspondence. It’s currently on show at the V&A in Dundee after travelling to the Venice Architecture Biennale. He tells Mark what it was like taking a little bit of Ravenscraig to Venice. A cottage where Queen Victoria enjoyed picnics will open to the public next year after being restored by the National Trust for Scotland. The cottage on Mar Lodge Estate had been in a state of disrepair for some years and Mark went along to see its transformation. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been chatting to the three finalists of BBC Scotland’s category at the BBC Food and Farming Awards, the Local Food Hero award. Earlier this week the winners were announced at a ceremony in Glasgow where Rachel and Landward’s Dougie Vipond presented the winners with a rather nice chopping board! We hear more from the event including from Rachel’s fellow judges Sheila Dillon and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and from the winners of the Local Food Hero award. Have you come across #thicktrunktuesday on social media? The hashtag has been around for a couple of years highlighting the joy of trees. We chat live to artist Tansy Lee Moir who has travelled to visit different trees and met lots of different people all through using the hashtag. She tells us what it is about trees that inspires her and why winter is the best time to appreciate them. Our Scotland Outdoors podcast this week contains the latest instalment of our series following the story of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel, Kidnapped. We re-join the story after the Appin Murder of 1752 with Davey and Alan on the run and in need of help. Paul English explores a new 5K walking route near the Falkirk Wheel from a barge. He takes to the Jaggy Thistle to admire the route's colourful benches which are decorated with locally significant mosaic designs. Cold water swimming might seem like a modern pastime, but PhD student Lucy Janes has been researching urban swimming and found that it was actually pretty popular in Victorian Glasgow. She met Mark on the banks of the Clyde to tell him about who was going for a swim in the 1800s and what hazards they might have faced.

Mark follows the route through Glencoe, Kinlochleven and Rannoch Moor.

Rachel is in Fife to meet a woman who is leading the charge on making the outdoors accessible to all. Jan Kerr set up a rambling group for those who rely on wheels, particularly mobility scooters. She tells Rachel how it came about. Over the past few years, a group of badger enthusiasts has been surveying the Central Belt to track the number of setts they can find. Having completed the length of the River Clyde, the group are now surveying between Glasgow Green and Arthur’s Seat. Mark went along to meet them as they checked a site near the M8 motorway. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen meets up with professional woodworker Callum Robinson. We hear an excerpt where he explains where his passion for wood came from. Next week the winners of the BBC’s Food and Farming Awards will be unveiled at a ceremony in Glasgow. Out of Doors and Landward have our own category – the BBC Scotland Food Hero award. Over the past few weeks, Rachel has been visiting the three finalists, and this week we hear from Lisa Houston from the Lauriston Agroecology Farm near Edinburgh which concentrates on food growing, biodiversity and community. Christmas is fast approaching and many people already have their decorations up, including their tree! But have you ever considered renting a living Christmas Tree? Laura visits a farm in Aberdeenshire where you can do just that. November 30th is of course St Andrew’s Day. And while he is the patron saint of Scotland, his day is also celebrated in many countries around the world including Poland. We’re joined live by Grażyna Zuziak to tell us about the Polish traditions of St Andrew’s Day including future telling. Helen visits Sue Laidlow who has been knitting a blanket, or rather blankets, throughout 2024 which track the changing temperatures. As temperatures change, so does the colour of the wool used which results in a rather impressive record charting a whole year of highs and lows in our temperatures. Brothers Mike and Andy Truscott are artists who under the name Kinbrae, create soundscapes usually inspired by the landscapes and nature they love most. They’ve just released some new material and took Rachel to a park where they recorded some of the sounds.

Helen Needham meets woodworker and author Callum Robinson

The Forth Bridges Trail is a five-mile circular route which brings together various points of interest in North and South Queensferry and crosses the Forth Road Bridge. New stops were added onto the route earlier this year, so Mark took a wander along part of it to hear about the area’s fascinating history. When you think of Beaver reintroduction sites you probably imagine the Cairngorms, Knapdale or rural Tayside but certainly not the heart of London. A few weeks ago, Rachel went to visit The Ealing Beaver Project where beavers are making their home right beside a retail park! Dr Sean McCormack gave her a tour and explained how they hope the beavers, who have been relocated from Scotland, might help with flooding in the area. At the end of the summer Mark visited Loch Katrine, home to the Steamship Sir Walter Scott. But the Loch is also home to other boats and Mark went to speak to one man who’s been restoring his very own steamship. We're joined live by Dr Cat Barlow, project manager with the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project who tells us about their plans to expand and re-introduce the species to England and Wales following their success in Scotland. Next month, the winners of the BBC’s Food and Farming Awards will be unveiled at a ceremony in Glasgow. Out of Doors and Landward have our own category – the BBC Scotland Food Hero award. Over the past few weeks Rachel has been visiting the three finalists, and this week we hear from the Cosaig Growers. Back in 2016, Kate Wieteska and Jake Butcher bought a challenging piece of land on a hill in the north west Highlands and since then they’ve completely transformed it in order to grow fruit and vegetables. Rachel paid them a visit while they were getting on with some scything. We hear a short Islay folktale recorded on our recent trip to the island which is home to lots of fantastic myths and stories. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast we feature the latest instalment of Mark’s journey along the Stevenson Way which is based on the novel Kidnapped. We hear an extract where Mark hears about a real event, the Appin Murder of 1752 which is one of the most notorious of its kind in Scottish history.

In this section, Mark leaves Mull and crosses over to Morven before heading to the site of the famous Appin Murder and the monument to mark this bloody event near Ballachulish Bridge.

Moray Ocean Community is a group of citizen scientists aiming to raise awareness of the importance of marine habitats and species. A couple of weeks ago, Mark joined members as they conducted seagrass surveys in Findhorn Bay and learned all about the range of work they carry out. Rachel is in Leven in Fife where a multi-million pound project is underway to refurbish a former flax mill. She hears about the plans including a visitor centre, a community hub and an area to show off the mill’s history. Scotland's first Alpine Coaster has opened at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend near Edinburgh. We sent our rollercoaster expert Paul English along to experience the new way to enjoy the rolling Midlothian hills. Next month the winners of the BBC’s Food and Farming Awards will be unveiled at a ceremony in Glasgow. Out of Doors and Landward have our own category – the BBC Scotland Food Hero award. Over the past few weeks Rachel has been visiting the three finalists and this week we hear her trip to the Stranraer Oyster Festival. She headed out on a boat on Loch Ryan harvesting oysters ahead of the 2024 festival kicking off. We chat live to the Glasgow Poet Laureate, Jim Carruth. Much of Jim’s writing is inspired by the rural landscape and those who live and work in it and next week he’s organised an event to raise money for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution or the RSABI. We chat to Jim about where the idea for the event came from and why he finds raising money for the RSABI so important. Portmoak Moss is one of the few remaining raised bogs in central Scotland. The Woodland Trust site near Glenrothes holds a special place in the heart of the community as St Andrews University student Natasha Currie discovered when she set out to make a soundscape about it. She met up with Mark to tell him what’s so special about Portmoak and we hear excerpts of her recordings. Matt Sowerby is a climate activist, writer and performer who was visiting Aberdeen recently. For this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham met up with him on Aberdeen Beach where he explained what climate anxiety means for him and how he finds a sense of hope in what appears to be a crisis. And Rachel heads along to a moonlit dip at Monikie Country Park in Angus. The ‘Dook n Chat’ under a (nearly) full moon was part of the Angus Outdoor Adventure Winter Festival which comes to a close this weekend.

