Scotland Outdoors

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 18 October 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2025

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'.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 September 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

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 nowMark 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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 23 August 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 August 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

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 MorayCampaigner 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 campaignMark 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!

Transcribed - Published: 5 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

We have another excerpt from the teams Whithorn Way pilgrimage, this time Rachel meets Stuart Wilson and Brian Boyd from the Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers and hears all about a very surprising annual event!Mark has a trip on a Loch Ness with Frida Newton as they celebrate Jacobite Cruisers 50th anniversaryRachel visits the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther where they have the only Zulu fishing boat in the UK. Curator Julia Branch and musician Esther Swift - who has composed a piece of music inspired by the vessels, are there to meet her.Give Peas a Chance is a pilot project whose aim is to get locally grown organic split peas into school meals. This week, Rachel and some pupils who’ve been enjoying the peas, visited farmer Phil Swire and heard all about the journey from the soil to plate.Rachel is in Dundee to view a new whale memorial by Scottish artist Michael Visocchi. The sculpture which is heading to Georgia very soon, represents the shift from hunting whales in the past to conservation. Alison Neil from the South Georgia Heritage Trust has positive news regarding whale numbers in the area.Mark is in Cromarty to visit a very unusual cemetery nicknamed The Pirates Graveyard. David Alston explains what the engravings mean and who or what is in the oldest part of Cromarty - the Crypt!After some positive news regarding the ever elusive Capercaillie hit the headlines this week, Mark and Rachel find out more from Dr Jack Bamber from the University of Aberdeen.

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025