Helen Needham speaks with climate activist and writer Matt Sowerby

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors

We've dug into our archive to bring you a programme originally broadcast in 2012 when Mark Stephen followed the route taken by protagonist David Balfour in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, 'Kidnapped'. In this first section, it's a brief visit to the Hawes Inn in South Queensferry before taking a boat to the Island of Erraid - which sits off Mull - and the magnificent beach where Davey found himself shipwrecked. Mark is following the Stevenson Way.

A recent report showed that almost a quarter of all ancient pinewoods are at risk of disappearing altogether. Earlier this week, Mark attended Scotland’s Pinewood Conference in Fort William to find out what’s being done to preserve these woodlands It’s prime cider making time. Rachel visits Digby Lamotte at his cider making business in Perth to follow the process of producing this increasingly popular drink In the late 1700s, Dr James Mounsey, a physician, is said to have smuggled out several pounds of rhubarb seeds - worth more than gold - out of Russia to his home of Edinburgh, where he was soon honoured with the Freedom of the City. Author Barclay Price has written about James Mounsey and others in his new book Honoured by Edinburgh The North Coast 500,a hugely popular tourist route in the North of Scotland, attracts thousands of visitors each year. David Richardson of the NC 500 joins the programme to talk about the new NC500 pledge - an initiative created to encourage visitors to experience the route responsibly and respectfully Kiri Stone is the person behind woodswoman workshops in Fife. Rachel went along to one of the outdoors workshops Tracey Howe has just embarked on 5000 mile walk round the UK coastline. Following the death of her wife of nearly 40 years, Tracey found herself depressed and unable to leave the house but owning a dog forced her to get outside. Linda Sinclair met Tracey on one her final training walks

Mark is back at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Montrose Basin site, but this time it isn’t geese he’s looking for, it’s mosquitos. Mark hears about the monitoring programme that the Basin is part of and why it’s important to track mosquitos for human health and also bird health. Back in 2021 Storm Arwen wreaked havoc on the North East causing lots of damage including to some of the buildings at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh. Recently Rachel went for a visit to see how the repair work was progressing. The archipelago of St Kilda, the most westerly islands of the UK, is a wild place with a fascinating history. It was inhabited until 1930 by very hardy folks, many of whom were adept at climbing the cliffs and sea stacks to hunt for birds and their eggs. St Kilda’s climbing history is now being explored in a new film by professional climber and filmmaker Robbie Phillips. Helen Needham met up with Robbie to hear about how the film came about. Earlier in the week, it was announced that Jim McColl had died at the age of 89. Jim was one of the presenters of BBC Scotland’s Beechgrove Garden from its outset until his retirement from the programme in 2019. We hear an archive clip of Mark chatting to Jim about how he got involved in the first place. Back to the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh where Rachel hears about a project to restore one of the old lighthouse keepers’ cottages to how it might have looked in 1963. And we chat live to Mike Bullock, chief executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board, about the role of modern day lighthouse keepers. From now until Halloween, Glamis Castle near Forfar will be running what they are calling Ghosts of Glamis tours. Mark recently went along to hear some of the ghostly tales and see if he could spot any spooky goings on… In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Mark chats to Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at the Beaver Trust. We hear an excerpt where Roisin tells Mark about her early involved in the re-introduction of beavers to Scotland. If you read the Guardian newspaper, you may be familiar with the Country Diary. It’s a daily natural history column which offers the reader seasonal observations and snapshots of the British Countryside. Recently Rachel met one of the regular contributors, Merryn Glover, at Loch Inch in the Highlands and asked her to reflect on what autumn means to her.

Mark Stephen meets Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at the Beaver Trust. They meet at the Argaty Beaver Project near Doune in Perthshire to discuss her love of the mammal and how the reintroduction of the species is progressing

Mark and Rachel with the second part of their visit the island of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. The RSPB has two reserves on the island, one at Loch Gruinart and one at The Oa, which is where Mark and Rachel met warden David Dinsley to try and spot one of the bird species Islay is known for, the chough. Artist Heather Dewar was born on Islay in the 1940s, and although she moved away as a child, she returned regularly until she retired there. We chat to her about what makes Islay such a special place and hear some of her childhood memories. Islay is in a strategically important place in terms of shipping and trade. And between 1914 and 1918 the waters around it were an important route for troopships. Two incidents brought the First World War to the doors of the islanders, and author Les Wilson tells us about one of them and the impact it had on Islay. We also hear about a rather remarkable American flag which was made on the island and has been returned there after spending quite some time in the USA. And we couldn’t visit Islay, and island with ten, nearly 11 distilleries, and not talk about whisky. People come from all across the world to visit the distilleries and taste the drams with their unique Islay style. Rachel chats to Rachel MacNeill from the Islay Whisky Academy about how she gets people passionate about whisky. And we visit the Kilchoman Distillery to hear from Sharon McHarrie about how they are continuing some of the old traditions in their comparatively young distillery.

Mark and Rachel visit the island of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. They take a walk with gamekeeper turned outdoor guide, DJ MacPhee, to get an overview of the island which has a diverse range of landscapes and habitats. They then head to Loch Finlaggan, the seat of the Lord of the Isles, a site of huge significance for hundreds of years, and hear all about its history from Mairead Mackechnie of the Loch Finlaggan Trust. Next they visit a re-discovered ancient lifting stone on the shores of Loch Gruinart. Niall Colthart tells them about the legends attached to it and Mark tries his hand at lifting it.

Slugs are sometimes regarded as a garden pest, but they are more important than people might think. Rachel meets with retired teacher and slug expert Chris Du Feu after one of his workshops in Rosyth run by the Fife Nature Records Centre to ask whether he had noticed more slugs than usual this year. It’s rare these days to see a mature elm tree be it in the countryside or in our towns and cities. That’s because of Dutch Elm Disease which, over the past sixty years, has killed millions of trees throughout the UK. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors episode, Helen Needham visits Max Coleman of the Royal Botanic Gardens who has been involved in a Scottish project to create resilient elms for the future. Montrose Basin have recently been welcoming annual visitors pink-footed geese, who migrate from Iceland every year. Mark hears more about these spectacular birds from Visitor Centre Manager Joanna Peaker and freshwater ecologist Rachel Mackay-Austin. The harbour in Stranraer is at the heart of much of the regeneration of the town. Rachel met with historian Elaine Barton at the West Pier overlooking Loch Ryan to discuss the major role the loch played in the local economy. The October holidays in Scotland are traditionally called tattie holidays, as this is the time when children would be taken out of school to help with the potato harvest. Potato expert and “Tattie Talks” organiser John Marshall joins Mark and Rachel live to tell us more about how tattie picking has changed over the years. When we think of surfing, we don’t usually associate it with the cold waters of the north of Scotland. University of Edinburgh lecturer Dr Matthew McDowell has recently published a book looking at the history of surfing in the north of Scotland. Mark meets him at Dunbar beach, one of Scotland’s best surfing beaches, to discuss his findings. Returning to Stranraer, Rachel visits Aldouran Wetland Garden, a garden managed by volunteers, which lies just a few miles out of town. The site sits on the edge of woodland and features a pond, raised flower beds and a bird hide, as well as a rather interesting hungry caterpillar. Gordon Weymss and Jane Sloan gave Rachel a guided tour. Now that we are further into the autumn months, we start to notice the leaves changing on the trees. Mark meets artist Jonathan Mitchell to discuss the many colours involved in autumn leaves, and how they inspire his paintings. Highlands and Islands Airports Limited staff have teamed up with conservation programme Species on the Edge to create safe nesting habitat for the rare Little Tern at Islay Airport. Rachel meets Project Officer Lucy Atkinson to learn more about the project and the birds.

Dutch Elm disease has killed millions of elms across the world over the past century. But there is still hope that this mighty tree can be saved. Helen hears from David Shreeve of the Conservation Foundation about his new book Great British Elms. And from Max Coleman of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh about a conservation project in Scotland to plant resilient elms.

In this week’s Scotland Outdoors episode, Mark meets Tim Simons of Scotways to learn more about the history of outdoor access in Scotland. Celebrations were held last month to mark the 60th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge and honour the structure, which at the time of construction was one of the longest in the world. Recently, Rachel was invited to view it from a slightly different angle on a Forth Boat Tours trip with Alastair Baird as her guide. To mark 40 years since they took over the running of Fyvie Castle, the National Trust for Scotland has appointed Architects to develop a masterplan for the castle and its 123 acres of landscaped grounds and gardens which will inform future investment in conservation, storytelling, engagement and enhanced visitor facilities. Mark visited the castle to find out more from project director Annie Robertson and community engagement officer Sarah Eggleton. The first-ever Glasgow Tree Hugging Tournament is coming to Dams to Darnley Country Park on Sunday, October 6th. This unique and joyful family-friendly event promises an afternoon of fun, connection, and celebration of the natural world. Co-founder Shuna Mercer joins Mark and Rachel live to tell us more. Following the tree hugging discussion, Mark revisits his favourite tree, the Ash tree. Returning to the Forth Road Bridge, Rachel was lucky enough to head out on the water not only to view the bridges from below, but also to spot some of the fantastic wildlife in the area. Guide Alastair Baird is also a nature enthusiast who talked her through the rich variety of birdlife and mammals people have spotted from the boat. The spectacular Enchanted Forest light and sound show is back in Faskally Woods in Pitlochry for the next month, and this year the theme is symphony of nature. Rachel joins Karen Bothwell, chair of the Enchanted Forest Community Trust, on the opening night to find out more about this fascinating show.

Mark Stephen meets Tim Simons of the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society

ScotWays (Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society) have published the sixth edition of Scottish Hill Tracks in around 100 years. The book launches on Saturday 28th September. Over the last five years hundreds of volunteers have helped to compile the book. Mark meets with ScotWays Director Tim Simons to discuss the book and its importance. The importance of seed saving is increasingly being recognised across the world as a way of establishing resilience in the natural environment. It is also the principle behind the tree nursery at Corrary Farm near Glenelg where there is a big push to expand native woodland cover in the area using trees grown from locally collected seed. Rachel went there recently and met Manager Rowan Doff who explained their approach. Last year, Mark visited Loch Katrine in the Trossachs to hear about an ambitious plan to build a look-out tower to give splendid views over the loch and hills beyond. The build was completed a couple of months ago and has already attracted many visitors to the site which back in the early 1800s was a regular stomping ground for Sir Walter Scott, William and Dorothy Wordsworth and John Keats. The project was co-ordinated by the Sir Walter Scott Steamship Trust and James Fraser from the Trust gave Mark a guided tour. The turntable ferry operating on Kyle Rhea between Glenelg and Skye is the very last of its kind still in operation in Scotland, and maybe even, the world. It’s now run as a social enterprise, and Rachel stepped aboard to hear all about it from General Manager, Jo Crawford. In the latest edition of Scotland Outdoors, Helen Needham joins Aberdeenshire based writer Ian Grosz on the walk described in his essay Sacred Mountain; a dawn walk up Bennachie at the time of the Autumn equinox. The national Tegelwippen (tile whipping) contest is underway in Netherlands, as cities compete to remove the most paving slabs to greenify gardens and rewild urban spaces. This year marks the fourth annual contest, and Remco Moen Marcar, co-founder of the creative agency Frank Lee, who is behind the contest, joins Mark and Rachel live to tell us more. In recent years – since their re-introduction – white tailed sea eagles have been on many people’s ‘must see’ list. One of the finest places to spot them is around Glenelg in the West Highlands. They are regularly seen near Kylerhea which is a real magnet for all sorts of wildlife. Rachel meets Cammy McMurdo, who explains why so many creatures are attracted to the place. A listener got in touch last week about how much they enjoyed an archive piece from Mark’s trip along the West Highland Way. We hear a snippet from this special trip.

A weaving of Ian's essay 'The Sacred Mountain' with a walk up Aberdeenshire's most prominent hill, Bennachie. As we pass through the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, we offer an invitation to reflect on the changing of the seasons by visiting a special place.

With many parts of Scotland finally getting harvest underway, and planting for 2025 harvest being undertaken, NFU Scotland is asking growers to now complete its 31st consecutive annual harvest survey. Mark meets with Scott Campbell, North East representative on the NFUS Crops Committee, to chat about how the harvest has been so far and what the implications are further down the line. Helen Needham meets Gretchen Daily of the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University. A special festival gets underway this weekend in the north east giving people the chance to go “behind the scenes” with a number of food and drink producers. One of the businesses taking part is the Tullynessle Deer Farm near Alford which is offering guided tours to visitors. Rachel speaks to Janet and Willie Keith say it’s a challenging time for the farmed deer industry in Scotland which is why they want more people to at least consider giving venison a try. Mark meets with Harold Hastie at the harbour in Port Ellen to discuss the many shipwrecks around Islay’s coastline. Over the past couple of years, Mark has been following the story of the Ash Rise project, a collaborative project between the Scottish Furniture Makers Association, Scottish Forestry and the Association of Scottish Hardwood Sawmillers to highlight the effect of ash dieback on Scotland. It has now reached the point where the diseased trees Mark witnessed being felled in 2022 have been turned into an array of exquisite objects as part of an exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. He went along to have a look and met up with Tom Addy, Furniture Maker and Director of Ash Rise who pointed out a rather wonderful creation. Recently, Rachel visited the Tarland Bee Group in Aberdeenshire to hear what the season has been like for them and to find out a bit more about how they entice younger people to take an interest. After getting kitted out in a bee suit, she joined Yvonne Davidson and her young helper Imogen as they prepared to smoke the bees prior to entering the hives. The new ImMerse festival takes place on the 22nd of September at Annan Harbour and in the surrounding merse (saltmarshes) and river. It will be a fun-filled chance to discover and celebrate the amazing saltmarshes – and the wider natural environment – across the south of Scotland focusing particularly on the Solway. Jan Hogarth from SCAMP (Solway Coastal and Marine Project) joins Mark and Rachel live to tell us more about the festival and how listeners can get involved.

Helen Needham meets Gretchen Daily of the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University

Phil Sime visits an RSPB reserve on North Uist where local crofters work alongside the charity to improve the habitat for birds including corncrake and Golden Eagle. Rachel is in Milton near Invergordon hearing about a rather impressive beech tree that has an important place in local history. She hears about efforts of the community woodland to help preserve it for future generations. The Forth Bridge is a railway bridge and a UNESCO world heritage site, and it never fails to impress Mark when he’s travelling down to Edinburgh. This week, he stopped to record and wonder at this engineering marvel. Botanist Dr Sally Gouldstone spent her career passionately caring about nature. An epiphany in a supermarket aisle one day led her to develop her own skincare products made entirely from ingredients she grows in her wildflower meadow just outside Edinburgh. Rachel went to visit her and hear more about Sally and how her business has grown along with the meadow. Last year, musician and sound artist Jenny Sturgeon completed the 864km Scottish National Trail from Kirk Yetholm in the Borders to Cape Wrath in the North West Highlands. She recorded the sounds of her journey over 37 days, and you can hear them in the latest Scotland Outdoors podcast. We hear an excerpt of a rather noisy section of her route. Mark is in Newburgh in Aberdeenshire, where a new section of boardwalk has recently opened improving the accessibility to the beach for all users. And we chat live to Ben Dolphin, a ranger with the National Trust at Mar Lodge, about this year’s midge numbers - there seems to have been a lot of them! And the signs of the changing seasons on Deeside, including the first dusting of snow.

In 2023, Musician and Sound Artist Jenny Sturgeon spent 37 days walking the 864 km trail from Kirk Yetholm in the Borders to Cape Wrath in the North West Highlands. Along the way, she recorded sounds and wrote about her journey which have been mixed together for this podcast to produce an immersive and inspiring piece.

There was much celebration in Caithness a few weeks ago when it was announced that, after decades of planning and preparation, The Flow Country has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status. It’s the first in Scotland to be granted this status on purely natural criteria and is also the only peatbog in the world with World Heritage status. At one time, scything would have been common practice in Scotland, for making hay or harvesting crops. But, with the advent of machinery, land managers were no longer reliant in this ancient bit of kit. But it would appear that this traditional practice is undergoing a bit of a revival, not least for conservation purposes where a low impact approach to the land is being encouraged. Last week, Crown Estate Scotland organised an event offering people the chance to have a go at a wildflower meadow in Tomintoul. Alarming news this week that five more seabirds have been added to the red list which puts them at greater risk of extinction. The state of the oceans is behind a lot of this, and this is being recognised by one group of very active young people in Ullapool who are doing their bit to improve the marine environment. They are the Ullapool Sea Savers. Back in October Mark visited the Huntly TOADS after school club as they were about to embark on a project to build a garden shelter out of traditional materials. Mark visited a session recently involving water, mud, straw and a paddling pool. This week’s callout is about the World Stovies Championships at the annual Huntly Hairst Festival. We hear an extract from the Scotland Outdoors podcast as Helen Needham discusses the republishing of pioneering climber Dorothy Pilley’s book ‘Climbing Days’ with her great great nephew Dan Richards. Rachel has a mindful moment at the Falls of Clyde.

Dorothy Pilley was a pioneering climber who wrote of her adventures in the high peaks in her book 'Climbing Days' which was published in 1935. Thanks to the efforts of her great great nephew, Dan Richards, it has been republished. It contains vivid descriptions of her adventures around the globe and is testament to her personal strength and bravery as a woman breaking new ground in this domain.

It's time for the second Big River Watch of the year. It’s a chance to spend time observing the health of your local river between the 6th and 12th of September. The River Dee trust are taking part in the forthcoming survey and Keilidh Ewan, education and outreach officer for the trust gave Mark some more information. A new trial is underway in Scotland which could cut the harmful emissions associated with manure on farms. Two farmers are trying out a system called Bokashi which the Soil Association hopes may lead to improvements in the soil while also being a little kinder to the environment. Rachel spoke to farmer Andrew Barbour at Glen Fincastle and Field Lab Co-ordinator Audrey Litterick who explained what this process actually involves. Producer Phil met up with Ada Campbell, chair of Langass Community Woodland Trust to have a walk round one of the few forested areas on north Uist and hear the story of Hercules the bear. Rachel recently bumped into an artist in Aberdeenshire who was on her way to a farm to collect a fleece for one of her new collections. Lucy MacDonald who is also a weaver likes to use local materials including wool and plants to make her work sustainable, traceable and authentic. Rachel joined her as she visited Diana Milligan and Cobweb – one of Diana’s rather interesting looking Ryeland Sheep. The Isle of Rum has been designated as Scotland’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International. The designation recognises the efforts of the community to protect and promote the island’s starry skies and nocturnal environment. Isle of Rum Community Trust Director Fliss Fraser joins Mark and Rachel live to tell them more about Rum’s dark skies and the benefits the nocturnal environment brings to us and to the natural world. The forest trails near Aberfoyle in the Trossachs have become increasingly popular in recent years for mountain bikers and gravel riders keen to get away from busy roads. The waymarked trails, in the shadow of Ben Lomond, have been named Gravelfoyle. Now, in a bid to attract more people to them a pilot called Parkride has been taking place; a bit like Parkrun but replacing running with biking. Alongside it parents can drop off their kids at ‘Bairns On Bikes’ where professional coaches teach youngsters basic and more advanced bike skills. Linda Sinclair went along to find out more. Claudia Zeiske is a long distance walker and she has been walking from mountain to sea across Aberdeenshire. Mark met up with Claudia at the end of her journey at a place called Gadle Braes in Peterhead in what was a very blustery day to find out why exactly she had undertaken the walk Lucy MacDonald's an artist who uses local fleeces and plants in her work. After she’s sorted through the fleece and given it a wash, she will put it through a carding machine before spinning it and weaving it. Rachel watched her in action at her studio in Aberdeen.

Mark Stephen meets long distance walker Claudia Zeiske in Peterhead after the completion of her 220 km walk from the Cairngorns to the coast of Aberdeenshire. Along the way she has been collecting stories of the effect COVID had on the communities she passed through. In her rucksack has been a bright pink tablecloth which she has embroidered messages on and invited those she has met to sign

Andrew O'Donnell is a natural history film maker but he's also a musician who records under the moniker of Beluga Lagoon. Maud Starts meets up Andrew on a river bank where they watch dippers and talk about his latest album

In January 2015, Margaret and Angus Mackenzie’s son Neil died in a climbing accident in Canada. Neil loved the outdoors, and to continue his memory, the couple set up a trust in his name to provide funding for those wanting to access outdoor pursuits. This year they’re undertaking a bit of a walking challenge as Mark found out when he went to meet them. Across the country, a growing number of citizen scientists are monitoring the state of our rivers. Rachel heads to the Clyde Valley to catch up with a ranger who is testing her stretch of the river for signs of pollution. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark meets poet and artist Kenneth Steven who lives on Seil Island. Kenneth’s recent book, Atoms of Delight, focuses on the idea of pilgrimages in nature. He explained the concept to Mark. Rachel is in Aberdeenshire meeting the only commercial grower of Saskatoons - a type of super berry. Grower Charlie explains more about the fruit, which is common in Canada, and why he started growing them. The shortlist for this year’s Woodland Trust Tree of the Year competition has been unveiled, and there are three oaks from Scotland in the running. We chat to George Anderson from the Woodland Trust about the competition and get an update on the Loch Arkaig Ospreys. Inverness Castle is currently undergoing a major transformation to turn it into a tourist attraction. Mark visited the site and spoke to the project manager about what they’re doing and also heard about the restoration of the impressive rose window. Fifty years ago this year, the MV Captayannis, a Greek-registered ship carrying a cargo of sugar, foundered in a storm in the Firth of Clyde, between Greenock and Helensburgh. The ship was never salvaged and became a bit of local landmark. Paul English went on one of the sightseeing trips run by Clyde Charters to get up close with the sugar ship wreck. If you’ve been in Perthshire over the last few weeks, you may have noticed some rather striking Highland Coos. Thirty giant sculptures painted by artists have been dotted around the region as part of a new art trail. Rachel met one of the artists, Charlotte Brayley, and her colourful coo creation in Perth.

Mark Stephen visits Kenneth Steven at his home on Seil Island in Argyll

Glenmore Lodge, the Scottish National Outdoor Training Centre, has recently established Scotland’s first hill navigation training course to be delivered in British Sign Language. One of those involved in setting it up was deaf climber and mountaineer Morag Skelton. Mark chatted to Morag for the Scotland Outdoors podcast, and we hear an excerpt where they speak about her childhood outdoors and the practicalities involved in climbing when you can’t hear. For our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel went to meet M.T O’Donnell in her garden near Glasgow. M.T is the founder of Scotland Grows magazine and the host of the Scotland Grows Show podcast. She’s keen on looking after her garden in a way that’s nature friendly and as she tells Rachel, that even extends to dealing with slugs. On the shores of Loch Awe near Dalmally lies the very striking St Conan’s Church. Mark went for a visit to explore its remarkable architecture, both inside and out. A few weeks ago, Mark and Rachel headed across to the island of Easdale which lies 15 miles south of Oban. They got the ferry from Seil and chatted to the boatman, Alan, about who lives on Easdale and who visits. Mark also chats to Bethan Smith who owns a soap making business on the island. And Rachel catches up with Mike Mackenzie who has lived there for decades. He tells her what the community is like and how he came to live on the wee island. If you looked up to the sky earlier this week you might have been lucky to catch a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower. The Perseids are one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky and the shower will be active for another week or so. We chat live to the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Catherine Heymans, to get her hints and tips on how to spot the meteors and what else to look out for in the night sky at this time of year. The Countryside Rangers at Mugdock Country Park in East Dunbartonshire have been taking groups out to help them learn how to identify bird species by their sound. Linda Sinclair joined a group, led by Ranger Alan MacBride at Clachan of Campsie, at dusk to listen out for our birdsong and try to identify what they could hear. Poet Matt Kinghorn decided to walk more than 200 miles from his home in Aberdeenshire to North Berwick just to offer a listening ear to anyone who needed it. Rachel met up with him at the start of his challenge to hear more about why he’d decided to do it. And to round off their trip to Easdale, the home of the world stone skimming championships, Mark and Rachel try their hands at skimming despite the rather inclement weather.

Scottish gardening expert M.T O'Donnell talks about what measures people can take to make their gardens more appealing to nature. She shows Rachel Stewart around her own garden near Glasgow and discusses how to create useful habitats for wildlife and plant good food sources for birds and insects.

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart present Out of Doors live from Dynamic Earth as part of BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals. We are joined by an amazing panel of guests, all with their own connections to Scotland and the outdoors. James Crawford is a writer, publisher and broadcaster. His latest book, Wild History: Journeys Into Lost Scotland, was published in 2023 and he has written and presented three series of the BBC One landmark documentary series Scotland from the Sky, which was Shortlisted as ‘Best Factual Series’ at the Royal Television Society Awards Scotland. Adventurer Mollie Hughes is certainly not afraid of a challenge. By the age of 30 she had summited Mount Everest twice and solo skied to the South Pole. Growing up in Dorset, the sea was her first connection to the outdoors and its Scotland’s coast and rivers that she’s turned her attentions to in her book, Blue Scotland: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Scotland's Wild Waters. Paul Murton is a writer, producer and director who’s most widely known for his Grand Tours television series, which include Grand Tours of Scotland, Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands, Grand Tours of Scotland’s Lochs and most recently, Grand Tours of Scotland’s Rivers. He’s loved the outdoors since his youth, but it was a chance decision that led him to step in front of the camera and share his passion with an audience. And Maggie Sheddan had no real clue about seabirds or the Bass Rock when she volunteered to help at the newly established Scottish Seabird Centre 20 odd years ago. Little did she know that she would end up being the Custodian of the Bass Rock and one of the leading experts on the birds that make their homes there.

Mark Stephen meets Morag Skelton at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms

Scotland’s first new vet school in over 100 years has opened to applicants. Mark went to visit the School of Veterinary Medicine at Scotland’s Rural College in Aberdeen and spoke to the Dean, Professor Caroline Argo about how and why the school has been established. When you visit the Isle of Seil, one of the main visitor attractions is the An Cala Garden. The garden was created in the 1930s and Rachel was shown around by Sheila Downie who has owned it for the past 40 years. Earlier this month the European Land Art Festival was held in Dunbar. It’s a week full of workshops, exhibitions and concerts, but the highlight of the week for some was the World Rock Stacking Championships. Katie Revell went along for Out of Doors and chatted to some of the competitors who had come from as far afield as Texas. Mark is in Grantown on Spey finding out that you don’t always need a huge space to create a wildlife haven. Ranger Saranne Bish shows him one of the parts of the Highland Wildflower Meadow Mosaic Project and explains how it works. During the covid pandemic, a cancer diagnosis left Michelle Cloggie feeling isolated. A trip to do some alpaca trekking gave her husband an idea and soon they were welcoming three alpacas. Fast forward to the present day, and the family run Stormcloud Alpacas near Strathaven. Michelle tells Rachel how their flock has grown and what a great emotional support they are to her and many others. Last week a pod of 77 pilot whales died after washing ashore on a beach in Orkney. It was the biggest mass standing of the species in Britain and has had a big impact on the Sanday community. We chat live to Rob Flett from BBC Orkney about the stranding and how locals have worked together to deal with it. The Victoria Swing Bridge at the Port of Leith has recently reopened following a major refurbishment. Mark went to take a look and find out about the Grade A Listed structure’s history and its new lease of life. In our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel has been delving into the history of Osprey in Scotland. It’s 70 years since the species began breeding here again following years of persecution. We hear an excerpt where Jess Tomes from RSPB Scotland tells Rachel the story of those behind Operation Osprey. Louise Aitken Walker became a household name when she became the first ever female World Rally champion in 1990. She grew up on a farm in Duns in the Scottish Borders where horses were really her first passion, and it was a jokey competition entry by her brothers that propelled her into the world of rally driving. She tells Mark about her life on and off the track.

In the early twentieth century, very few ospreys were breeding in Scotland. They had been persecuted for decades and their eggs stolen by collectors. In 1954, a pair successfully raised two chicks near Loch Garten which gave conservationists hope that they could return to Scotland as nesting birds. Operation Osprey was launched to protect them from those intent on raiding their nests, with volunteers watching the nest at Abernethy twenty four hours a day. It proved a difficult journey but seventy years on, there are now numerous nesting ospreys in the UK. Jess Tomes from RSPB Scotland talks about the effort involved in the operation and wildlife ecologist Roy Dennis recalls the role he played in the 1960s.

We are in East Lothian with Patricia Stephen, founder of Phantassie Organic Produce. They head out to the fields during pumpkin planting and chat about the growth in organic food and farming over recent years. Friday 12th July was the launch of this year’s Big Butterfly Count organised by the charity Butterfly Conservation. Mark met Apithanny Bourne, their East Scotland branch chair, at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to find out more about the count and see if they could spot the elusive Holly Blue. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham is in rural Wales with musician Owen Shiers. Owen lives in a housing cooperative in Ceredigion which was formerly a sheep farm and is now a woodland. He explained how that process had happened and they chat about the concept of rewilding. A year ago, Mark headed out on a trip with Hans Unkles, co-owner of Scotland’s first ever electric, solar-powered fishing vessel. A couple of weeks ago, Mark and Rachel caught up with Hans to hear how the first year of the boat has gone and if anyone has been inspired to follow in his footsteps. The Pine Hoverfly is one of the rarest species in Scotland. It used to thrive in Pine woodlands across the country but is now confined to just a small area of the Cairngorms. Rachel visits the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie where the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland are working on a breeding programme. Dr Helen Taylor told her about the project which has involved releasing thousands of eggs and larvae into the Cairngorms National Park in an attempt to save the species from extinction. Farmer turned comedian Jim Smith has become pretty well known across Scotland over the last few years, especially in farming circles. He’s appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, on TV and radio and now he has his own BBC Radio 4 series- Me and the Farmer. Jim chats to us live about his journey from cattle to comedy. Two years ago, journalist Paul English encountered a team of archaeologists exploring a patch of land in Govan in Glasgow. The team, from the University of Glasgow, were taking part in a research project to uncover what they could of the one remaining site of the Glasgow Garden Festival of 1988. Paul recently went back to catch up with the team and see what treasures they’d uncovered. While on the outskirts of Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, Mark bumped into a man on a strange looking electric bike. It turned out to be Jim Gayes who is working with the charity Sustrans on mapping the off-road National Cycle Network. He explained more about how the bike system works and why the mapping is important.

Rural Wales and rural Scotland face many of the same issues: a lack of affordable housing, limited opportunities for young people and the prospect of rewilding. In this podcast, Helen visits Welsh musician Owen Shiers who lives in a housing cooperative up a long steep track in West Wales. They discuss culture, trees, housing, farming and the nuances surrounding rewilding, and discover that there are many similarities between this area and Scotland.

This week Out of Doors is live from the village of Cullen in Moray. The village is popular with holiday makers over the summer months but it’s home to a thriving community all year round. Mark went for a wander to hear more about what people are up to. And we’re joined live by David McCubbin from Discover Cullen who tells us about what attracts visitors to the area. Rachel finds out that the Cullen we know now, is not the original Cullen. Two hundred years ago the village was demolished and rebuilt in its current location. She hears more from the local heritage group and visits an incredible model of Old Cullen. Its coastal location makes Cullen the ideal spot for sea swimming. We’re joined live by members of the Wild Dookers swimming group before they head out for an early morning dip. And we catch up with them afterwards to hear about the benefits of a cold-water swim. Artist Rob Greenwood can often be found at the harbour or on the beach at Cullen sketching the wildlife and fishing boats. We chat to him about what inspires him about the area and challenge him to create a masterpiece during the programme. Rachel spends some time with local bird recorder Martin Cook in nearby Portknockie to see if they can spot some of the seabirds that the area is known for. We couldn’t visit Cullen without tasting some Cullen Skink. The famous haddock and potato soup originates from the village, and we’re joined by the current Cullen Skink champion, Kellie Spooner, to hear about the key to making a good Cullen Skink. As well as sea swimming, surfing and other water sports are popular along the coastline. Rachel heads out for a surfing lesson and hears what makes the area so good for taking to the water. A recent addition to the beach at Cullen is a wood-fired barrel sauna. Mark headed along for a dip in the sea so he could try it out and hear from owner Becky how it all came about. And regular visitors to the beach will know Andrew and his coffee van- he joins us to tell us about why he loves the village so much and provide us with some much needed coffee.

Rachel Stewart visits Tricia Stephen of Phantassie Organics in East Lothian

The 29th of June marks the beginning of swift awareness week. Mark meets Cally Fleming of the Huntly Swift Group at the Bennachie Centre to chat about these amazing birds. The beautiful garden at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre celebrates the Scottish plant explorers of the past. In recent years, a major project has been underway to restore the Explorers garden. Head gardener Caroline Bavey gives Rachel a tour. In the latest edition of Our Story, Mark visits Danish ceramicist Lotte Glob, one of the founders of the Balnakeil Craft Village near Durness. Mark takes a wander around her Sculpture Croft on the shores of Loch Eriboll. Every year, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust publishes a watchlist which gives an indication of how our native breeds are faring. Rachel meets up with some farmers who keep rare native sheep at the Highland Show, Denise Playfair and Johnathan James, as well as Steve McMinn from RBST in Scotland. It seems that we have been aware of less insects in our gardens and in the wild this June, but why is this? Craig Macadam of Buglife joins us live to discuss the reasons for the decline of insects in Scotland and what we can do about it. Every year, more and more people are signing up to the Shorewatch scheme, a citizen science project run by the marine charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Rachel joins Shorewatch Coordinator Katie Dyke and two seasoned spotters Gary Fahey and Ronnie Mackie at the top of the Burghead visitor centre to learn about the scheme while also watching out for dolphins. Producer Helen Needham’s series for BBC Radio 3, Dig Where You Stand, has been on this week. The series involves five musicians from the Celtic Nations unearthing old tunes and songs from specific places. We hear from Allan Henderson, a multi instrumentalist originally from Mallaig, as he shares a story and a tune called Dalshangie that he learnt from his fiddle teacher, Aonghas Grant. Mark visits Blackthorn Salt in Ayrshire to visit the impressive Salt Evaporation Tower. He meets Master Salter Gregorie to find out more about the business and the process behind making the salt.

Mark Stephen visits Lotte Glob and learns about her deep connection to landscape and rock

This week Rachel has been at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston just outside Edinburgh. One of the first places she headed to when she arrived was the goat tent. She meets some of the keepers as they got their animals ready for judging and met some goats with an Outlander connection. Mark visits the village of Ochiltree in East Ayrshire where the local community has established a heritage walk to highlight its fascinating history from the Bronze Age, its connections with James Boswell right through to its role in mining in the 1950s. Billy Cooper showed Mark around. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham headed out for a walk with author Linda Cracknell. It’s ten years since she published her first book about walks she’d done around the world, and to mark that anniversary she’s added a new chapter about the Flow Country. She tells Helen about her experience of that remote part of Scotland. Last year, competitors from around the world attended the Golden Shears sheep shearing world championships at the Royal Highland Show. This year, a ladies competition is being held at the Highland for the first time. Rachel went along to meet one of those taking part and shearing steward Bruce Lang. The National Museum of Scotland is curating an exhibition which will open in July looking at Scotland’s important role during the Cold War. Our location and geography meant the country played both a visible and invisible role. Mark meets curator Dr Meredith Greiling at the National Museum of Flight to hear more. Back at the Royal Highland Show Rachel visits agricultural charity RSABI’s health hut. The hut offers basic checks of things like blood pressure and nurse Irene Scott tells Rachel about its important role in reaching those who might be reluctant to visit their GP. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority is introducing a bus pilot. The bus will run between Aberfoyle and Callander during the peak summer months and will stop at several popular visitor locations on the route, including Loch Katrine, Ben A’an and Ben Venue. We’re joined live by park Chief Executive Gordon Watson to tell us more about the new buses and sustainability across the park. And we end the programme on a musical note as Rachel meets members of the Farmers Choir at the Royal Highland Show. The group enjoy getting together for a sing song while raising money for good causes and they give Rachel a taste of their

Helen Needham goes for a walk in Aberfeldy with writer Linda Cracknell to discuss the new edition of her book 'Doubling Back'.

Open Seas is a Scottish charity that focusses on protecting our marine environment and the things that live in it. A few weeks ago, Mark joined them in Skye where they were carrying out seabed surveys. While the weather didn’t play ball and they didn’t get out on their planned boat trip, the team did manage to show him the kind of footage they record and why it’s important in influencing the kinds of protection marine areas can get. Rachel is in Pitlochry where the Firebrand Theatre Company along with the Festival Theatre are staging a play all about naturalist and poet Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed. She hears about how the play came together and the extraordinary legacy of Nan. Wigtown is now well known across Scotland and the wider literary world as Scotland’s Book Town. It’s a title it has held since 1998 and since the first festival in 1999, the town has seen its prospects transformed. Mark met up with Anne Barclay from the festival company to hear about the positive changes in the town over the past 25 years. Rachel heads out on a coastal foraging walk as part of the 2024 Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival which kicks off this weekend. Forager Daniel shows her some of the things that can be found along the coastline from plants to seaweeds, foods and medicine. By the time Out of Doors is broadcast, Scotland will have played Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024. For the past few days Scotland fans have been arriving in Munich and the town is covered in tartan and saltires. But what is the origin of the white cross on a blue background? Mark visits the Scottish Flag Trust at Athelstaneford in East Lothian to find out more. The story of modern whaling in the Southern Hemisphere is a controversial one. Many British companies played a key role in the industry, and they had a largely Scottish workforce. A project is underway to collect the memories of those who worked in the industry and their families before it’s too late. We chat live to Helen Balfour from the Whalers’ Memory Bank to find out more about the project. A couple of weeks ago the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, The Waverley, made its first ever visit to Ullapool. Our news colleague in Inverness Stephen Macleod went along to experience the excitement. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel speaks to Artist in Residence at the Rahoy Nature Reserve, Liz Myhill. Her role is to raise awareness of the huge reserve and encourage people to visit and explore. We hear an excerpt. More than 130 years ago two men began a years' long adventure to discover, climb and map Skye's famous Black Cuillin. Professor Norman Collie was a scientist and John Mackenzie was a local mountain guide. The unlikely pair are considered among the greatest pioneering mountaineers of their time and in 2020 after several years of fundraising, a statue was erected in their memory. Mark went to visit it in Sligachan and hear Collie and Mackenzie’s story.

Rachel Stewart speaks to Artist in Residence Liz Myhill. The landscape and wildlife artist has been creating pieces based on her time at the Rahoy Hills Reserve in the Morven peninsula. It is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and is widely regarded as being a unique and wild place. Her role is to raise awareness of the huge reserve and encourage people to visit and explore. She has spent several weeks on location, experiencing the different seasons and hopes her artwork will reflect the rich diversity of plant and animal life which can be found there. During her residency, she has been assisted by Steve Hardy who has been the ranger at the site for more than twenty years. His recordings of nature captured at Rahoy feature in the podcast.

Rachel meets Peter Livingstone who has spent a decade campaigning to save the Aspen tree. Thanks to his hard work, numbers of Aspen in Renfrewshire have grown from single digits to thousands. He shows Rachel his nursery near Bishopton. Andrew O'Donnell is a natural history film maker and musician who records under the moniker of Beluga Lagoon. In this week’s Scotland Outdoors podcast, Maud Start meets up with Andrew on a river bank. We hear an excerpt where they watch dippers and talk about the nature themes in his music. Last week on Out of Doors we heard about how busy the island of Skye is all year round with tourists. While Mark was visiting, he took time to seek out a quieter style of tour with Mark Purrett from Skye Geography Tours. He took Mark to a less popular location and told him about the geography of the island. It’s osprey watching season and as always, there have been highs and lows at the various nesting sites around the country. Rachel visits the RSPB’s Loch Garten where they have had no shortage of drama this year. Ranger Jess Tomes tells her more. You might remember a few months, ago Mark went for a walk with Dr Kat Jones, Director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, who had undertaken a challenge to walk Glasgow’s Greenbelt. Well she’s just completed her walks, so Mark went back to catch up with her to find out how it had gone. Later this year the BBC Food and Farming Awards will be held in Scotland. And here on Out of Doors alongside our TV colleagues at Landward, we are launching The BBC Scotland Local Food Hero award. Joining us to tell us more is presenter of Radio 4’s Food Programme, Sheila Dillon. Rachel is back at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Rahoy Nature Reserve where ranger Steve Hardy lets her listen to some of the recordings he’s made of the amazing wildlife that makes its home in Rahoy. We catch up with the incredible Ethan Walker, who just nine months after suffering horrific injuries when he was hit by a car, is cycling to Munich for Euro 2024. We chat to Ethan live to see how far he’s managed to travel in a week. And as the country marks the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mark is in Garlieston in Dumfries and Galloway where crucial parts of the invasion infrastructure were tested.

Rachel visits the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Montrose Basin reserve in Angus where a group of nursery children were out exploring the mudflats to see what beasties they could find. She speaks to nursery and reserve staff about the importance of getting young kids involved in nature. Isle Martin is a small island just three miles off the coast of Ullapool. It’s had many uses over the years including a herring station, a flour mill and a bird reserve. It’s now in community ownership and recently Mark went for a visit for the Scotland Outdoors podcast. One of the community trust directors Lesley Strachan took him for a tour and told him about their plans. It started as a lockdown project and has since become a big hit on social media. Aberdeenshire walks is a site promoting good routes and attractions for those eager to explore the area. Rachel went out for a walk with one half of the couple behind it, Anna Gill, to hear about how it all started and about their recent singles walks! The Fairy Pools on Skye have become a bucket list destination for tourists from right across the globe. However, that popularity had begun to cause issues with overcrowding. Recently as part of the Skye Iconic Sites Project, work was carried out to create car parking and toilet facilities at the fairy pools. Mark went to see the changes and hear from those involved in the project about the difference it has made, as well as chatting to some of the visitors from places as far away as Dubai and India. And sticking with tourist hotspots, we’re joined live by Dr Guillem Colom-Montero from Glasgow University who has carried out research into the parallels between Skye and the Scottish Highlands, and the Spanish island of Majorca. We chat to him about how tourism can be managed to benefit both visitors and those who live and work in popular destinations. The Rahoy reserve in the Morvern Peninsula is run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and as well as being one of their largest reserves, it’s also one of the most biodiverse in the country. Rachel headed out for a walk with ranger Steve Hardy to see what they could spot. Why are the Fairy Pools on Skye so popular? Where does the legend of fairies come from and are they really a magical place? Catherine MacPhee is an archivist at the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, and she busts some myths on the history of the picturesque location. 18-year-old Ethan Walker from Auchnagatt is about to embark on an incredible bike trip from Hampden Park to Munich for the Euros. It’s over 1,000 kilometres in total which is a big achievement for anyone, but even more so for Ethan who was run over in an horrific accident in New York State whilst over there on a football scholarship. Earlier this week Mark caught up with him and his mum, Jaclyn ahead of his trip and heard all about his incredible recovery journey

Mark Stephen visits Isle Martin which forms part of the Summer Isles lying north of Ullapool in Wester Ross. The island is owned by a community trust and one of it's directors, Lesley Strachan shows Mark round the island

Rachel visits Fairhill Rise, an education centre in East Lothian which is part of the Ruskin Mill Trust. The centre provides outdoor learning and activities for those with autism and additional needs. Rachel meets the manager and hears about their work. Ahead of World Otter Day this coming Wednesday, Mark visits International Otter Survival Fund in Broadford on Skye to hear about the work they carry out across the world and meet some of the otters they have in their care. Over the past couple of weeks folk singer Kirsty Law has been walking along the route of the River Tweed. Her Meander tour has seen her meet other musicians along the way and stop to perform gigs as she goes. Maud Start went to catch up with her near Innerleithen. Mark joins a bike bus in Edinburgh- a safe way for kids to cycle to school. He hears from the organiser Jarlath Flynn about where the idea comes from and sees first hand how they work. He also chats to some of the children and their parents about the benefits of cycling to school. Soil Association Scotland and other groups have been carrying out crop trials to see which varieties of flax might grow best in Scotland. Rachel visits Lauriston Farm near Edinburgh who are part of the project to see the process of sowing the flax. And she meets Rosie Bristow from Fantasy Fibre Mill who has been using flax to make yarn and then linen. There seem to be a lot of dandelions on the go at the moment, with many gardeners cursing their presence in their lawns. However, the humble dandelion actually has many great properties so perhaps we shouldn’t be quite so quick to pull it out. We chat live to M.T. O’Donnell, founder and editor of Scotland Grows Magazine about the benefits of the dandelion. And in our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast Mark spent some time at the Chippendale International School of Furniture near Haddington. We hear an excerpt of him chatting to some of those at work making some unique pieces of furniture.

Mark Stephen visits the Chippendale International School of Furniture near Haddington in East Lothian. He meets the principal and students from home and abroad taking part in the courses run by the school

In our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham meets regenerative farmer Nikki Yoxall in the hills of Aberdeenshire. Nikki’s cattle are outside all year round, moving from field to field as part of a system called mob grazing. She tells Helen about the benefits it has for the cattle and the land. In the last few years, there’s been an explosion in the number of community run gardens across the country. These bring huge positives to those who look after and visit them. However, new research from Aberdeen University suggests that sometimes the pressures of running such a project can mount up. Rachel went to speak to Professor David Burslem to hear more. The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week has been movement, and on Out of Doors, we love nothing better to help clear our heads than heading out for a walk. Mark went along to join a group doing just that with Moray based charity Nature 4 Health. They aim to connect people with nature, each other and themselves, and Mark hears from some of those taking part about the benefits they feel of being part of the group. A new project linking up poets with farmers to shine a light on growing food has been launched by the Gaia Foundation. It involves 10 poets around the UK who each spent time on farms in order to produce a new poem. For the Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham went to meet Edinburgh-based poet Iona Lee who was paired with Lauriston Agroecology Farm in the city. They went for a wander on a very wet day to chat about Iona’s relationship with the natural world. Mark visits the National Trust for Scotland's St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve to see how the seabird colony there is faring. As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to an end, on Saturday we celebrate World Therapeutic Horticultural Day. One of the organisations involved is Trellis, who are based in Perth. We chat live to Fiona Thackeray, their chief executive officer, about what therapeutic gardening is and the different people they work with. If you’re interested in climbing, you might want to check out a new BBC podcast. It’s part of a series called Amazing Sports Stories and it’s called Chasing Mountains. Rachel spoke to the presenters Joanna Jolly and Kathy Karlo who told her more about making the series and let her hear some clips. Have you ever heard of the term Everesting? The idea is simple, but the activity is incredibly tough. Cyclists pick a hill and ride repeats of it in a single activity until they climb the height of Mount Everest - 8,848m. It’s something that musician Mark Bruce has become passionate about after struggling with his mental health. He told our Travelling Folk colleagues about his challenges, and we hear an excerpt where he talks about how extreme exercise saved him. And to round off Mental Health Awareness week, we take a moment to be mindful with a soundscape.

Helen Needham visits Nikki Yoxall and her herd of pasture fed cattle in Aberdeenshire

Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart follow the river Tweed from Kelso to Berwick Upon Tweed. In Kelso, they visit Floor Castle and Gardens in the company of Matt Thomson and Simon McManus. Jonathan Garrett shows Mark round the town's racecourse In Coldstream, John Elliot of the local historical society tells the story of one of the earliest bridges built across the Tweed into England, Mark delves into the history of the Coldstream Guards and Rachel hears about a marriage house with a past to rival Gretna Green The Battle of Flodden took place in 1513 close to the Tweed. In Branxton, Rachel discovers the so called smallest visitor centre in the world which commemorates the battle whilst Mark visits the battlefield with Clive Hallam Baker to find out why the Scots suffered such a loss The Union Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge which has linked Scotland and England for over 200 years making it the oldest vehicle suspension bridge in the world. Martha Andrews of the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge tells of its recent restoration Willie Robson and his family have been producing honey from the Chain Bridge Honey Farm for over 75 years. Rachel meets Willie and his daughter Frances to find out why they are both so enthusiastic about bees Linda Bankier is the Bewick Upon Tweed Archivist. She takes Mark and Rachel on a tour of the historic burgh including the walls surrounding the town and the town hall where a jail for debtors and criminals was situated Mark and Rachel go aboard the Border Belle with David Thomson at the helm for a boat trip to view Berwick Upon Tweed from a different perspective. They go under the three iconic bridges of the town - the Berwick Bridge, the Royal Tweed Bridge and the Royal Border Bridge

Helen Needham learns about the We Feed the UK project